Stars Vocalize Revolutionary 'Liberty' series [New tv show: our nation's struggle for independence]

The Hollywood Reporter ^ | Nov. 2, 2001 | Steve Brennan

[summer]

November 2, 2001

Stars vocalize revolutionary 'Liberty' series

Nov. 02, 2001

Dustin Hoffman, Whoopi Goldberg and Ben Stiller are set to star as the voices of famous American Revolutionary figures in a new 40-part animated series from DIC Entertainment, "Liberty Kids," which recounts the struggle for independence.

The PBS series already has veteran broadcaster Walter Cronkite on board as the voice of Benjamin Franklin (HR 7/20). Confirming that Hoffman, Goldberg and Stiller are now also set to take major voice roles in the series, DIC chairman and CEO Andy Heyward said: "The series is such a prideful thing that everybody is getting on board. It is a very timely and very topical undertaking that began a couple of years ago." Heyward added: "Not one of them came through their agents. They wanted to commit to this. And these are all very significant roles. We are talking to a number of other celebrities about partaking."

[Dustin] Hoffman is taking the voice role of Benedict Arnold, Stiller will play Thomas Jefferson, and Goldberg takes the role of Deborah Sampson, a Mayflower descendent who enlisted in and became a hero of the Continental Army disguised as a man.

(Steve Brennan)

[Bigg Red]

I have that Whoopi rule myself. I wouldn't walk across the street to see that hillary in anything!

[Green Knight]

Benedict Arnold, huh?

I predict that they'll somehow try to rehabilitate Benedict Arnold. "He really wasn't such a bad guy". *gag*

You know what we need? A conservative production studio, run by conservatives. (Kind of like how Fox News is run by a conservative. Just they make tv shows.) Rather than bitching about the liberal tripe shoved down the throats of kids, somebody should be making conservative programming, intead. Have Charlton Heston or someone similar run it. Make REAL patriotic programming, not the PC crap that we're sure to get with this series. Rather than bitch about the other sides message let's make our OWN message. Our side would win a LOT more converts if instead of getting the liberal message and conservatives ranting about how wrong it is, people instead get a conservative message alongside the liberal message. Having the 2 to compare, most people would lean toward the conservative message.

But hey, that's just me. I've always been one to prefer offense over defense.

[wbill]

Speaking for myself, I'm looking forward to Hollywood's version of the revolution, as taught to kids. I suspect that England might have a chance of winning. Or, minority Americans rise up and fight for their freedom, only to secure it and be oppressed by white male landowners.

/sarcasm off. But I still think that it's ironic that almost all schoolchildren today know who Crispus Attucks (sp?) is, but can't identify Thomas Paine or what he wrote.

For those whose education is lacking, Crispus Attucks was a black freedman who was the first person killed in the Revolutionary War. It was covered in my 4th, 8th, and 11th grade history texts. Thomas Paine, if I remember right, received only brief mention. And Nathan Hale was not covered at all.

[summer]

Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments! :)

[summer]

Good points from you as well! Thanks for your comments. :)

[Paleo Conservative]

Will ultra-leftist actors actually be able to read what our founders said without gagging.

[Fred Mertz]

Since it will be animated, they'll use it to brainwash our youth with the Hollyweird version of 'Liberty'. It'll stink!

[<1/1,000,000th%]

I'm not holding my breath for the People's Democratic-Republic Broadcasting Sermon to air anything worth watching, especially considering who's signing up. Whoopi was a big Klintoon supporter and showed up on Rosie O'Donut's show several times to declare her support of the evil one.

[I am still Casey]

Tiny steps. Prior to 9/11, Patriotism was practically a dirty word.

[techcor]

What will disgust me to the point of breaking my T.V. will be these celebrities version of what our founding fathers thought of the 2nd Amendment. They'll have Thomas Jefferson come out saying he thought only states should have guns and not private citizens. Arrrghhh!

[summer]

LOL...thanks for posting! :)

[Mulder]

This will more than likely be a revisionist anti-American hit piece on our Founders. Another piece of propaganda designed to brainwash Americans against the Constitution.

I, for one, don't plan to watch it.

[Elkiejg]

Hi summer - I've been away for over a month and never responded to your Jeb Bush/education/great Gov. note to me. Didn't mean to ignore you - had to rush out of town due to family health emergency. I've read all your posts about Jeb and agree TOTALLY!!! As a fellow FL resident, I think Jeb is doing a fantastic job. It's a shame his good works are not publicized more - but then he doesn't do them for the cameras!!!!

[summer]

No problem, and thanks so much for writing now! :)