I Love Liberty Special

Broadcast on 3/21/82. Starring Desi Arnaz Jr., Christopher Atkins, Valerie Bertinelli, Patty Duke, Peter Falk, Jane Fonda, Bonnie Franklin, Valerie Harper, Michele Lee, Hal Linden, Shirley MacLaine, Walter Matthau, Kristy McNichol, Mary Tyler Moore, Helen Reddy, Christopher Reeve, Martin Sheen, Rod Steiger, Barbra Streisand, Dionne Warwick, Robin Williams, Henry Winkler, more… “I Love Liberty was a special developed by Norman Lear for ABC. The show was produced by People for the American Way, a non-profit organization formed by Lear to combat the growing influence of right-wing religious groups. Billed as an all-star variety special saluting America in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of George Washington's birth, the show featured variety acts including Barbra Streisand singing "America the Beautiful" with the United States Air Force Band, Robin Williams doing a monologue as the American Flag, and a pre-taped Muppet sketch, introduced by Big Bird. The show was filmed at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, before an audience of 10,000 people. A New York Times article on March 21, "Is This Entertainment Special Promoting a Special Interest?", reported that the show was criticized for promoting a political viewpoint: "Although I Love Liberty has styled itself as a non-political and non-controversial salute to such American values as freedom, patriotism and tolerance, Moral Majority officials (who hadn’t yet seen the show) have already attacked it as a thinly veiled effort to promote Mr. Lear's liberal political views.” Broadcast without commercials. 90 minutes. Comes with Case.