Rosie O'Donnell Debuts 'America'

Emmy winner Rosie O'Donnell plays a therapist in the poignant new Lifetime Original Movie "America," and ET is with the former "View" co-host and newcomer Philip Johnson at the big premiere!

Based on E.R. Frank's book of the same name, "America" is about a teenaged boy named America who has spent his entire life shuffled through the foster care system. Emotionally vacant and suicidal, he's teamed up with Rosie's therapist, who helps him understand his troubled past in order to find the courage to live. Johnson, an amateur actor and "real kid" plucked from obscurity by Rosie herself, plays the title role.

"It was the kind of book that was just alive," Rosie says. "To me it was a movie when I read it, I saw the whole thing in my head wrote it before I got back to New York. I called the writer and said, 'would you please give me the rights I don't know how long it's going to take but I promise you I'll do it.' Seven years later, found this kid and here we are."

"America" premieres on Lifetime this Saturday at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

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