FOR IMMEDIATE MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, June 25, 2012

Kool & the Gang and the Newest American Idol Help Celebrate America’s 236th Birthday

Hot on the heels of another winning season as host of the hit TV series “Dancing with the Stars,” Tom Bergeron will lead an all-star cast in a patriotic evening of dynamite musical performances, topped off by the greatest display of fireworks anywhere in the nation. The 2012 edition of America’s biggest and brightest birthday party, “A Capitol Fourth,” will be broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, July 4 at 8 p.m. on WVIZ/PBS (encore directly following at 9:30 p.m.).

“What an honor to be in the nation’s capital for America’s biggest birthday party,” said Bergeron. “Hosting ‘A Capitol Fourth’ enables me to celebrate two things I’m a big fan of—America and PBS!”

“A Capitol Fourth” will feature some of the country’s favorite musicians, including the newest “American Idol” Phillip Phillips; two-time Tony Award winner Matthew Broderick, R&B superstar celebrators Kool & the Gang; and the National Symphony Orchestra. This year’s broadcast will also include Olympic medalist Apolo Ohno and legendary composer John Williams, who will lead a rousing and patriotic send off to Team USA as they head to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The live broadcast will explode with the most spectacular fireworks display anywhere in the nation, captured from every vantage point with 20 TV cameras stationed around the city, capped off with a highly charged rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” complete with live cannon fire provided by the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery—an audience favorite and a “Capitol Fourth” tradition.

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