Gore, Robertson and Sharpton hit the beach for commercial

VIRGINIA BEACH

The Rev. Al Sharpton and Pat Robertson are sitting on a couch and in walks Al Gore.

This isn't a joke.

It's the plot of a new commercial in the former vice president's fight against global warming.

And it was filmed at the 57th Street beach Wednesday.

Gore and his nonprofit agency, the Alliance for Climate Protection, are pitting odd couplings - think Sharpton and Robertson - in a series of public-service announcements to draw attention to the environment. The $300 million campaign is expected to launch next week, CBS News reported. Gore talks up his views in a "60 Minutes" interview set to air Sunday.

The global issue got local Wednesday as a film crew set up scaffolding, lighting equipment and a tan leather couch on the strand, not far from the waves.

A witness said Sharpton, the grandiose civil rights voice in New York, sat on the left.

Robertson, the conservative preacher and Regent University founder, was on the right.

"It was like 'The Twilight Zone' seeing them sitting on the couch," said Bill Kelly, a special events coordinator in the city's resort office. "And then around the corner comes Al Gore."

The public-service announcement - apparently Gore was directing - is meant to show that people who don't agree on much can still agree that the environment is important.

CBS reported other pairings will include Toby Keith and the Dixie Chicks and Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrich.

"A little tongue-in-cheek," observed Master Police Officer Dave Kent, who was at the Beach set before filming began.

Chris Roslan, a spokesman for the Christian Broadcasting Network, said Thursday that Robertson's participation doesn't mean he has taken a "firm position" on global warming.

"The video he did with Al Sharpton, it literally doesn't mention global warming," Roslan said. "The commercial is about saving the planet, it's not a specific thing about global warming."

Sharpton's office referred questions about the shoot to the Alliance, which wouldn't comment. But a peek at their permit to film on the Oceanfront shows the part that went to Sharpton was originally listed for outspoken filmmaker Michael Moore.

Kelly said he heard a conflict prompted a last-minute switch and Sharpton flew down.

The commercial was kept so quiet, crewmen wouldn't talk about it Thursday.

Debbie Coleman, a waitress in the Surf Club Ocean Grille at 57th Street, was all too happy to say how cool she thought it was to see the goings-on.

"It was a big thing," Coleman said. "It was awesome."

Staff writers Aaron Applegate and Steven G. Vegh contributed to this report.

Richard Quinn, (757) 222-5119, richard.quinn@pilotonline.com