NETWORKS UNITE FOR TELETHON.

Hollywood has emerged from its shock over the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and will respond with an unprecedented live benefit to be telecast Friday on the major TV networks.

``America: A Tribute to Heroes,'' featuring Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks and many other top names, will air from 9 to 11 p.m. Friday on four networks - ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, it was announced Tuesday.

The show will be broadcast live on the East Coast and tape-delayed on the West Coast. A spokeswoman, who did not wish to be identified, said the show will be broadcast from Los Angeles and New York but no exact location will be revealed for security reasons.

All cable and broadcast outlets, including radio stations, are invited to air the event, which the producers described as an ``uplifting evening filled with music, memories, hope and inspiration.''

Any outlet that agrees to air it on the West Coast must also agree to carry it on tape-delay, the spokeswoman said.

Only radio stations can broadcast the special live on the West Coast, but ``America: A Tribute to Heroes'' will also be streamed live on the Internet. (Some satellite TV services transmit East Coast feeds of cable networks.)

Participating film stars will include Jim Carrey, George Clooney, Cameron Diaz, Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, Will Smith and Robin Williams.

Among the featured musicians will be Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Sheryl Crow, the Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Bon Jovi and Tom Petty.

TV celebrities appearing will include Calista Flockhart, Dennis Franz, Kelsey Grammer, Amy Brenneman, Ray Romano, Conan O'Brien and Sela Ward. More names are expected to be added before the Friday program.

The networks haven't said how the funds will be dispersed.

Viewers will be told how they can donate on the show, organizers said. The four networks will pay for the event and all of the stars are donating their time.

The idea for the special was first broached last weekend. Those involved - who aren't clamoring to take credit for the benefit, though Jeffrey Katzenberg of DreamWorks SKG and Jimmy Iovine of Interscope Records have helped assemble talent - have had to scramble to assemble the show in such a swift fashion.

Celebrities will discuss the heroism of those on the streets of New York and at the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. The real-life heroes will not appear in the live portion of the broadcast.

Originally, the WB network was planning to introduce its new fall lineup of situation comedies Friday. A spokesman said it was likely that plan would change in the wake of this special event. (WB and UPN broadcast network programming from 8 to 10 p.m., and are contacting affiliates regarding the 10-to-11 p.m. hour.)