Look To The Stars News: Ted Danson

Harrison Ford To Host Environmental Charity Awards

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart will host a special event for Oceana this Friday, November 20, to honor Deepak Chopra and Arianna Huffington.

The 2009 Oceana Partners Award Gala honors those individuals who have made outstanding contributions through their personal commitment to the cause of protecting and conserving the environment. Arianna Huffington is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, a nationally syndicated columnist, and author of 12 books. Dr. Deepak Chopra is the Founder of Chopra Center for Wellbeing in Carlsbad, California and Manhattan, New York. He is also the author of many best-selling books.

Joining Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart in hosting the event will be Morgan Freeman, Jeff Goldblum, Trudie Styler, Sting, Robert Redford and Ron Howard. Working behind the scenes are Ted Danson and Sam Waterston.

The event will take place at the private residence of Keri Selig and Keith Addis in Los Angeles. To find out more about the event, visit the official website.

Ted Danson To Lead Young Storytellers Festival

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Ted Danson, Henry Winkler, Zachary Levi, Anthony LaPaglia and a host of other stars will host a special outdoor festival to encourage literacy in September.

Storypalooza is a festival featuring children’s storytelling games, musical guests, and a live performance of scripts by an all-star cast. The festival is being organized by the Young Storytellers Foundation, a Los Angeles based non-profit organization dedicated to developing literacy, self-expression and self-esteem in elementary school students through the art of storytelling. The Foundation offers a uniquely engaging and effective arts education and youth development program to targeted elementary schools in Los Angeles where students are at-risk and have little or no access to the arts. Twice a year at more than 30 schools, the program pairs 10 students from 4th or 5th grade with 10 mentors. The mentors volunteer one lunch hour a week for seven weeks to guide and encourage the students as they imagine and develop their own short screenplay. In the eighth week, professional Hollywood actors perform the students’ scripts for a live audience.

Storypalooza – which also features appearances by Ben McKenzie, Tate Donovan, Josh Radnor, Mary Steenburgen and many more – will take place on September 26 at Crossroads Elementary School in Santa Monica. More info can be found here.

Stars Want Bluefin Tuna Off The Menu

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A group of actors has written to Robert DeNiro's Nobu restaurant chain to ask them to stop serving endangered Bluefin Tuna.

According the Britain’s The Telegraph, Sienna Miller, Charlize Theron, Jemima Khan, Woody Harrelson, Laura Bailey, Alicia Silverstone, Zac Goldsmith, Sting, Trudie Styler, Elle Macpherson and Stephen Fry have “written to the restaurant to say they can no longer dine with a clear conscience as long as the restaurant continues to serve bluefin tuna – a species considered by many to be as endangered as the white rhinoceros, panda or tiger.”

The plight of the bluefin tuna has been highlighted by the release of The End of the Line, a film narrated by Ted Danson that shows the effects of overfishing on the world’s oceans.

“The possibility that the magnificent bluefin tuna, one of the fastest creatures on the planet, could be extinct in as little as four years is a tragedy,” wrote the stars in their letter. "Continuing to serve bluefin leaves Nobu vulnerable to public criticism and lagging behind Moshi Moshi, Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, Itsu and numerous others. We all love [Nobu, but bluefin tuna] must be completely removed from the menu due to its perilous position as an extremely endangered animal".

“It’s astounding lunacy to serve up endangered species for sushi,” added Stephen Fry. “There’s no justification for peddling extinction, yet that is exactly what Nobu is doing in restaurants around the world.”

A spokesperson for the restaurant said they are taking the issue "very seriously… The consumption of this fish is a cultural institution in Japan and there is still an enormous demand for this delicacy at all our restaurants. In the specific case of the menus at our London restaurants it should be noted that the statement that informs diners that the tuna served is Bluefin was included at the behest of Greenpeace, with whom we have continual dialogue. We are also currently looking at Australian farm-raised tuna as an alternative."

Ted Danson Writes Eco-Article For CNN

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor Ted Danson has written an article for CNN to raise awareness of the first UN-recognized World Oceans Day, held on Monday, June 8.

Co-founder of Oceana – an organization that campaigns to protect and restore the world’s oceans – Danson is a well-known advocate for ocean protection.

