The Red Nose Day special three-hour-long event on NBC was broadcast live from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on Thursday night. Each of the hours was hosted by one of three co-hosts, Seth Meyers, actress and comedienne Jane Krakowski and actor David Duchovny. The Red Nose Day benefit show, in which more than 100 actors, comedians and musicians took part, was organized to raise awareness of and money for children living in poverty in the United States and internationally.
Seth Meyers hosted the first hour. He said there was one goal, “To raise enough money to shove it in England’s face.” Then, he added “Oh, and also to help out children in need.” Red Nose Day began in England, but Meyers wanted the inaugural Red Nose Day event in the United States to be proof to England that we can outdo them at their own game.
Seth Meyers then showed a brief montage of clips about some of the actors and celebs who will be on the Red Nose Day special tonight. Will Ferrell, Blake Shelton and Christina Aguilera were among the many that he showed. Then, he cut to Nick Cannon, completing a 24-hour-long Dance-a-thon to help raise money for Red Nose Day.
Seth Meyers then explained what it took to organize Red Nose Day. He called up one celeb, who called another, and it kind of snowballed from there. John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Neil Patrick Harris and Reese Witherspoon, were just a few of the celebs that were involved in the short comedy bit. Then, One Direction talked about a video clip of children living in poverty right before a commercial break.
When the Red Nose Day show came back on, Seth Meyers mentioned two actors from Pitch Perfect 2 who would be offering commentary throughout the special. After that, Olivia Wilde and Michelle Rodriguez talked about how the donations of viewers would help make the lives of children living in poverty more bearable for them.
Michelle, in Columbia, showed a brother and sister in that country having to work making bricks to help earn money for their family, and she said that the donations of viewers could help them attend school and have better lives for themselves.
Following another break, Seth Meyers introduced a clip about Julia Roberts. Director Jodie Foster said she had been working with Julia, and that “Julia has a very distinctive voice.” Richard Gere said her voice was deep and gravelly, “like a prize fighter.” Julia said that her voice had to be re-dubbed in every movie that she was in.
Other examples of actors who allegedly had their voices re-dubbed that were shown in the humorous clip were Hugh Grant, and Daniel Craig and Liam Neesen. Meyers then cut to Hoda Kotb in Times Square, renamed Red Square for today. Nick Cannon was still there, still dancing away.
Actor Christian Slater then introduced a clip about children who are living in poverty right here in America. People get laid off, get in accidents, and live from paycheck to paycheck. Many Americans are close, maybe just one paycheck away, from becoming homeless, themselves.
Meyers introduced musical artist Ed Sheeran and Kermit the Frog, asking for people to donate their money. Kermit began singing the famous Rainbow Connection song as Sheeran played his guitar and joined Kermit in a duet. It was an AMAZING performance!
Back from another break, Seth Meyers introduced actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who was dropped off by a helicopter on the roof of the building and descended in a harness. Still hanging from the harness, she thanked everyone who was giving donations. They talked about Matt Lauer, who had began a 226 mile bicycle ride last Sunday to help raise donations for Red Nose Day.
Matt Lauer was there, in person. He said “It was the hardest thing and most fun thing that I’ve ever done.” Ellen DeGeneres sent Matt a special video message. She showed her entire studio audience, all wearing red noses that she had bought and given to them. They mentioned that Walgreens was “a fantastic supporter of Red Nose Day.” The company had managed to raise over $8 million.
Actor David Duchovny hosted the second hour of the Red Nose Day show. He said that the coaches of The Voice had done a lot to help spread the word and raise money for Red Nose Day.
Nick Offerman trained with actor Jeff Goldblum to prepare for a supposed Battle on The Voice. Nick Offerman did a Battle versus Will Ferrell. Offerman began talking about giving money to help children, and Will Ferrell kept cutting in and interrupting him, trying to sound more and more dramatic and emotional.
Adam said “I think I speak for all of us when I say you both win.”
