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)

[summer]

Will this become a trend for Hollywood stars? Supporting patriotic-themed television shows for kids?

[summer]

FYI.

[BlueLancer]

"The series is such a prideful thing that everybody is getting on board."

What politically-correct tripe! The sentence should read "The series is such a pitiful thing that everybody is getting on board."

[summer]

Now, why do you say that? LOL!

[El Sordo]

I can see it now. Dustin Hoffman as Patrick Henry giving the kids a passionate speech ending with "Give me Social Security, or you're giving me death!" Whoopi Goldberg as, say, Molly Pitcher heroicly taking water to the animals displaced by the revolutionaries use of environmentally unfriendly strategies. And Ben Stiller as Thomas Paine discussing the neccesity of large Federal Governments.

I can se the show closure, a guest appearance by Martin Sheen as George Washington. Can't you just see his farewell speech including a line about government being a poor servant, but a wonderful master. Perhaps throw in a little discourse in internationalism....

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Hi summer. How have you been?

[bigbob]

DIC Entertainment

Says it all...

[GraniteStateConservative]

This will be such a watered-down piece of garbage.

They should do a series on the Constitution and the Federalist papers. Bios on Hamilton, Madison, and Jay.

[summer]

Fine, thanks. And, you?

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Real busy, what with a 3 year old and and a 13 week old.

[summer]

Wow, congrats! :)

[rdww]

PLEASE tell me this is a bad joke... I propose the "Whoopie" rule... anything that Whoopie Goldberg in any way supports is by definition stupid and/or evil.

[summer]

LOL...to tell you the truth, I think that "rule" already exists.

[I am still Casey]

Nice find summer.

I understand what you're trying to do, and hope others will too eventually.

[summer]

Don't hold your breath waiting on that one! :)

[summer]

And, thanks! :)

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Thanks. I think whoopie should play the prison ship off the coast during the rev.

[summer]

FYI! :)

[summer]

LOL...

[summer]

And, you're welcome. :)