GIMME SHELTER

The Shelter from the Storm telethon monopolized the first hour of prime time tonight. The six broadcast networks presented the one-hour, commercial-free simulcast.

It was also carried live on ABC Family, Black Family Channel, Bravo, E!, Fox Reality, FSN Ohio, FSN South, FSN West, FX, G4 Media, Ovation, Oxygen, PAX, PBS, SOAPnet, TBS, Tennis Channel, Trio, TV Guide Channel, TV One, USA Network and WGN.

Internationally, the special was scheduled to be broadcast in at least 95 countries on programming services in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and virtually all of Asia and the Middle East.

Joel Gallen, the producer of the "America: A Tribute to Heroes" telethon, which raised funds after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in September 2001, was the executive producer for the special.

In a telephone conference on Thursday, Gallen said, "People know that politicizing will certainly not be a smart thing to do, as far as inspiring people to want to call in and rally around this cause. It is not a concern."

He said there would be a normal time delay to allow for bleeping obscenities.

Obviously, the intent of the simulcast was to raise funds for the Red Cross and the Salvation Army's Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, not push a political agenda.

Unfortunately, Chris Rock was looking to stir things up just a bit, seizing the opportunity to make the event about himself.

He started his segment with this:

"George Bush hates midgets."

Rock clearly wanted to put the spotlight on himself rather than the victims. He wanted to make a headline.

It was a cheap, sleazy move.

Jack Black talked about channeling all the anger people felt last week, over the suffering that the victims were forced to endure, into contributions.

His statement wasn't overtly political, but it was a little edgy. He chose to speak about the negative rather than keep the focus solely on doing something positive. Too bad.

Kanye West performed "Jesus Walks."

Whatever.

The behavior of these spoiled, self-absorbed celebrities is sometimes more than I can bear.

Morgan Freeman was all class. He made an impassioned statement about healing.

If only all of the concert's participants could have been more like him.