Julianne Moore then spoke about the Children’s Health Fund, and the 15 million children in America who do not have health insurance. Blake Shelton visited in a neighborhood where a Children’s Health Fund mobile clinic had come to give children check-ups. One child’s mother was dying of cancer.
“One family emergency can cause a family like Marina’s to fall through the cracks,” Blake Shelton said. He added that “Kids like Jason are counting on you.”
Nick Cannon was still seemingly as energized as ever, dancing. A montage of Nick dancing with several celebs was shown. Then, he wearily danced his way to the Hammerstein Ballroom, greeting audience members as he went.
Josh asked Cannon how he was, and Nick said he was “so ready for some Epsom Salts.” He said “I sacrificed everything I had to help raise money for children around the world.”
Jack Black was in Uganda. He said he would tell everybody “what your donations are going to. There’s goodness there, but also desperation and danger,” Jack Black said. He talked with a 12-year-old boy, Felix, whose parents had died. He told Jack Black he had brothers and sister, but he did not know where they were..
“This is his life. This is where he lays his head at night,” Black said. “I can’t imagine my kids going through something like that. He wants an education, and I don’t think that’s a lot to ask.”
U2 then sang A Song for Someone. Bono said “Tonight, it’s a song for anyone…who supports Red Nose Day.” It is an AMAZING song. As Bono sang, a video played of some of the world’s children, including children here in the United States, who were living in situations of extreme poverty.
After a funny bit by Billy Eichner from Billy On the Street and Martin Short, asking people on the street for donations, Jack Black was shown again, wearing a mosquito safety net. He said “It cost $4 for one of these. $4 to save a life.”
Bill and Melinda Gates were shown filming a promo spot for Red Nose Day. The film crew kept on having technical difficulties, though, in a somewhat humorous comedy bit.
At the close of the second hour of the Red Nose Day show, Today Show‘s Al Roker announced that the show, including the Walgreens’ donation and the money that Nick Cannon had raised, had taken in over $10 million. That was not bad, considering it is the first time that there has been a Red Nose Day in the United States.
Jane Krakowski hosted the third hour. At one point, she tried to show how easy it was to donate using one’s phone. She typed into her cellphone, then said “Ooops — that was not a text, it was a sext.” But, she got it right the next time, and said she had just donated $10.
In a clip narrated by Liam Neeson, Coldplay practiced for a performance of “Game of Thrones: The Musical.” The lead singer, Chris Martin, began singing a Reggae style of song. He said everybody was stunned.
Jane Krakowski then showed a video of an “anonymous donor.” An actor wearing a mask with his voice altered was sitting in a chair. People came up to him and asked “Are you ready, Ben?” and called him “Ben Stiller.” He got ticked off at them, and he said “I’m not who you think I am; I’m somebody entirely different.”
Gwyneth Paltrow said “Here’s Jack Black in Uganda.” This time, Black was in a hospital in Uganda. A child had been brought in, trembling with convulsions. Jack Black said the doctors did not know what was wrong with her. Despite what he had said about not crying earlier, he could not help himself. He said “I wish that all of you could be here to see this.”
Black said “We’re all in this together. Need is need, and love is love.”
Following more commercials, some of the cast members of Game of Thrones that were taking part in the musical showed up. Chris Martin directed them, and scenes of the cast members singing were shown in a cool clip.
Martin said “All we need now is George R.R. Martin’s permission. He will go absolutely crazy.” He did go crazy, Liam Neeson said — the show was cancelled.
Jane Krakowski said that the Bill and Linda Gates Foundation was going to match the contributions of viewers. Then, closing out the show, scenes of earlier moments in the Red Nose Day special were shown, of kids living in poverty around the world. Jane Krakowski said that donations were still being accepted, though the show was now concluding.
The three-hour-long Red Nose Day special on NBC was highly entertaining, and often tear-jerking, as children in desperate need were shown. Hopefully, the money that was raised will help end the suffering of at least some of them, fill their bellies, go to innoculating them and making sure that they get a roof over their heads and an education.
Written By Douglas Cobb
Sources:
NBC Universal Media Village