“I became an ocean activist in 1987,” wrote Danson. "It was the fifth year of “Cheers” and my family moved into a neighborhood that was on the water, in Santa Monica, California. One day I took my daughters to the beach to go swimming, but it was “closed” and I couldn’t answer my daughter’s question why."

Danson goes on to write about how he set up the American Oceans Campaign – which became Oceana in 2002 – and about the new film he narrates, The End of the Line, which explores overfishing and its effects on the oceans.

“The U.N. reports that 75 percent of seafood species are maxed out or overexploited and catches of nearly a third of these species are less than 10 percent of what they once were. Ninety percent of the big fish — sharks, tuna, swordfish — are already gone, according to a 2003 study in Nature.

“The chemistry of the oceans is changing as they absorb 11 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide a year, and scientists say the acidifying waters will make it impossible for coral reefs, the nurseries of the sea, to grow. At the current rate of acidification, corals, sea snails and other calcium-carbonate-requiring life forms could begin to dissolve by the middle of the century, with potentially catastrophic results. Shellfish and fish will be in deep trouble as well.

“By protecting important habitats like corals from destructive fishing techniques, and setting science-based quotas on seafood species, the battle is halfway won. Fish species will recover, and the marine mammals, sea turtles and seabirds that rely on them for sustenance have a fighting chance.

“In addition, we must commit to renewable energy sources to end the excessive carbon dioxide emissions that are acidifying the oceans and making them inhospitable to life. The ocean does represent a source of energy, and it’s not offshore oil and gas drilling — it’s offshore wind. Europe is a leader in developing offshore wind power, and it’s time for the United States to catch up.”

To read the entire article, click here.

Dick Van Dyke Steals The Show At Charity Gala

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The stars came out to play at the annual Geffen’s Stage For Any Age gala earlier this week.

Helen Mirren, Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson (who was honored with the Distinction in Theater Award), Martin Short, Dana Delany, Carol Burnett, Christine Lahti and Brendan Fraser were all in the crowd that helped raise over $500,000 for the charity, but it was 83-year-old Dick Van Dyke's renditions of songs from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang that stole the show.

The seventh annual Backstage at the Geffen Gala was held at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood, and raised money for Geffen’s Stage for Any Age – a non-profit organization that seeks to make the cultural resources of the Geffen Playhouse available to all of Los Angeles’ diverse communities. Their programs for students, seniors, and underserved populations are designed to stimulate the intellect, imagination, and creative spirit. To increase access to the theater experience, activities are carried out on site as well as in neighborhoods, schools, social service agencies, and community centers throughout Los Angeles.

More information about the Stage For Any Age program can be found here.

Comedy Celebration To Raise Money For Myeloma Research

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Ray Romano is set to host the International Myeloma Foundation’s second annual Comedy Celebration tomorrow night, November 15.

The event will kick off at 6pm at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre and Club on South Lucerne Boulevard with a cocktail reception and silent auction, with the comedy show starting at 8pm. The evening promises to deliver hilarious performances from Patricia Heaton, Jeff Garlin, Kevin James, Robert Klein, Doris Roberts, and Fred Willard, and will also feature the original one-and-only Blues Brothers – AKA Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi.

Proceeds from the evening will go to the Peter Boyle Memorial Fund at the International Myeloma Foundation, dedicated to fighting the deadly cancer of the bone marrow for which there is currently no known cure.

Honorary chairs of the event include Alec and William Baldwin, Halle Berry, Candice Bergen, Kim Cattrall, Ted Danson, Mariska Hargitay, Ethan Hawke, Michael Keaton, Robin Leach, Bette Midler, and many others.

The event is almost sold out, but more information and tickets can be found at the Comedy Celebration website.

Oceana Awards To Honor Clinton And Sting

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Bill Clinton, Sting, and Trudie Styler will be honored at the annual Oceana Partners Awards this weekend.

Chaired by Sam Waterston and Ted Danson and hosted by Pierce Brosnan, Ron Howard, and Robert Redford, the event honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions through their personal commitment to the cause of protecting and conserving the environment. Past honorees include Ted Turner, Don Henley, James Cameron, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, and Christopher Reeve. Past hosts have included Salma Hayek, Nicolas Cage, Nicole Kidman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ron Meyer and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Bill Clinton has been selected as this year’s recipient because his Clinton Climate Initiative – launched in 2006 – works with over 40 of the world’s largest cities to reduce greenhouse emissions. Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler, were chosen due to their efforts to raise more than $25 million dollars through 15 benefit concerts for The Rainforest Foundation, which has now expanded to a network of interconnected organizations working in 23 countries around the globe.

