Plot Synopsis

Every even year from 2008-2018 and then every odd year since 2021, multiple broadcast networks and cable channels air a one-hour, commercial-free telethon to raise money for Stand Up to Cancer, an organization that raises money for cancer research and improves cancer awareness. Each telecast features performances from top musical acts, testimonials from patients who share their experiences in Stand Up to Cancer clinical trials, and A-list celebrities who appear to lend their names, faces and voices to the cause. Founded by SPIDER-MAN movie producer Laura Ziskin, who produced its first two telethons in 2008 and 2010 and who lost her seven-year fight against breast cancer in 2011, Stand Up to Cancer has raised more than $370 million overall and awarded grants to more than 1,200 of the best and the brightest research scientists from 112 institutions in six countries, as they seek innovative approaches to end cancer's role as the world's leading cause of death.

The 2012 telethon, televised commercial-free from 8-9pm ET from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Friday, September 7, 2012, featured performance by Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Coldplay and Alicia Keys. Plus, the following celebrities were scheduled for the 2012 event: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Justin Timberlake, Sofia Vergara, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Michael Douglas, Jessica Biel, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Seth Rogen, Emma Stone, Katie Couric, Olympic gold medalists Gabrielle Douglas and Missy Franklin, Eric Stonestreet, Ray Romano, Felicity Huffman, Rocco DiSpirito, Maura Tierney, Simon Baker, Jordana Brewster, Diem Brown, Dana Delany, Chelsea Handler, Marg Helgenberger, Rashida Jones, Minka Kelly, Joe Manganiello, Jillian Michaels, Masi Oka, Ana Maria Polo, and Alison Sweeney.

On Friday, September 5, 2014 from 8-9pm ET (live)/PT (tape), the fourth STAND UP TO CANCER telethon was broadcast simultaneously on all four major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX) and more than 25 cable channels, featuring performances by The Who, Jennifer Hudson, Lupe Fiasco & Common, Ariana Grande, and Dave Matthews. Plus, the celebrities are scheduled to appear: Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon, Pierce Brosnan, Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry, Jon Hamm, Kiefer Sutherland, Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell, Mark Harmon, Rob Lowe, Danny McBride, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Tony Hale, Dane Cook, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Marg Helgenberger, Matt Passmore, Rob Riggle, Italia Ricci, Bree Turner, and more. Broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, STAND UP TO CANCER also featured a digital lounge on the set, hosted by Katie Couric, where stars reached out to viewers via phone, Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms through a new campaign called "We're Calling You" that SU2C's supporters can sign up for at werecallingyou.org.

On Friday, September 9, 2016 from 8-9pm ET (live)/PT (tape), the fifth STAND UP TO CANCER telethon premiered simultaneously on all four major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX) and more than 25 cable channels, featuring performances by Celine Dion and Keith Urban with Little Big Town. Plus, these celebrities are schedule to appear: Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, Emma Stone, Anna Kendrick, Josh Gad, Niecy Nash, Eric Stonestreet, Alison Sweeney, Ken Jeong, Marcia Cross, Greg Grunberg, Danielle Campbell, Charlie Wilson, Brittany Daniel, SU2C Co-Founder Katie Couric, and many more. This live one-hour event, executive produced by Bradley Cooper, airs live from The Music Center's Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. This year, for the first time, there will be a Spanish version of the Stand Up To Cancer telecast airing nationally on Galavision, HBO Latino, STARZ ENCORE ESPANOL and Univision Deportes, and locally on Univision Puerto Rico.

Celebrating 10 years, STAND UP TO CANCER 2018 premieres on Friday, September 7, 2018 from 8-9pm ET (live)/PT (tape). The sixth SU2C telethon premiered simultaneously on all four major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX) and more than 25 cable channels, featuring performances by Stevie Wonder, Little Bit Town, and Charlie Wilson. Plus, these celebrities are schedule to appear: Jason Bateman, Beth Behrs, Julie Bowen, Josh Brolin, Kaley Cuoco, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Max Greenfield, Jon Hamm, Mark Harmon, Sarah Hyland, Adam Klein, Tyler Labine, Diego Luna, Sonequa Martin-Green, Dave Price, Keanu Reeves, Tracee Ellis Ross, Winona Ryder, Jimmy Smits, Eric Stonestreet, Alison Sweeney, Bree Turner, Sofia Vergara, Marlon Wayans, Mahershala Ali, Kathy Bates, Katie Couric, Jennifer Garner, Tony Hale, Marg Helgenberger, Ed Helms, Ken Jeong, Marlee Matlin, Matthew McConaughey, Maria Menounos, Jillian Michaels, Trevor Noah, Dak Prescott, Italia Ricci, Rob Riggle, Karla Souza, David Spade and Keith Urban. To kick off the telecast roadblock, social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and YouTube unite for a one-hour standalone digital show that streams live from The Barker Hangar from 7-8pm ET/4-5pm PT. Co-hosted by Max Greenfield, Tyler Posey and Brenda Song, the pre-show features influencers and stars across the world of entertainment who rally the next generation of supporters through themes of hope, courage, and strength with the message that it is #Up2Us to Stand Up To Cancer. Talent participating in the digital show include: Rhett + Link, Uzo Aduba, Beth Behrs, Paris Berelc, Katie Couric, Hannah Hart, Olivia Holt, Ken Jeong, Liza Koshy, My Nguyen, Teni Panosian, Candice Patton, Megan Pormer, Andrea Russett, iHeartRadio's JoJo Wright, Mackenzie and Maddie Ziegler, and more. Instagram and Snapchat will support the proactive initiative with complementary content and stories tied to the sweeping campaign. Additionally, the show will be featured across iHeartMedia's multiple social platforms.

