Coast-to-Coast Couch Potatoes : Activists Will Try Inactivity, Watching TV on Cross-Country Fund-Raiser for the Homeless

BERKELEY — We’ve all heard of telethons, swimathons, bikeathons, even danceathons. Now comes a new twist on the old concept of doing something in excess to make a charity buck--a vegathon.

In a whimsical effort to raise money for homeless people, two twentysomething guys plan to “veg out”--as in watch TV--nonstop during a five-day journey from California to New York.

One will drive. The other will stare at the boob tube and eat junk food while lounging in the back of a customized pickup truck encrusted bumper-to-bumper with 34 TVs.

It’s called the Veg Across America tour, and after a ceremonial send-off by the Berkeley mayor today, it heads south to Los Angeles, pausing briefly to troll for dollars before hitting the open road.

Part performance art, part political statement, the tour’s motto is “Doing Nothing Coast to Coast to Fight Homelessness.” Its creators--who are seeking per-mile pledges and have collected $1,000 so far--hope the stunt will raise awareness and more than $100,000.

Their working thesis may be a stretch, but here it is: Americans are “vegging out” in front of their televisions while homelessness persists. Although they are by no means anti-TV, the Veg Across America duo believe that apathy is deadly--the enemy of social change.

“We don’t want to sound high and mighty, because we can veg with the best of ‘em,” said Dan Lohaus, 26, a film student who admits to a “Seinfeld” addiction.

“We’re just saying, ‘Hey, America, it’s OK to sit around and do nothing in front of the TV six hours a day, but don’t pretend homelessness doesn’t exist,’ ” added J.T. John, a drummer and furniture maker whose television diet includes nightly reruns of “The Simpsons.”

John, 28, is the trip’s designated vegger. Strapped into a car seat bolted to the truck bed, he will watch about 70 hours of TV during the 3,000-mile trek. Programming will vary--unless one of the networks earns a preference by kicking in some big money (hint, hint).

More likely, John will channel surf--and watch movies in remote areas where reception is poor. Among the films on his list: The “Star Wars” trilogy, and beloved road movies such as “Road Warrior” and “Cannonball Run.”

A key ingredient of Veg Across America is the tour vehicle. The truck began life as a 1992 Toyota pickup painted a sensible gray. It now looks like something Andy Warhol might have driven, a sort of moving temple of--or perhaps satire on--TV.

Eighteen sets salvaged from trash heaps and repair shops are spread from cab to tailgate across the top of the truck, while 15 more are embedded in its sides. The hood is plastered with 160 remote controls and channel knobs, while a microphone wired to a rooftop speaker allows the veg crew to greet other motorists as they drive.

Nine of the TVs actually work, running on power from the truck’s alternator. If it rains, those sets will be switched off and John will continue vegging in front of a battery-powered TV.

Encased in Plexiglass, the veg chamber is remarkably cozy--a living room on wheels. In addition to carpeting, it features a leather seat with footrest, a coffee maker--and of course, a color TV, complete with remote and VCR.

In true vegging style, John will travel in a bathrobe and slippers and subsist on beef jerky, Chee-tos and Dr Pepper. “Snack food is a big part of the veg concept,” he said.

Although the approach is lighthearted, John and Lohaus note that watching TV in the rear of a truck has metaphorical significance: For many homeless people, John notes, “their car is their living room--but without the Chee-tos, TV and VCR.”

Proceeds from the tour will be donated to 11 homeless organizations. City officials in Berkeley have declared Thursday “Veg Across America Day” and will present the veggers with a proclamation before they roll out of town.

In Los Angeles today, the veg duo will hit up the titans of America’s TV culture, begging for some serious dough. Game shows are a prime target in part because the vegmobile features painted portraits of nine famous hosts, from Alex Trebek to Bob Barker.

“My pitch is, “Hey, you give away $50,000 to game show winners every day. How about a little prize for homeless people?’ ” Lohaus said.

In addition to Los Angeles, the veg tour will include brief stops in Las Vegas, Denver, St. Louis and Boston. The crew hopes to reach New York City on Sept. 3.

While John veges and Lohaus drives, a third team member will videotape the adventure. Footage will be downloaded nightly onto a Web site. Those interested can trade their remotes for a mouse and follow the tour at: https://www.aaahcrisis.com/vegacrossamerica