Wb's "reba" Incorporates Katrina Into Storyline

[KimberlySayWhat]

'Reba' Brings Hurricane Relief, N.O. Family Into Show

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By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel

Oct 3, 2005

"Reba" co-star Chris Rich reports that the Oct. 14 episode of the WB show will not only spotlight Hurricane Katrina victims -- it will benefit them as well.

Rich, who plays Reba's ex-husband, Brock, on the show set in Houston told this column a couple of weeks ago that he was going to urge "Reba" producers to incorporate a storyline about someone displaced from the hurricane. He did. The producers were in accord. And, and as things evolved, the special segment was taped the very week Rich was scheduled to make his directorial debut on "Reba."

As the story goes, Reba agrees to take in a puppy lost in the storm. The pup's owners find it by way of an Internet posting, and a little boy and his grandma come to see it. However, since they're staying in a shelter, and the dog isn't allowed in the shelter, "Reba invites them to stay in her house," says Rich, "and the numbers keep growing until soon we have a large, beautiful black family camped out all over Reba's house."

Rich says they came up with an ingenious way to resolve the family's plight and help real-life hurricane victims, too. "One of Reba's great loves is her work for Habitat for Humanity," says Rich. "So that's how the family ends up getting relocated to New Orleans. In this episode we're keeping awareness of the hurricane survivors alive and promoting one of the solutions. We'll be running PSAs for Habitat and Whirlpool, a company that is a great contributor to Habitat."

He adds, "I'm hoping this show sends the message that charity doesn't necessarily stop when you write a check. Sometimes you have to open not just your heart, but your home -- but we still want everybody to keep writing checks." The "Reba" troupe also has a kitty going to raise funds on the set, and he says, "I believe we got close to $15,000 in that."

http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publi..._27261013.shtml

Edited October 3, 2005 by KimberlySayWhat