# I feel bad for Haiti, I really do. But is there any reason why this concert has to be on 20 channels **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 23, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-bad-for-haiti-i-really-do-but-is-there-any-reason-why-this-concert-has-to-be-on-20-channels/526064 "2010-01-23T01:10:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-bad-for-haiti-i-really-do-but-is-there-any-reason-why-this-concert-has-to-be-on-20-channels/526064/21 "2010-01-23T03:05:47Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Ill start watching when the celebs document how much cash THEY are donating While there are certainly some VERY generous celebrities around, I would bet if we knew just how many incredibly wealthy atheletes, actors and musicians that have never given a penny to any charity, ever, it would be quite an eye opener. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-bad-for-haiti-i-really-do-but-is-there-any-reason-why-this-concert-has-to-be-on-20-channels/526064/22 "2010-01-23T03:20:07Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > While there are certainly some VERY generous celebrities around, I would bet if we knew just how many incredibly wealthy atheletes, actors and musicians that have never given a penny to any charity, ever, it would be quite an eye opener. Celebrities are always in the public eye so charitable giving is an accepted part of their image-maintenance routine. It would be more interesting to compare wealthy celebs’ giving with wealthy non-celebrities. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-bad-for-haiti-i-really-do-but-is-there-any-reason-why-this-concert-has-to-be-on-20-channels/526064/23 "2010-01-23T03:53:55Z")
It would be even more interesting to see how many non-wealthy non-celebrities were giving… ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-bad-for-haiti-i-really-do-but-is-there-any-reason-why-this-concert-has-to-be-on-20-channels/526064/24 "2010-01-23T04:13:10Z")
I think most people who were going to donate probably did so 9 days ago, like me. I didn’t need George Clooney to tell me there was an emergency. StG ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-bad-for-haiti-i-really-do-but-is-there-any-reason-why-this-concert-has-to-be-on-20-channels/526064/25 "2010-01-23T05:37:06Z")
It wasn’t just all over the TV. [This page lists](http://newteevee.com/2010/01/22/where-to-watch-hope-for-haiti-now-online/) all the places where the telethon was streamed. I watched (parts of) it live on YouTube. > [@StGermain](#): > > I think most people who were going to donate probably did so 9 days ago, like me. Are you saying you don’t think the telethon raised any money? > [@StGermain](#): > > I didn’t need George Clooney to tell me there was an emergency. No one else did either. Regarding celebrity donations, to add to the list, according to [this article](http://omg.yahoo.com/news/stars-unite-to-help-haiti-in-telethon/34561?nc), John Mayer gave $500,000 right before the telethon. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-bad-for-haiti-i-really-do-but-is-there-any-reason-why-this-concert-has-to-be-on-20-channels/526064/26 "2010-01-23T06:45:09Z")
Madonna (who performed tonight, the one real upbeat, known song) and Tyler Perry (who wasn’t a part of the telethon) each gave [$250,000](http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2010/01/tyler-perry-donates-250000-to-haiti-relief/1). Personally, I’m glad that we haven’t heard more about celebrities’ donations. I’m sure that they’re giving, and generously. That they’re not sending out press releases about it says that they’re interested in doing the right thing, not getting publicity for doing the right thing. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-bad-for-haiti-i-really-do-but-is-there-any-reason-why-this-concert-has-to-be-on-20-channels/526064/27 "2010-01-23T07:22:40Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > I think most people who were going to donate probably did so 9 days ago, like me. I donated 7 days ago, which was the first time the magnitude of what had happened penetrated at all - before that, all I had seen was headlines (and thread titles.) I gave more tonight – largely because I had the telethon on as background while I was giving my daughter her bedtime bottle and was emotionally wrecked by an account of [Elizabeth Josaint](http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Baby-Found-In-Haiti-Quake-Rubble-Elizabeth-Josaint-Dug-Out-In-Jacmel-Amid-Bid-To-Rehouse-Victims/Article/201001315533115?lpos=World_News_Right_Promo_Region_3&lid=ARTICLE_15533115_Baby_Found_In_Haiti_Quake_Rubble%3A_Elizabeth_Josaint_Dug_Out_In_Jacmel_Amid_Bid_To_Rehouse_Victims). Not the first I’ve heard about her, but context counts. If we’re playing “I think a lot of people (like me,)” I’ll volunteer “I think a lot of people (like me,) may have not totally processed what has happened, and may be willing to dig a little deeper, now that they look up from what has kept them occupied during the week.” ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-bad-for-haiti-i-really-do-but-is-there-any-reason-why-this-concert-has-to-be-on-20-channels/526064/28 "2010-01-23T07:48:28Z")
I didn’t see it, but I’ve been following the news since last Tuesday, and I donated to the World Food Program last week - since I can’t very well hop the next flight to Port-au-Prince to go dig people out of the rubble or whatever, at least I can donate a little money to buy some food. I’ve been reading the newspaper, but can’t stand to watch TV reports on Haiti for long, because I know that sooner or later I’ll see something that will make me cry. This is why I didn’t watch the telethon. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-bad-for-haiti-i-really-do-but-is-there-any-reason-why-this-concert-has-to-be-on-20-channels/526064/29 "2010-01-23T15:04:01Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > No, I have cable. Again, i’m not inconvenienced by it, i’m not mad that networks choose to displace their programming, it’s a worthy cause, etc. I just find it asinine that it needs to be on 20! stations. It’s almost as if, as has been mentioned, that you dare not air the program for fear of having a finger pointed at you - which is lame. > > from wikipedia: > > Scheduled to air on 22 January 2010 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on: > MTV > VH1 > CMT > ABC > CBS > FOX > NBC > PBS > CW > BET > CNN > CNN-I > MSNBC > TNT > Comedy Central > Bravo > Oxygen > E! > Style Network > G4 > Fuse TV > Reelz Channel > MLB Network > Current TV > Discovery Health > HBO > National Geographic > Weather Channel More than those on my cable system…I went through my onscreen guide and counted it on 32 channels…we have multiple PBS channels ( 5 of them) and there are secondary MTV and VH1 channels plus it was on other channels like the Soap Opera channel ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-bad-for-haiti-i-really-do-but-is-there-any-reason-why-this-concert-has-to-be-on-20-channels/526064/30 "2010-01-23T15:16:46Z")
See that there red button on your remote? It’s called an “off switch”. ---
**Author:** ![Skylark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Skylark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skylark)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-bad-for-haiti-i-really-do-but-is-there-any-reason-why-this-concert-has-to-be-on-20-channels/526064/31 "2010-01-23T15:35:00Z")
> [@PatriotGrrrl](#): > > 32 channels here (Comcast in New England). That’s gotta be some kind of record. (Anecdotal, from memory) I remember the 9/11 coverage and 9/11 concert had to have been on more channels. Upon Preview: wiki has it at 35 channels plus 8,000 radio stations and AFN. Can’t find a tally yet on how many channels surrendered programming to the larger broadcast news networks (I remember MTV turned into CBS news that week), although since that was 9 freakin’ 11 and not a concert not sure if that one counts. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-bad-for-haiti-i-really-do-but-is-there-any-reason-why-this-concert-has-to-be-on-20-channels/526064/32 "2010-01-23T15:47:18Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > As did Leo, Brad and Sandra Bullock. They’re the ones I read about, there’s almost certainly others. Vin Diesel created an “underground” supply line of baby formula and other necessities from the DR into Haiti after personally seeing the devastation and suffering. I guess being BFF with the president of the DR helps, lol. And Paul Walker brought a team of paramedics to Haiti. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-bad-for-haiti-i-really-do-but-is-there-any-reason-why-this-concert-has-to-be-on-20-channels/526064/33 "2010-01-23T16:54:03Z")
Wait, it was on the weather channel, too? So people had to go 2 hours without weather updates? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-bad-for-haiti-i-really-do-but-is-there-any-reason-why-this-concert-has-to-be-on-20-channels/526064.md?page=1)