Will ABC See the Forest for the 'Trees'? Fans Plant 7,000 Food Trees to Seed the Way for 'Men in Trees' Renewal

With the fate of ABC's primetime show 'Men in Trees' wavering on the chopping block, fans show support by planting 7,000 food trees in impoverished countries.

This is the classiest action ever.

Burbank, CA (PRWEB) April 18, 2008 -- "Men in Trees" fans from around the world have urged ABC to renew their favorite show by contributing more than 7,000 food trees to third world countries. They call the campaign "Plant It Forward." The campaign was organized by members of the ABC message board. The trees were planted through the non-profit organization Trees For Life International (www.treesforlife.org), which has sent each fan a donation certificate. The collected certificates have been delivered to Stephen McPherson, president of ABC Entertainment.

In the tradition of save-our-show campaigns, "Men in Trees" fans have taken a novel approach: Their campaign aims to address the issues of world hunger and the environment while, at the same time, convincing ABC to renew "Men in Trees" for a third season. "Seven-thousand food trees can produce up to 1.75 million pounds of food each year," reports Sally Johnston, a campaign coordinator. "That's 70 million pounds of food over the lifetime of the trees and a lot of fresh air."

Organizer Liz Herdade explains, "In the past, fans of TV shows have sent networks fake bananas, bras, peanuts, Mars Bars, Tabasco Sauce, and other sundry items." Though fans have used such creative methods to express support for their favorite TV program, the "Men in Trees" campaign marks the first to incorporate two prominent world issues to bolster its message.

Creator and producer Jenny Bicks, previously writer/co-producer of "Sex In The City," says, "Leave it to 'Men in Trees' fans to find a way to fight for our renewal and provide food for third world countries." Actor Seana Kofoed adds, "This is the classiest action ever."

The coastal hamlet of "Elmo" is an erstwhile Alaskan outpost where men outnumber women ten to one. When NYC relationship expert and writer Marin Frist (Anne Heche) visits Elmo on a book tour, she learns of her fiance's infidelity and decides to park her bags, resuscitate her confidence, and learn anew about the opposite sex by joining this community of men's men.

The hour-long dramatic-comedy centers on the lives and romantic complexities of Marin and her individualistic fellow Elmoians, characters who have become as familiar to "Trees" fans as were the denizens of "Cheers" to a former TV generation. Marin's neighbors include Jack Slattery (James Tupper), an outdoorsy animal biologist of few words and quiet intensity; and Cash (Scott Elrod), an uncommonly good-looking loner whose direct, self-assured manner and mysterious past intrigues many viewers.

As the network mulls over what to do with "Men in Trees" next season, TV critics are critiquing. The show has been subject to more than one unexpected hiatus and six timeslot changes during its two seasons, which fueled incentive for fans to organize. Matt Rousch of TV Guide writes, "If ever a show deserved a second (or third or fourth) look, it is ABC's woefully mistreated 'Men in Trees.'" Even so, the show has garnered media praise and boasts a loyal audience that follows it around ABC's ever-shifting schedule.

Trees for Life International, which oversees tree donations, began in the 1980s by planting fruit trees in India. The program has spread to five continents, in part because recipients make a pledge to help at least two others in the same way. They teach local populations how to sustain and reproduce their trees. "It's a first-rate organization," Johnston says, "and planting food trees is an effective means to fundraise or support a cause."

At this time, "Men in Trees" airs Wednesday on ABC at 10 p.m.

Photo and more info available at: http://sydney1106.tripod.com/id17.html

Contacts:

Sally Johnston
sallyojohnston@yahoo.com
818.720.1909

Liz Herdade
lherdade@aol.com
603.828.2763

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anne heche scott elrod treesforlife.org jenny bicks trees for life james tupper plant food trees plant it forward men in trees save-our-show campaign

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