NEW YORK — May 24, 2018 — The Chris Hardwick-hosted “The Red Nose Day Special” adds Ben Stiller, Lauren Graham, Anne Hathaway, Connie Britton, Minnie Driver, Olivia Munn and Retta to the star-packed lineup joining together to help raise money for children living in poverty.
The special will showcase appeal films featuring Lauren Graham, Connie Britton and Minnie Driver. Graham travels to Puerto Rico to meet children whose lives were forever changed by Hurricane Maria, and will see firsthand how Red Nose Day’s support is helping children to recover and thrive in the aftermath of the storm. Britton tells the story of children in Uganda born into extreme poverty living on the streets, and how donations are being put to work helping kids get to safety, and into care and education. Meanwhile, Driver will lend her voice to shed light on how Red Nose Day donations help children get access to clean drinking water in developing countries where many water sources are contaminated and hours away on foot.
Ben Stiller, Anne Hathaway and Olivia Munn will join the fun live from Rockefeller Center with host Chris Hardwick alongside Jane Lynch, Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila. Retta will be featured alongside the incredible slate of talent appearing in sketches throughout the evening.
As previously announced, Jack Black, Jennifer Garner, Kristen Bell, Kelly Clarkson, Julia Roberts, Ed Sheeran, Marlon Wayans, Sean Hayes, Zooey Deschanel, Tony Hale, Sasheer Zamata, Jane Lynch, Akbar Gbajabiamila, Matt Iseman and Jack McBrayer will also participate in the special in support of Red Nose Day. Funds raised support programs in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and some of the poorest communities internationally to ensure that children who are living in poverty are safe, healthy and educated.
On top of the action-packed night of programming, a number of iconic landmarks across the country will be lit red in support of the cause on May 24.The Empire State Building in New York City, Bank of America Plaza in Dallas, the Great Wheel in Seattle, Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, One Liberty Place in Philadelphia, Miami Tower in Miami, WoodmenLife Tower in Omaha, Neb., Las Vegas City Hall in Las Vegas, ICON Orlando in Orlando, US Bank Tower in Los Angeles and a number of buildings across the Chicago skyline will all participate to celebrate Red Nose Day.
NBC’s epic three-hour night of Red Nose Day programming includes the second annual edition of “Celebrity Ninja Warrior for Red Nose Day” at 8 p.m. featuring celebrity competitors, including Akbar Gbajabiamila, Derek Hough, NE-YO, Nikki Bella, Colton Dunn, Scott Evans, Nastia Liukin and Gregg Sulkin. A special episode of “Hollywood Game Night” at 9 p.m. will follow with a star-studded cast, including Kelly Clarkson, Jack Black, Sean Hayes Chelsea Handler, Isla Fisher, Sarah Silverman, Sasheer Zamata and Cedric the Entertainer. Finally, at 10 p.m., comedian Chris Hardwick will take the stage for the highly anticipated live event.
Red Nose Day is an annual event that harnesses the power of entertainment to raise money and awareness for children living in poverty in America and around the world. Since launching in 2015, the campaign has raised over $100 million, positively impacting over 8.3 million children. NBC's night of Red Nose Day programming is a culmination of a seven-week fundraising campaign that brings together millions of Americans around the country to have fun and make a difference. The campaign’s iconic Red Noses are on sale exclusively at Walgreens and Duane Reade locations nationwide. Over 9 million of the Red Noses have already been sold, with all profits from all sales benefitting Red Nose Day.
Red Nose Day was created by Oscar-nominated and Emmy Award-winning writer-director Richard Curtis (“Love Actually,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “Notting Hill”). It has raised more than $1 billion globally since its launch 30 years ago in the U.K. in 1988.
Richard Curtis is an executive producer for the live NBC telecast (a Universal Television production), along with John Irwin of Irwin Entertainment, and Lily Sobhani.
About Red Nose Day USA
Red Nose Day USA is a fundraising campaign run by the non-profit organization Comic Relief USA. Red Nose Day started in the U.K., built on the foundation that the power of entertainment can drive positive change, and has raised over $1 billion since the campaign’s founding in 1988. Since launching in the U.S. in 2015, Red Nose Day has raised over $100 million, which has positively impacted more than 8.3 million children, both in America and abroad. Money raised by Red Nose Day USA supports programs that keep children in need safe, healthy and educated. Red Nose Day USA has received generous support from millions of Americans, hundreds of celebrities and many outstanding partners, including Walgreens, NBC, Mars, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information about Red Nose Day and its impact, visit https://rednoseday.org/. Follow @RedNoseDayUSA on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
This year, Red Nose Day is inviting everyone to go Nose to Nose. It is the simple act of two people touching Red Noses in a fun, light way, to create shareable social content while encouraging donations for the cause. Buy two noses at Walgreens, go Nose to Nose, and snap a selfie or video. Share it with the hashtag #GoNoseToNose then make a donation at Red Nose Day and Challenge your friends to do the same. It’s a fun and easy way to participate.
For the fourth year, Walgreens is the exclusive retailer of the campaign’s iconic Red Noses — available at Walgreens and Duane Reade locations around the country — and a broadcast partner of “The Red Nose Day Special”. Mars Wrigley Confectionery and the M&M’S® brand are also teaming up with Red Nose Day for the fourth year, donating $1 million to the cause as national partners of the campaign.
About Comic Relief USA
Comic Relief USA, also known as Comic Relief Inc., is a registered U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity. It harnesses the power of entertainment to drive positive change to help those who need it most in America and around the world. Campaigns include Red Nose Day, Idol Gives Back, and Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Relief.