"Stand Up To Cancer": Networks Plan "Unprecedented" Joint Telethon For Cancer Research

Update: In a move to be announced on all three networks' morning shows Tuesday, ABC, CBS, and NBC are teaming up for a telethon to benefit cancer research. The telethon, titled "Stand up to Cancer," will take place in September, will feature all three evening news anchors, and will air commercial free on all three networks.

Katie Couric called the collaboration a "wonderful example of teh power of working together" in the CBS announcement:

"For people struggling with this disease, or those who will be diagnosed, scientific breakthroughs can be a matter of life or death -- literally. We want everyone to know that they can make a difference in this fight," said Couric. "Television is a notoriously competitive business. For the three major broadcast networks to join forces is a wonderful example of the power of working together, and we're very grateful to have the opportunity to reach people all over the country through this show."

The show will feature live performances by "legendary recording artists" and will be produced by Laura Ziskin, a cancer survivor herself who has produced both films and major TV broadcasts, including the Academy Awards.

Original Post: This morning on the "Today" show, Matt Lauer announced that Katie Couric will return to the program Wednesday morning with a "major announcement."

Watch:

While Lauer joked, "I think she's gonna look great as a guy," all eyes will be on the "Today" show tomorrow morning for what could be serious news. Couric's future has been up in the air since it was reported that she plans to leave CBS News before her contract expires, leading to speculation that she might jump to CNN or even return to NBC (those rumors were fueled recently when NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker was spotted leaving Couric's apartment).

Jossip suggests that the announcement may be that Couric is switching jobs with CNN's Anderson Cooper, though it admits that the announcement wouldn't likely be made on NBC's "Today" show.

Update: Several sources, including TVNewser, report a source claiming that the announcement will pertain to a telethon hosted by ABC, CBS, and NBC, with proceeds reportedly going to cancer research. Couric's husband, Jay Monahan, died of colon cancer in 1998, and she has been a prominent spokesperson for colon cancer awareness since then. The telethon would be hosted by all three evening news anchors — Charlie Gibson, Katie Couric, and Brian Williams — and carried on all three networks.

Comments

[Lesscancer]

The cancer movement Laura Ziskin , the events producer is hoping for should include preventing cancer.

Katie Couric is correct when speaks of the cure as a matter of life or death, but when do we as a society have these conversations earlier when we finally include cancer prevention in the mix.

And while we all want the cure- the question needs to be how do we cure ourselves and make sure this doesn"t happen again to someone else?

The cancer conversation needs to be about how do we head cancer off at the pass? How do we stop it before we get it?

Cancer should not be an expected stage of life. And unfortunately it is for so many.

Never before have we had so much cancer.

However there is little incentive to prevent illness-and even fewer advertisers. The "big prize" of course is in the profit that comes from cancer treatment-its our nations leading industry.

And while thankfully more and more there is a cure- we must expand our view to include all avenues of prevention to include environmental exposures that may be linked with cancer.

The cure can never be underestimated- however we must open the doors to all possibilities in preventing cancer that has affected the lives of countless Americans.

Bill Couzens, Founder Lesscancer.org

ENVIRONMENT=HUMAN HEALTH

[zigzag1]

Isn't that big of them, a whole hour broadcast on our airwaves, that doesn't make millions for the monopolistic media moguls! Be still my beating heart.

[Ella5]

The Times is reporting the telethon as fact. And Katie, good old Katie, is quoted as using it to reach "the national community."
How about just "the nation" Katie? Oh, right. You're perky Katie Couric.

[nunzia]

such a silly petty comment.

[LiberalBuzz]

Can't imagine what she would say that would be of any interest to anyone except those hoping to take her place in the CBS evening news.

She needs to retire and find some nice young man to screw her and her money and leave the news to people who actually understand what the news is supposed to be and sitting on a desk trying to show your old legs is NOT the news.

[MyThought]

Can you imagine what state we are in today if this is news?

Good grief and who cares.

[Fremon]

Katie's poor news showing is not her fault. It is the fault of incompetent news management that made the decision. In today's world the type of people that watch the evening newscasts are generally older and more serious than the types who watch the morning show garbage. That programming is lite and easy which fitted Katie to a "T".
The management that selected Katie for the evening news thought she would bring either the morning viewers or a younger population segment. These people did not understand that in the morning people watching are either getting ready for work and want "noise" to watch or see with their last cup of coffee or they are housewives preparing for their day. During the day and to the evening they are on computers reading the news and getting the day's information. In the evening they are preparing meals and doing other things. Katie could not bring them along and the older audience weaned on evening news did not want to see her deeming (I think) that she lacked gravitas or were just plain sexist. Bring back Schieffer and he will give a contest to the other two who are kind of lightweight anyway. What will be CBS' future will depend what is in the stable. Personally they may have to look to cable and get either an Olbermann to do double duty or perhaps one of the reporter people from Time or Newsweek. I.e. get some heft!

[GrammyinPA]

Very Well said indeed !!!

Love Katie and wish her well whatever she does.

Bring Schieffer Back.

[Colmore]

Bring TRUTH back to the news. If they reported on what is really happening in Washington, Iraq, the Pentagon, FBI, CIA and war gouging contractors, the viewers would return. The way things stand now, the only way to keep informed is on the internet. I stopped watching the evening news, because what I was seeing on the internet was not even mentioned!! Bush is almost done, start reporting on the damage done to the country by his cohorts. Start being real reporters, and not WH stenographers. Better late than never.

[dora rice]

and who cares? there is nothing about Katie Couric that is major. Average that's all.

[reunionpi]

Katie CouricTax Warrant www.webofdeception.com

[LeftLeaner]

She wants to come back home

[TuffPosh]

If a giant comet was going to hit the earth, I can't think of any other newscaster besides Katie I'd like to hear the news from. In fact, I'd probably be watching her plucky live coverage of the catastrophe until the very end, she's that good.

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[Chris]

Drudge is reporting:

SOURCE: NBC, CBS, and ABC jointly hosting cancer research telethon. Couric to announce on NBC's TODAY SHOW tomorrow... Developing...

[jotunloki]

If it's on Drudge it's probably a lie

[5thGenDem]

OK, you heard it here first: Katie will be announcing her engagement to her 33-year old boyfriend, and their wedding will be a late entry to the Today Show's 2008 "Race to the Altar." Go Cougar!

[marymansour]

Katie Couric is so overrated. She's so sweetsie sweet that no latent or full blown diabetic should watch her. I hope she doesn't take Anderson Cooper's place on CNN. It's been proven that news of any sort is not her forte. She needs to sit on some show and swap 'adorable chit chat' with a partner as Kelly Rippa does with her cohort. Perhaps the View would take her on except for the fact that these are hard hitting and not terribly sweet women.

[GrammyinPA]

Just can't stand NICE people, can you ???