CALABASAS HILLS, Calif., Oct. 31, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- TV Guide and Paramount Pictures will shine the spotlight on Lou Gehrig's disease November 3 with the publication of a television producer's remembrance of his father's battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), coupled with the sale of a specially produced video of last year's Becker episode that was based on this touching story. All proceeds from the sale of the CBS sitcom episode will support the work of The ALS Association (ALSA).
Producer Russ Woody's story in the November 3 issue of TV Guide recounts his father's courageous battle with ALS -- a fight that inspired the episode, titled "Talking Points," that aired in March 2002.
In "Talking Points," actor Tom Poston plays a person with ALS who has lost the ability to speak, a condition that can be a symptom of this disease. Poston is brought, by his daughter, to see Dr. Becker, played by Ted Danson, who sets out to help him acquire a computerized communications device.
Paramount is releasing 1000 videos of "Talking Points" for sale at $9.99 and an additional 50 copies, signed by Danson, at $14.99. The video also features Danson's original public service announcement for ALSA that aired at the conclusion of the episode. The video is available for purchase only at The TV Guide Store at http://shop.tvguide.com.
The "Talking Points" video release is a first for Paramount. Paramount's promotional announcement to support the sale of the videos is on Paramount's website at www.paramount.com/television/becker. The Paramount announcement links visitors to The TV Guide Store and to ALSA's website at www.alsa.org.
"This episode of Becker represents a landmark public awareness accomplishment by the television industry in the fight against ALS," said Michael W. Havlicek, president and chief executive officer of ALSA. "The ALS community and the fight against ALS are aided by TV Guide's and Paramount's caring projects that extend support for ALSA's efforts to find a cure for this devastating disease with every viewing of Talking Points."
The story line in Talking Points is based on Woody's father, Claude, who died of ALS in 2002 just a few months after the episode aired. Previously co-executive producer of Becker, Woody is currently one of the executive producers of The Drew Carey Show. His story about his father's struggle with ALS, first diagnosed in 2001, recounts the experiences of both father and son on the Becker set during the filming of the episode.
"When TV Guide first proposed the idea of making the tapes available, I talked to Paramount and the whole thing just rolled," Woody said. "I remember, the evening we shot the episode my dad was sitting in the audience and everybody there knew the story was kind of about him, so there was a lot more meaning behind the words. It made for a memorable evening."
"I hope that this episode of Becker will help the term ALS creep into the American vernacular more than it has," he continued. "It's unusual for a sitcom to be able to say much of anything in depth. But, the more that people are aware of ALS, the sooner something will be done about this insidious disease."
The Association's new public awareness campaign, "Fighting ALS is a Full-Time Job," is highlighted on the cover of the specially packaged video.
Danson, whose public service announcement on behalf of ALSA aired in 2002, took a special interest in the video release project and the Woody article by signing the episode video jackets.
"The ALS Association is deeply grateful to Ted Danson for this new project and for his continuing commitment to using his celebrity to elevate the public consciousness about ALS," Havlicek said.
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord. When these cells die, voluntary muscle control and movement dies with them. Patients in the later stages of the disease are totally paralyzed, yet in most cases, their minds remain alert. Every day, an average of 15 people in the United States are newly diagnosed with ALS -- more than 5,600 people per year.
The ALS Association is the only national not-for-profit health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS through research, patient and community services, public education, and advocacy. For more information, visit www.alsa.org or call 818-880-9007 (toll-free Information line: 800-782-4747).
The A.L.S. Association logo is available at:http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=525