The event will take place at the Pacific Palisades home of Jena and Michael King on Saturday, October 18, and will begin with a VIP reception at 5:30PM, followed by a cocktail party at 6:00PM and the awards presentation at 7:00PM.

Ticket information can be found at the Oceana Partners Awards website.

Harrison Ford and Sam Waterston’s Water Awards

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Orange County, California, kicked off this summer season with their largest fund raiser yet, The SeaChange Summer Party.

Held at a private estate on Laguna Beach, the event raised $1 million through ticket sales and auction to benefit Oceana, an organization that campaigns to protect and restore the world’s oceans. Actors Harrison Ford and Sam Waterston were honored at the event for their ongoing, significant ocean conservation efforts.

“We have done great things before in the human history,” said Ford. “We can do it again. Let’s not let this award be an empty vessel – let’s work for fundamental transformation – a real SeaChange in ocean policy.”

Several celebrities attended the event including Beau Bridges, Calista Flockhart, Diane Keaton, Diane Lane, Jeff Goldblum and Ted Danson.

Danson, who is a board member of Oceana, explained some of Oceana’s causes and projects to Variety:

“Basically, 70% of all the world’s fisheries have been fished to the brink of collapse; 30% of them have collapsed. Also habitat destruction: We have worked with fisheries and councils in the Northern Pacific and along the California coast to put aside 500,000 square miles of ocean floor the bottom trawler cannot make use of anymore.

“Also a pollution campaign that we have at Oceana – seafood contamination: one out of every six women of child bearing years has too much mercury in her system to safely give birth to a child without the possibility of neurological damage.

“These issues are so big, and there is a ticking clock.”

Due to the huge success of The SeaChange Summer Party, organizers are hoping it will become an annual fundraising event. So is Oceana.

Glenn Close Throws a Bone to Charity

Mon, 12 May 2008 12:17:52 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Glenn Close is a five-time Academy Award nominee and two-time Golden Globe winner, but it’s her latest role at Fetchdog.com that’s earned the actress a ‘Golden Bone’ from Look to the Stars.

“I’m in a redemption mode, to get back to my real self,” joked Close, who’s portrayed characters that haven’t always been kind to animals, “The real truth is that I’ve been surrounded by dogs my entire life.”

Last October, Close and her husband David Shaw started Fetchdog.com, a site that sells high-end dog products while raising money for charity. Included on the site is Close’s blog, Lively Licks where she interviews celebrities about their dogs, profiles people who work with dogs and dishes out tips on anything from puppy training to canine health.

The most unique aspect of the site is that Fetchdog.com funnels a portion of its sales to dog-related causes. All you have to do is purchase an item and a percentage of the total will be donated to select dog charities with no added cost to you. Martha Stewart, for example, chose the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. When shoppers place their orders through Stewart’s page, the ASPCA receives roughly 6 percent of the price.

“Our dogs love us and keep us laughing through good times and bad,” writes Close on her blog, “This blog is a tribute to all the fabulous dogs who trot and wag their way through our lives and to the people who they have so successfully trained.”

Close has interviewed many dog lovers such as Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson, who directed contributions to Little Angels Pug Rescue, and Dan Zelman and Debra Messing, who selected Animal Rescue New Orleans.

In one of her blogs, there is a great video of Close and her husband taking part in a training exercise with ski patrol member Tracy Christensen and his avalanche rescue dog, Mick. The video, narrated by Close, shows the couple buried beneath 4 feet of snow while Mick catches their scent and leads his handler to their rescue.

Close has more than one furry friend herself, including several canines whose lineage appears to be a mix of cairn terrier, West Highland white terrier and indeterminate other breeds. And wouldn’t you know it, she always brings her ‘kids’ to the set while shooting “Damages,” FX cable network’s critically acclaimed legal drama in which Close plays high-powered attorney Patty Hewes.

“They really change the atmosphere of the set when they come on. People just love it,” Close said. “And as long as they’re in a place where you can’t hear their toenails click when the camera turns on, then we’re fine.”

Look To The Stars News: Ted Danson

Harrison Ford To Host Environmental Charity Awards

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