New Zealand, the day you've been waiting for is finally here! This weekend sees the much anticipated return of Telethon to our screens and the Y!X office is hot with excitement...
I've yet to personally experience an NZ telethon but have been assured by my colleagues that it's a fab event, combining feelgood fun, nostalgia and fundraising for a great cause.
Tune in to TV3 on Saturday (August 8) from 7pm until 6pm on Sunday to catch a host of local and international stars lending their talents to raise money for KidsCan StandTall to benefit Kiwi kids living in poverty.
Broadcasting live from three main venues, the Big Night In will feature every TV3 personality imaginable as well as Gin Wigmore, Opshop, Frankie Stevens, The Ladykillers, Lady 6, Che-Fu, and Anika Moa.
According to the blurb from TV3, producer Nigel Godfrey can hardly contain his excitement either. "Telethon has always been known for international personalities, but this time around we wanted our internationals to at least have a link with New Zealand and so we are delighted that Alan Dale, Martin Henderson and Karl Urban are all coming down," he says.
"Anna Hutchison is also tripping back across the Tasman, and our Australian cousins Bernard Curry and Ada Nicodemou from Home and Away are coming over."
Included in the 23-hour entertainment extravaganza will be traditional Telethon favourites such as the crazy dares and phone bank; however the 2009 Telethon will feature a few differences which will be unique to the Big Night In.
The Big Auction host Brooke Howard-Smith will be heading up New Zealand's biggest ever televised auction, quipping, "If I don't stuff it up, The Big Auction will be amazing! It'll give someone the chance buy a car and write it off as charity."
Pulp Sport's Bill and Ben are equally as excited about their The Big Dares segment of the night. "We're stoked to be looking after the dares for the Big Night In, mostly because we don't have to do them for a change," says Ben.
There are dozens of ace bands, cool stars and keen kids taking part, so take the phone off the hook (except for when you're dialling in your donation!), stock up on food and settle down for a weekend of small screen fun!
Comments
Big fan of Telethon's, on one briefly as a kid & have great memories. A kid in the year above me kissed Lisa Gibbons for a Telethon pledge and envy of all the boys at school
Aug 5 01:41 pmLike to see another Telethon, not sure if TV3 motives are ratings or genuine charity? Heard discussed by ZB radio host & caller TV3 are taking I recall a 15% cut for production costs.Heard not favorable things about the sole children's charity fund & will be only distribution to kids in Sth Auckland. H
A related story on this site reveals that it costs $291,570 to raise a child in the USA.
Aug 6 04:45 amHow about a telethon to raise money to educate poor NZ adults not to have children they can't afford to feed?
Na, that would be too much like hard work. Lets get a load of so called celebrities to ask for money instead.
Having children is a lifestyle choice. If you can't afford one don't have one.
Then you won't have to feed or house it. Best of all we won't need telethons.
gosh gonecruzin...some people just arent happy with the simple fact that someone out there is doing some good for others. Regardless of the reasons, why cant you just be happy that even a small change is being made? get off your high horse!
Aug 8 10:04 amShould have never stopped Telethon, it bought the communities together as well as the whole country, with one goal and one aim. Good to hear its back.
Aug 10 10:28 amCheers, NZ
Should have never stopped Telethon, it bought the communities together as well as the whole country, with one goal and one aim. Good to hear its back.
Aug 10 10:28 amCheers, NZ