There was no event in 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

STAND UP TO CANCER (SU2C) returned for its seventh biennial televised fundraising special on Saturday, August 21, 2021 from 8-9pm ET/PT on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and multiple other networks, channels, and services. Co-hosted by Anthony Anderson, Ken Jeong & Tran Ho, and Sofia Vergara. SU2C co-founder and special guest Katie Couric also appears and there are performances from Brittany Howard and Common with Stevie Wonder. SU2C honors the beloved Chadwick Boseman with a special tribute by his wife Simone and host Anthony Anderson at this year's fundraising special. Boseman passed away last year at the age of 43 after a private battle with colon cancer.Notable celebrities, social media stars and streamers join forces across social platforms to elevate cancer patient voices and highlight the importance of cancer research and fundraising -- including Alexandra Shipp, Allie, Ella, Noelle and Noah Schnacky, Allison Miller, Ana Maria Polo, Anna Akana, Aria Brooks, Bobby Berk, Bree Turner, Brenda Song, Brittany Perry-Russell and Isaiah Russell-Bailey, Cameron Mathison, Carrie Ann Inaba, Cheryl Burke, Chloe Lukasiak, Craig Melvin, Emma Norton, Eric McCormack, Flula Borg, Frankie Grande, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jordana Brewster, Justine Ezarik (iJustine), Kalen Allen, Kaylee Bryant, Kelsi Davies, Kent Boyd, Leslie Jordan, Matt and Abby Howard, Megan Pormer, My Nguyen, Neebs Gaming, Odette Annable, Robbie Amell, SungWon Cho (ProZD), Tiffani Thiessen, Tony Goldwyn, Tori Phantom, and Uzo Aduba.
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On Saturday, August 19, 2023 from 8-9pm ET/PT, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and multiple other networks, channels, and services presented the 2023 installment of STAND UP TO CANCER (SU2C). For its eighth fundraising special, which supports urgently needed research and new treatments for cancer, the SU2C debuts in a new format with a televised celebration entitled "How It Started, How It's Going," which recognizes SU2C's impact and progress over the last 15 years.

Over the course of one hour, the show will celebrate 15 years of cutting-edge cancer research and highlight special moments with stars from film, television, sports and journalism who have supported the SU2C movement. The show will also feature renowned SU2C-funded cancer scientists, who will discuss the progress being made in the fight against cancer and the critical need to continue to fund life-saving research. There will also be touching stories from cancer survivors who have received breakthrough treatments supported by SU2C.

Celebrities making a special appearance during the show include Elizabeth Banks, Jessica Biel, Don Cheadle, Katie Couric, Danai Gurira, Tony Hale, Ken Jeong, Maria Menounos, Julianne Moore, Tig Notaro, Jimmy Smits, Eric Stonestreet and Justin Timberlake; a special montage of comedic skits from past shows will feature Jack Black, Ben Falcone, Zach Galifianakis, Brad Garrett, Bill Hader, Jon Hamm, Kevin Hart, Ed Helms, Melissa McCarthy, and Matthew McConaughey. The televised special will also feature past musical performances from the likes of Brittany Howard, Simone Ledward Boseman, and The Who. SU2C's biennial specials have been supported by hundreds of celebrities over the past 15 years. Additional celebrity guests will be announced in the weeks leading up to the telecast.

Since its inception, SU2C has raised over $746 million to bring together more than 3,000 of the best scientists from over 210 leading institutions to collaborate towards ending cancer's reign as a leading cause of death worldwide. SU2C's research has contributed to the development of nine new cancer therapies approved by the FDA, and more than 270 clinical trials treating more than 29,300 patients. SU2C is committed to cancer health equity and is working to increase diversity in SU2C-funded clinical trials, initiate advocacy group collaborations and awareness campaigns, and fund research aimed at improving cancer outcomes and screening rates in medically underserved communities.