Star-spangled TV specials celebrate Fourth of July
By Kathy Blumenstock
Washington Post
On the holiday that President John Adams predicted would be "the most memorable in the history of America," television viewers have the freedom to choose among several programs celebrating the country's birth.
PBS' concert on the Mall, "A Capitol Fourth 2003," airs at 8 tonight and offers a special tribute to composer John Williams.
"John is America's greatest living composer," said Jerry Colbert, the concert's executive producer. "He's one of those stars who isn't all self-important and full of himself. He likes to be out with people and play different selections."
To honor Williams, Colbert said, "we thought it would be fun to play some of his great movie themes, from 'Jaws,' 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' the bicycle chase from 'E.T.,' 'Superman,' 'Star Wars,' and others, and then give him an award."
Williams also will conduct the National Symphony Orchestra in his Olympic fanfare from the 1984 Los Angeles Games. He also has written themes for the 1988, 1996 and 2002 Olympics.
Williams has scored the music for more than 90 films, including "Schindler's List," which won an Oscar and a Grammy. He has won five Oscars and 17 Grammys. His most recent musical scores can be heard in "Catch Me If You Can" and "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."
Williams usually spends the Fourth of July participating in concerts in Boston or Los Angeles. This year he'll be in Washington.
For the Fourth of July, Williams said, "these concerts are important all across the country. Of course there are fireworks and hot dogs, but it's the music which goes to the core and spirit of the country. And that's a thrill for me."
Country-music star Dolly Parton also is a newcomer to the Capitol concert. "Dolly's got herself a new dress, and she's promised to do '9 to 5' — she said she'll get everybody singing along with that one," said Colbert, referring to the title song from Parton's 1980 movie of the same name.
Actor Barry Bostwick hosts. Actors Kristin Chenoweth, Craig Bierko, Irish musicians the Chieftains, and bluegrass musicians Earl Scruggs and Jerry Douglas also perform. Erich Kunzel will conduct the National Symphony Orchestra.
From New York, NBC will carry "Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular." The show, hosted by Carson Daly and Molly Sims, airs at 8 p.m. Betty Buckley will narrate the musical fireworks display titled "Lights of Freedom."
Musical performers include Kelly Clarkson, Sheryl Crow, Beyonce Knowles and John Mellencamp. Reese Witherspoon, Harrison Ford and Arnold Schwarzenegger also will appear, and President Bush will address the nation.
New England's own patriotic holiday tradition, the "Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular," will air on network television for the first time as CBS broadcasts the concert at 9 p.m. Country singer LeAnn Rimes and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will perform. Harry Smith, anchor of the CBS News "Early Show," is the host.
"The great thing about the July Fourth concert is that we reach our broadest demographic of any time of the year," said Keith Lockhart, conductor of the Boston Pops. "If the Boston Pops is America's orchestra, then the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is America's chorus. With a choir of that massiveness singing 'Battle Hymn of the Republic,' and LeAnn singing her new song 'We Can' from 'Legally Blonde 2,' we're offering something for everybody."
A far less-traditional twist on America's birthday festivities will air on VH1 Classic. "The David Lee Roth 4th of July Christmas Special" airs today through Sunday at 4 p.m. on VH1 Classic. No fireworks, just friends headed to the beach, fast cars, costumes — and a live donkey.
