More than a dozen musical acts have signed on to perform in NBC Universal’s tsunami benefit special, which will raise money for the American Red Cross’s relief efforts.
Among those scheduled to perform in the special, titled “Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope,” are Madonna, Sheryl Crow, Lenny Kravitz, Eric Clapton, Mary J. Blige, Kenny Chesney, Brian Wilson, India.Arie, John Mayer and Gloria Estefan. A number of other stars, including George Clooney, Usher, Halle Berry and Uma Thurman, are also set to appear.
The concert, airing at 8 p.m. ET Saturday (Jan. 15), will be broadcast on NBC and all its cable networks. The PAX network, which is partly owned by NBC, and Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo will also air the benefit.
During the benefit, viewers will be directed to a phone number and web site for the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which is working to provide victims of the Dec. 26 disaster with food and water and to prevent disease in the areas hit by the tsunamis.
The Red Cross is at work on long-term aid efforts that include mental health counseling and disaster preparedness initiatives.
The real wild card for Fox on Sunday night wasn’t the NFL playoffs but the return of its signature drama “24.” The real-time thriller didn’t disappoint the network, posting strong numbers for its two-hour fourth-season premiere.
“24” brought in an average of 14.8 million viewers and a 6.1 rating/13 share in the adults 18-49 demographic with back-to-back episodes airing from 8-10 p.m., according to preliminary estimates from Nielsen Media Research.
“24” had a strong send off in East Coast markets from Fox’s coverage of the NFC wild card playoff game that ended with a 31-17 victory by the Minnesota Vikings over the Green Bay Packers. The 8 p.m. installment of “24” (15.4 million, 6.3/14) ranks as the drama series’ most-watched episode ever.
The Minnesota-Green Bay contest, which ended at roughly 7:40 p.m. ET, and “24” combined to give Fox the nightly win in viewers and in adults 18-49 by a slim margin over ABC.
ABC had another great night with its potent 8-10 p.m. combo of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (20 million, 8.6/19) and “Desperate Housewives” (25.2 million, 11.2/23), which topped the “24” premiere. CBS’ 8 p.m. drama “Cold Case” (15.6 million, 3.8/9) edged past “24” in total viewers, but CBS’ fortunes took a dive from 9-11 p.m. with its telecast of the People’s Choice Awards (9.9 million, 3.4/8).
NBC was overshadowed by its Big Four network competition until the last hour of primetime. At 10 p.m., its drama “Crossing Jordan” (15.3 million, 5.0/12) spiked from its “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” lead-in (13.3 million, 4.0/8) to push past ABC’s “Boston Legal” (14.7 million, 5.6/13) for the win in total viewers, though “Legal” retained the demo crown thanks to its double-digit lead-in from “Housewives.”
For the night, Fox was poised to take the bragging rights away from ABC with an average of 18.1 million viewers and 7.4/17 in adults 18-49. ABC was poised to run a close second in both measures (17.5 million, 7.2/17).
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