Associated Press
Tough room, Elizabeth Banks.
You could’ve heard crickets in the Democratic convention hall when the “Pitch Perfect” and “Hunger Games” actress attempted a joke or two in introducing a short video about Hillary Clinton.
Delegates barely laughed or clapped. Nomination fatigue? Clinton had just received the party nod.
Banks walked to the podium in white fog to Queen’s “We Are the Champions,” mocking a similar entrance at the Republican convention by Donald Trump.
“The Trump campaign is hard up for money. I just bought their fog machine on eBay for 30 bucks,” she attempted. “I don’t feel good about it. I don’t.”
Nothin’.
Earlier, Bryan Cranston, who played President Lyndon B. Johnson on Broadway and HBO, appeared on a civil rights panel with 1960s-era activists and signed on to an anti-Donald Trump campaign with more than 100 other celebrities at the Democratic National Convention.
Cranston was joined by Julianne Moore, Kerry Washington, Mark Ruffalo, Neil Patrick Harris, Shonda Rhimes and Macklemore in calling on Americans to deny Trump the White House. It’s part of MoveOn.org’s “United Against Hate” effort.
The “Breaking Bad” star pledged his support for Clinton during the panel discussion, which touched on the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party’s fight against the state’s all-white delegation at the 1964 Democratic convention.
Cranston’s film “All the Way” chronicles the tumultuous struggle that led to passage of the Civil Rights Act. Cranston said sharing the stage with the activists who played real-life roles in civil rights history made him feel like a “cubic zirconia on a stage with diamonds.”
Other celebrity highlights on the convention stage Tuesday include Meryl Streep, “Scandal” co-star Tony Goldwyn, “Girls” creator Lena Dunham and “Superstore” actress America Ferrera.
Dunham and Ferrera joined Chelsea Clinton in a panel discussion earlier in the day hosted by Glamour magazine. Asked whether they looked forward to Trump’s tweets in response to their appearances, favorite Trump target Dunham wasn’t worried.
“He’s already called me a B-lister with no mojo, so what’s coming next?” she smiled.
Ferrera said she’s fared better with Trump: “He’s talked a lot about America. He keeps trying to make me great again. I don’t know why. I’ve been great for years.”
Ferrera urged young voters not to sit out the election, and both pledged to support Hillary Clinton and urged Bernie Sanders supporters to come on board. Ferrera recalled watching Clinton gracefully turn over supporters to Barack Obama in 2008, saying Sanders supporters should do the same.
Meanwhile, actress Ashley Judd stopped on Broad Street in Philadelphia with tears in her eyes while watching a protest against police brutality. After accepting a “Black Lives Matter” sign from the Philly REAL Justice group, Judd said, “Let’s see if they will allow us the privilege of joining them.” They did, and Judd clapped.
Later Tuesday, actress Debra Messing, who co-starred on “Will & Grace,” will introduce remarks from a first responder and a victim from the 9/11 terror attack.
Singer Andra Day was scheduled to perform on the convention stage, and Alicia Keys was to close out the evening.
