Five days a week, Gary Collins can...

Five days a week, Gary Collins can be found on television hosting the hourlong “Hour Magazine” talk show. But this week, he’ll be on call for 21 hours as co-host of “Born America,” the annual March of Dimes telethon that seeks funds to combat birth defects.

Collins, a longtime supporter of March of Dimes, will be co-hosting with his wife, Mary Ann Mobley, and with Sarah Purcell. Hal Linden serves as national host for the telethon that will originate in Los Angeles.

In Los Angeles, the telethon will air on KCOP Channel 13 from 9 p.m. Saturday to 6 p.m. the next day. San Diego’s Channel 39 will air the telethon beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday.