Smits, Hicks go 'Fourth' on Independence Day
Smits, Hicks go 'Fourth' on Independence Day

By Jay Bobbin

Published: July 4, 2008

He's not a real president-elect; he's just played one on television.

Still, that's enough to make Jimmy Smits feel at home in Washington, D.C., on the nation's birthday.

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The Emmy-winning veteran of "The West Wing,” "L.A. Law,” "NYPD Blue” and last season's "Cane” will play first-time host as entertainers gather for the traditional celebration on the annual, ever-classy PBS special "A Capitol Fourth” at 7 p.m. today on OETA-13.

"The same producing organization handles this and the National Memorial Day Concert, and I've been a presenter on both,” Smits says. "It's always very moving, and in a wonderful way, it fortifies your feelings about what's going on. The Fourth of July concert is invigorating in so many ways, in terms of what it feels like to be an American.”

Originating as usual from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, executive producer Jerry Colbert's program will celebrate Independence Day largely in song. On the guest roster this time: the 2006 winner of "American Idol,” Taylor Hicks; Huey Lewis and the News; and rock icon Jerry Lee Lewis.

Also, opera star Harolyn Blackwell, Broadway talent Brian Stokes Mitchell and classical vocalist Hayley Westenra. Erich Kunzel returns to conduct the National Symphony Orchestra, ending the 90-minute show in the long-established way with Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture.”

"I grew up in New York City,” Smits says, "and I've got wonderful memories of the Fourth of July fireworks. It's a staple of the city, whether at a ballpark or at Coney Island. I'm a good New Yorker, but when you've experienced what it's like on the Capitol lawn with the backdrop of all the monuments and the live music, there's no comparison. It just gives you goose bumps.”

Some recent articles have likened the presidential run by congressman Matt Santos, Smits' "West Wing” character, to Sen. Barack Obama's current candidacy.

"It's funny,” Smits says. "That sort of started out in newspapers in England, which have a different perspective on American politics. About six months ago, these stories started surfacing about the Santos-Obama-Hillary (Clinton) of it all, then some Washington papers picked up on it.

"It just makes you feel proud, more than anything else, that the work has in some way transcended itself. You can't get so serious as to not realize that what we do is entertainment, but when you have the chance to provoke thought or advance discussion on a topic, it's just the icing on the cake.”

Another star of this year's "A Capitol Fourth” is broadening his image: Taylor Hicks is making his Broadway debut, playing Teen Angel (and crooning "Beauty School Dropout”) in a revival of "Grease” through early September. "We‘re having a ball with it,” Hicks says. "It's a great part.”

In getting July 4 off for his commitment in the nation's capital, Hicks knows he'll be shifting into a different mode.

"It's probably the most patriotic thing I'll ever do in my whole life,” he says. "I haven't decided which tunes I'll do yet, probably a standard and then a couple of other things.”

Hicks also realizes he'll be in impressive musical company. "Jerry Lee Lewis is definitely one of those rock 'n' roll mentors you try to see. You always hear about them, but that's going to be pretty special. You want to take a piece of them everywhere you go; that's the key to becoming a great performer, taking a little bit of something and making it your own.”

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