By Michelle Zubiate
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Larry David, co-creator of the television show
“Seinfeld,” cares about exactly two issues. One,
everyone should wear sneakers. And two, everyone should curb their
enthusiasm (which also happens to be the title of an HBO
special).
But this week, he’ll put his personal beliefs aside to
promote his wife’s cause ““ the environment.
“She put a gun to my head and basically told me I had to
perform,” said David jokingly in a phone interview.
He will be delivering some comedy Wednesday night, as the
Natural Resources Defense Council hosts its first Los Angeles
fund-raiser in Royce Hall titled “Earth to LA!”
Comedians, musicians and political figures will all be present to
promote awareness.
“I don’t frequently participate in these
things,” David continued in his usual wry humor. “I
infrequently participate in anything, but with this one I really
didn’t have much of a choice. The law was laid down. My house
would have been a very unpleasant place had I not
complied.”
But as film director Rob Reiner (“The American
President,” “The Princess Bride”) points out, the
participants all have some connection to the environment in varying
degrees. Singer/songwriter Jewel will perform and Robert F.
Kennedy, Jr., will provide the keynote address.
Reiner, the evening’s master of ceremonies, has also been
a supporter of the NRDC for about 12 years.
“I did some research and there are obviously a lot of
great organizations around the country,” he said in phone
interview. “But what the NRDC was doing was more effective
than anyone else with its combination of 100 scientists and 100
lawyers. They seem to be the most equipped to really further the
environment’s agenda.”
Reiner wears the hat of both artist and advocate for
environmental and children’s issues. On June 18th he will
receive the UCLA Medal, the university’s highest honor, at
the School of Public Health commencement ceremonies in recognition
of his contributions to the health and well-being of children.
He believes the combination of entertainment and advocacy should
not be a responsibility but a desire for an artist.
“You can’t force an artist to express their ideas in
their work,” he said. “But if you care about a
particular issue, you have that in the back of your mind and you
can find ways to do it in a natural, organic way.”
Joel Reynolds, a senior attorney with the NRDC, agrees about the
impact that fusing entertainment and a social movement can
have.
“Entertainment is the way we communicate,” Reynolds
said. “We do it through music, we do it through comedy, we do
it through more serious presentation. It keeps people focused, it
brings people in. It’s like a magnet. And it helps people to
learn and to be motivated.”
Among the participants of the evening are Diane Keaton, Julia
Louis-Dreyfus, Carole King and Alan Horn.
The benefit will also feature a few short films ““ one
introducing NRDC and two highlighting current projects they are
working on.
Comedians and musicians will all add a bit of their personal
character in order to highlight the NRDC’s efforts.
“I’m in the process of planning something,”
David said. “I don’t want to go up there and ruin the
event. I don’t want to bring everybody down and make them say
“˜Well everything was good except that Larry David
guy.'”
The NRDC hopes to expand “Earth to LA!” to become an
annual fund-raiser.
“The NRDC has a 30-year history of protecting the
environment through lawsuits, legislative advocacy and policy
making,” Reynolds said. “The problems are complex and
the solutions are sometimes illusive but the NRDC has the staying
power to come to grips with a lot of these problems in a way other
groups don’t.”
BENEFIT: “Earth to LA!” will be held in Royce Hall
this Wednesday at 8 p.m. For tickets and information call Harvin
Riggs at (310) 559-9334.