The Earth Day Special (1990) DVD

The Earth Day Special (1990) DVD

The Earth Day Special is a television special revolving around Earth Day that aired on ABC on April 22, 1990. Sponsored by Time Warner, the two-hour special featured an ensemble cast addressing concerns about pollution, deforestation, and other environmental ills.

Several cutaways are made to famous fictional characters watching events unfold, and discussing what can be done to save the planet.

This special was one of Jim Henson’s final performances as Kermit the Frog prior to his death later that year, as well as one of Jeff Bergman’s first as Bugs Bunny following the death of Mel Blanc the year prior.

Plot:
The episodic narrative, consisting of several individual skits threaded together, focused on an ailing Mother Earth (Bette Midler), who falls from the sky and faints, and is rushed to the hospital where she is attended to by Doogie Howser (Neil Patrick Harris) and two other doctors (James Brolin and Dana Delany). This special is watched by a married couple named Vic (Danny DeVito) and Paula (Rhea Perlman), and features a host of contemporary celebrities and characters, including Bugs Bunny, The Muppets, Marty McFly, Emmett “Doc” Brown, and E.T.

Cast:
Bette Midler – Mother Earth
Danny DeVito – Vic
Rhea Perlman – Paula
Kirstie Alley – Rebecca Howe
Christina Applegate – Kelly Bundy
Bea Arthur – Dorothy Zbornak
Dan Aykroyd – Vic’s Buddy
Amanda Bearse – Marcy Rhoades
Candice Bergen – Murphy Brown
Mary Kay Bergman – Allison
Mayim Bialik – Kid
Tempestt Bledsoe – Vanessa Huxtable
Lisa Bonet – Denise Huxtable Kendall
Jonathan Brandis – Kid
James Brolin – Doctor
Chevy Chase – Vic’s Buddy
Bill Cosby – Cliff Huxtable
Kevin Costner – Bartender
Rodney Dangerfield – Bachelor #3 (Dr. Vinny Boombatz)
Ted Danson – Sam Malone
Geena Davis – Kim
Dana Delaney – Doctor
Rick Ducommun – Hospital Security Guard
David Faustino – Bud Bundy
Jane Fonda – Helen
Nika Futterman – Giulia
Morgan Freeman – Walter Samson
Dan Gauthier – Bachelor #2
Estelle Getty – Sophia Petrillo
Kelsey Grammer – Dr. Frasier Crane
Edan Gross – Kid
Woody Harrelson – Woody Boyd
Neil Patrick Harris – Dr. Doogie Howser
Dustin Hoffman – Everylawyer
Dom Irrera – Fan
Michael Keaton – Charles McIntyre
Keshia Knight Pulliam – Rudy Huxtable
Jack Lemmon – Coach Stewart
Christopher Lloyd – Dr. Emmett Brown
Rue McClanahan – Blanche Devereaux
Rick Moranis – Vic’s Buddy
Ed O’Neill – Al Bundy
Edward James Olmos – Hospital Director
Harold Ramis – Elon Spengler (brother of Egon Spengler)
Phylicia Rashad – Clair Huxtable
John Ratzenberger – Cliff Clavin
Raven-Symoné – Olivia Kendall
Pat Riley – Bachelor #1
Katey Sagal – Peggy Bundy
Martin Short – Nathan Thurm
Meryl Streep – Concerned Citizen
Malcolm-Jamal Warner – Theo Huxtable
George Wendt – Norm Peterson
Betty White – Rose Nylund
Robin Williams – Everyman
Robert Wuhl – Fan

Appearing as Themselves:
Downtown Julie Brown
Heavy D
Michael Douglas
Isaac Hayes
Ice-T
Magic Johnson
Quincy Jones
Kid ‘n Play
Jim Lange
Queen Latifah
Tone Lōc
Melanie Mayron
Dennis Miller
Fresh Prince
Dr. Carl Sagan
Barbra Streisand
Donna Summer
Alex Trebek

Muppet performers:
Jim Henson – Kermit the Frog
Kevin Clash – Alligator
Dave Goelz – Elderly Frog
Jerry Nelson – Robin the Frog
David Rudman – Iguana

Voices:
Jeff Bergman – Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Tweety
Don Pardo – Weekend Update Announcer