NBC’s star-studded concert last week to benefit the victims of Hurricane Sandy raised a lot of money for a worthy cause. But there’s also a lot being done on the local level that won’t get any national publicity, but is just as important.
And since this column is devoted to all-things television, several events unfolding next week feature some bold-face TV names who’ll help raise money for victims of Sandy still struggling to get their lives back in order.
The cast of Oxygen’s “Jersey Couture,” including Deena Cortese, will be there this Tuesday, Nov. 13, for “A Night of New Jersey Charities,” at JUST Restaurant in Old Bridge, NJ. The evening, open to the public, will feature a fashion show by Diane & Company and the “Jersey Couture” cast to honor breast-cancer survivors. There will also be a silent auction to raise money — both for breast-cancer awareness and for Hurricane Sandy victims throughout New Jersey. The event is free, but donations will be collected by the Red Cross and clothing items collected by the Salvation Army, both to aid hurricane victims.
Then, on Thursday, Nov. 15, “Mob Wives” star Drita D’Avanzo and celeb publicist Johnny Donovan, along with Bash Records and Masque Events, will host a Hurricane Sandy fundraiser at WIP in Manhattan (34 Vandam St.). Cortese will also be at this event, along with “Big Ang” star Angela
Raiola and cast members from Oxygen’s “Bad Girls,” who’ll watch a performance by Raquel Castro from NBC’s “The Voice.”
All proceeds (admission is $20) will be donated to Hurricane Sandy victims and the Red Cross of Staten Island (food and clothing donations will also be accepted).
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This Sunday: It’s Veteran’s Day, and to honor the occasion, HLN will air a special “Stories of Courage” episode, “108 Hours: A Father’s Journey to Iraq,” at 8 p.m. The documentary tells the riveting story of Robert Stokely, a military father, and his quest to honor his son, Michael, who was killed by an IED attack in Iraq in 2005. It will air with limited commercial interruption, and will be repeated twice on Monday (7 p.m. and 10 p.m.).
Also on Sunday, celebrity trainer Dasha Libin hosts a “Healthy Holiday Pop Up Sunday” fundraiser with her pal Camille Ford (“Design Star,” “Food Wars”) at Anderson’s Martial Arts (394 Broadway). Margot B., who stars in “Rent,” will croon a few songs.
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Some familiar TV faces can now be seen on British TV streaming service Acorn TV (acornonline.com).
The service is offering the complete series of “Fortysomething,” in which Hugh Laurie, pre-“House,” stars as a doctor on the verge of nervous breakdown — with co-stars including Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC’s “Sherlock”). Acorn also has the complete first season of the Canadian series “Slings & Arrows,” a behind-the-scenes dramedy about a Shakepearean theatre troupe co-starring Paul Gross, Rachel McAdams and series co-creator Mark McKinney (“The Kids in the Hall”).
The first episodes of both of these series are free.
And, speaking of online streaming, “Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome” premieres today on Machinima Prime (youtube.com/machinimaprime). It’s a spinoff of “Battlestar Galactica” and stars Luke Pasqualino and David Eick. It’s produced by Universal Cable Productions.
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Last, but not least:
* Mark Margolis, known to fans of “Breaking Bad” as mute, bell-ringing Hector Salamanca — for which he snared an Emmy nomination — guest stars on FX’s “American Horror Story” next Wednesday, Nov. 14 . . . Antenna TV will air a 27-hour “Leave it to Beaver” marathon on Thanksgiving day beginning at midnight. That is a lot of Eddie Haskell. Talk about turkeys.