I found what I think evryone is talking about regarding ABC's coverage of the "millennium"... see below...

Millennium Marathon ABCs Plans for Live 22-Hour New Years Broadcast

ABCNEWS.com N E W Y O R K, June 9  ABC will air an extraordinary and unprecedented program to commemorate the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the new millennium. The program is scheduled to air live over 22 hours, beginning on the morning of Dec. 31, 1999, and continuing seamlessly through the dawn of the year 2000.

We expect this broadcast to be among the most exciting events ABC has ever produced, said network president, Patricia Fili-Krushel, bringing live television to its first celebration of a Millennium.

ABCNEWS to Play Key Role

She announced that ABCNEWS will take the lead in the production of the program, working together with all divisions of the company.

Peter Jennings will anchor the 22-hour event live from the networks new studio overlooking Times Square at 1500 Broadway. ABCNEWS anchors and correspondents, together with representatives from other parts of the network, will be stationed on location around the world to cover the complete array of events as they occur. ABCNEWS will also establish a millennium newsdesk at 1500 Broadway to cover news events related to the Millennium, including Y2K development. It is expected that other ABC divisions, including ABC Entertainment, ABC Sports and ABC Daytime, will contribute to coverage.

Following an ABC tradition, the broadcast will include a special version of Dick Clarks Rockin New Years Eve. More specific program details, including entertainment acts and other live events, will be announced later.

ABCNEWS is part of the Millennium Day Broadcast Consortium, 2000 Today, which is made up of many of the worlds leading broadcasters, including the UKs BBC, TV Asahi in Japan, CBC Canada, TV3 New Zealand, ABC Australia, ONCE TV in Mexico and SABC in South Africa. Participation in the consortium allows ABC exclusive commercial access (PBS is also a member) to coverage of global events and will help ABC capture the sights and sounds of each country as we celebrate the ending of one momentous era and the beginning of another.

Producer Uniquely Qualified for Project David Westin, president of ABCNEWS announced that Gary Smith, one of the most creative and experienced producers of live television, will serve as the executive producer of the Millennium Eve coverage. I can think of no one better qualified to spearhead our effort than Gary Smith, given his talent and his experience in producing events spanning news and entertainment, said Westin. We at ABC remember him well from Liberty Weekend, the four-day centennial celebration of the Statue of Liberty. We are looking forward to working with him again.

Smith is a partner in Smith-Hemion Productions with Dwight Hemion. The two formed their partnership in 1965 and have produced a wide range of high-profile and highly successful programs over more than 30 years together.

Smiths productions include:

The 1988, 1992 and 1996 Democratic National conventions; Inaugural galas for President Reagan in 1985 and for President Clinton in 1993 and 1997;

13 years of the annual Television Academy Hall of Fame honors; Four Emmy and five Tony Awards programs; Baryshnikov on Broadway;

12 annual Christmas in Washington specials for three different presidents; and,

Command Performance specials in London for the Queen of England.

Most recently, he produced and directed the three-hour CBS special, American Film Institutes 100 Years 100 Movies. In 1998, he also produced two programs for the Disney Channel, The American Teacher Awards and Disneys Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra.

Sounds like so much "bunk" to me.... Besides the millennium doesn't start until the end of 2000... Boneheads...

growlin' at the cat...

The Dog

-- Dog (Desert Dog@-sand.com), July 15, 1999