MUHAMMAD ALI: 50TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION (TV)

Summary

This special celebrates the fiftieth birthday of the former heavyweight champion of the world, Muhammad Ali, with performances and tributes from many celebraties.

Highlights include: Dustin Hoffman introduces Muhammad Ali before Whitney Houston sings "The Greatest Love of All"; Dan Aykroyd recalls the relationship Ali had with sportscaster Howard Cosell; clips are shown of memorable Cosell-Ali interviews, followed by commentary from Cosell; The Four Tops perform a medley of songs including "Reach Out I'll Be There," "Standing in the Shadows of Love," and "Can't Help Myself"; rap singer MC Hammer talks about Ali's life outside the ring and how he became involved in boxing; clips of early Ali fights, including a bout at the 1960 Olympics when he won the gold medal, are shown; and track-and-field gold medalist Wilma Rudolph reminisces about her first meeting with Ali during the 1960 Olympics after they had both won gold medals.

Next, Billy Crystal pays tribute to Ali and Cosell with a comedic routine; Blair Underwood recites a poem about Ali's character and then introduces Raven-Symone, who also recites a poem for Ali; The Pointer Sisters perform "Neutron Dance"; Little Richard sings "Good Golly Miss Molly"; comedian Sinbad does a routine about the life of a boxer, training to become a boxer, and the jumping rope aspect of training; Charles Dutton talks about Ali's boldness with the media, followed by clips exemplifying Ali's manner; former champion Sugar Ray Leonard introduces Tony Danza, who was once a professional boxer. Danza then tells the story of his first meeting with Ali at a New York City gym; he also demonstrates the speed bag, jumping rope, and the heavy bag, turning it into a song-and-dance routine.

Ella Fitzgerald is escorted on stage by Ken Norton and Joe Frazie, both former opponents of Ali, before singing "Too Close For Comfort." Underwood returns to give the history of three of Ali's most famous fights against Frazier, which are followed by clips of the matches. Ali's daughter, Maryum "May May" Ali, performs a rap song-and-dance number. Diana Ross, along with the New York Boys Choir, performs "The Force Behind the Power," leading up to a message from Nelson Mandela in South Africa being read. The finale brings all the guests on stage to sing "You've Got a Friend" followed by parting words from Ali. An ABC News Brief is presented by reporter John Martin. Includes commercials.

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: March 1, 1992 Sunday 9:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:55:37
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: T:25839
• GENRE: Specials; Variety
• SUBJECT HEADING: Boxing; Sports; African-American Collection - Sports; African-American Collection - Comedy
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1992
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - "Article 99" feature film
  • TV - Commercials - Advil Cold & Sinus medicine
  • TV - Commercials - Aetna insurance
  • TV - Commercials - Amercian Express credit card
  • TV - Commercials - Anacin pain reliever
  • TV - Commercials - Budweiser beer
  • TV - Commercials - Cascade Liqui-Gel dishwasher soap
  • TV - Commercials - Coca-Cola soda
  • TV - Commercials - Equal Nutra Sweet artificial sweetener
  • TV - Commercials - Extra Strength Tylenol pain reliever
  • TV - Commercials - Fab Ultra laundry detergent
  • TV - Commercials - Ford automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - General Motors automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Glaxo Institute for Digestive Help
  • TV - Commercials - Honey Nut Cheerios cereal
  • TV - Commercials - Kellogg's Low-Fat Granola cereal
  • TV - Commercials - Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - MCI phone systems
  • TV - Commercials - Maalox heartburn relief formula
  • TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - Mercury Sable automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Nissan automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Orville Redenbacher's popcorn
  • TV - Commercials - Pampers Phases diapers
  • TV - Commercials - Pine-Sol cleaner
  • TV - Commercials - Polaroid cameras
  • TV - Commercials - Robitussin cough drops
  • TV - Commercials - Subaru automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - The Diamond Anniversary Band
  • TV - Commercials - Tide Ultra laundry detergent
  • TV - Commercials - Toyota Corolla automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Wendy's restaurants
  • TV - PSA - United Negro College Fund
  • TV - Promos - "ABC News Brief"
  • TV - Promos - "American Detective"
  • TV - Promos - "FBI: The Untold Stories"
  • TV - Promos - "Full House"
  • TV - Promos - "Good Morning America"
  • TV - Promos - "Home Improvement"
  • TV - Promos - "Homefront"
  • TV - Promos - "Lock Up"
  • TV - Promos - "Never Say Never Again"
  • TV - Promos - "Primetime Live"
  • TV - Promos - "Roseanne"
  • TV - Promos - "The Happy Days Reunion Special"
  • TV - Promos - "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles"
  • TV - Promos - "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles"

CREDITS

• George Schlatter … Executive Producer, Writer
• Gary Necessary … Producer
• Howard Bingham … Producer
• Louis J. Horvitz … Director
• Buz Kohan … Writer
• Glen Roven … Music by
• Toni Basil … Choreographer
• New York Boys Choir, The … Choir, Performers
• Four Tops, The … Music Group, Performers
• Pointer Sisters, The … Music Group, Performers
• Whitney Houston … Singer, Performer
• Little Richard … Singer, Performer
• Ella Fitzgerald … Singer, Performer
• Mary "May May" Ali … Singer, Performer
• Diana Ross … Singer, Performer
• Billy Crystal … Performer
• Sinbad … Performer
• Tony Danza … Performer
• Muhammad Ali … Guest
• Dan Aykroyd … Guest
• Howard Cosell … Guest
• Charles Dutton … Guest
• Joe Frazier … Guest
• Dustin Hoffman … Guest
• Sugar Ray Leonard … Guest
• Nelson Mandela … Guest
• MC Hammer … Guest
• Ken Norton … Guest
• Wilma Rudolph … Guest
• Raven Symone … Guest
• Blair Underwood … Guest
• John Martin … Reporter