After a heavily publicized start of shooting and an even more talked about pause in production, Westworld is apparently going to be on HBO’s fall 2016 primetime lineup. The series, inspired by Michael Crichton’s 1973 Westworld film, comes from executive producer/writer/director Jonathan Nolan, writer/executive producer Lisa Joy, and executive producers J.J. Abrams, Jerry Weintraub, and Bryan Burk. In an interview with io9, Nolan explained the delays: “We came out of the gate very, very quickly, because we wanted to get on the air as early as possible, and so we started shooting with only a handful of episodes in hand. Nothing that I have done prepared me for the sheer avalanche [of production requirements]. The truth is, what we’re doing there is a 10-hour movie. It’s not really a TV series. When they say ‘It’s not TV, it’s HBO,’ they’re really not kidding.”
HBO also confirmed the half hour comedies Divorce with Sarah Jessica Parker, Insecure with Issa Rae, and High Maintenance with Ben Sinclair will premiere this fall.
Here’s HBO’s official descriptions of the new 2016 series:
Westworld – The one-hour drama series Westworld (ten episodes) is a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin. Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, it explores a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged. The cast includes Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Tessa Thompson, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Jimmi Simpson, Rodrigo Santoro, Shannon Woodward, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Ben Barnes, Simon Quarterman, Angela Sarafyan, Luke Hemsworth and Clifton Collins, Jr.
Divorce – The half-hour comedy series Divorce (ten episodes) stars Sarah Jessica Parker, who also serves as an executive producer, as Frances, a woman who suddenly begins to reassess her life and her marriage, and finds that making a clean break and a fresh start is harder than she thought. The show also stars Thomas Haden Church, Molly Shannon, Talia Balsam, Tracy Letts, Sterling Jerins and Charlie Kilgore. The pilot episode was written by Sharon Horgan and directed by Jesse Peretz. Divorce was created by Sharon Horgan and is executive produced by Paul Simms, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sharon Horgan, Alison Benson and Aaron Kaplan.
Insecure – The half-hour comedy series Insecure (eight episodes), starring Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Jay Ellis and Lisa Joyce, looks at the friendship of two black women and their uncomfortable experiences and racy tribulations. Created and executive produced by Issa Rae, the show is also executive produced by Prentice Penny, Melina Matsoukas, Michael Rotenberg, Dave Becky and Jonathan Berry. Larry Wilmore serves as a consultant.
High Maintenance – The half-hour comedy series High Maintenance (six episodes) follows a Brooklyn pot dealer who delivers to clients with neuroses as diverse as the city. The show stars Ben Sinclair as “The Guy,” a friendly pot dealer whose clients include an eccentric group of characters, revealing the dynamics of their lives. From the unexpected and offbeat to the predictable and mundane, the series provides a glimpse into the daily routines of the customers and how they light things up. Created and written by the married duo of Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclair, and executive produced by Katja Blichfeld, Russell Gregory and Ben Sinclair.
Matthew Rhys as Philip Jennings, Frank Langella as Gabriel, and Marceline Hugot as Theresa in ‘The Americans’ (Photo by Eric Liebowitz/FX Networks)
It was an awkward “Dinner for Seven” in season four, episode 11 of The Americans. When Pastor Tim (Kelly AuCoin) dropped by to tell Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth (Keri Russell) that he was sorry that his wife Alice had accused them of foul play in his disappearance, Elizabeth invites him and Alice to dinner later in the week. Just before everyone sits down to that dinner, Henry answers the doorbell to find Stan Beeman (Noah Emmerich) there and invites him to join the others. Henry and Stan are the only ones who don’t realize the possible repercussions of the pastor and his wife learning that Soviet spies are friendly with a neighbor who also happens to be an FBI agent.
Later in a private meeting with Pastor Tim, Elizabeth is able to provide an innocent explanation by noting that you can’t choose your neighbors, and that they had lived in their house for many years before the Beemans moved in. Unfortunately, the situation with Young Hee and Don will not be resolved so easily. Gabe (Frank Langella) tells her that mission needs to go forward.
The mission unfolds with Elizabeth, as Patty, waiting until Young Hee and the children have left to confront Don (Rob Yang) with the information that she is pregnant. He tells her that she cannot have the baby as it would destroy everything. Patty leaves in tears. In the second part of the scheme, we learn why Tatiana requested a 50-60 year old female computer expert who speaks perfect English as Gabe, Philip, and this older woman pose as Patty’s family in order to gain access to Don’s office. After telling Don that Patty committed suicide, they demand money to cover funeral expenses. Don and Philip go to the bank leaving Gabe and the woman in his office. They go through his file cabinet and copy his computer files.
Elizabeth continues to be deeply troubled by what has transpired with Young Hee and Don. She asks Philip if Don will tell Young Hee, and it is hard for her to listen to a message from Young Hee begging her to call. She also has a couple of conversations with Pastor Tim. “I think that Philip and I are under a lot of pressure,” Elizabeth tearfully tells the pastor. She also tells him that “I think that I was coming apart.” In another chance meeting, she asks what to do if you can’t stop thinking of something (a reference to Young Hee and Don).
Elizabeth seems sincere in these encounters with Pastor Tim, however there remains a lingering suspicion about her motives when she tells Paige that she “would do anything to keep this family together.” When Paige says that Tim and Alice feel bad about threatening them, her mother responds that it could work in their favor.
Elizabeth isn’t the only one with seeds of doubt about Soviet spy tactics. After Stan tells Philip that he suspects Soviets were responsible for Agent Gaad’s death, Philip tells Elizabeth that he had included Gaad’s planned trip to Thailand in his report. This seems to confirm something that Stan said to him: “The KGB did it. They’re animals. They do things you can’t imagine.”
Oleg (Costa Ronin) has already had his faith in the Russian government challenged by the death of his brother and Nina. Perhaps a meeting with Stan brings about more questions in that regard. Stan tells him that the FBI wants him to blackmail Oleg into cooperating with them. He further states that the KGB was responsible for the deaths of Amador, Nina, and Gaad, and he doesn’t want Oleg’s death on his conscience too, so he will not see Oleg again. It is a very heartfelt speech by Stan and Noah Emmerich does a fine job delivering it. While Oleg maintains a poker face, it no doubt has had an effect on him.
The episode closes with Dennis Aderholt (Brandon J. Dirden) informing Stan of the suspicious death of the woman in the shop where the mail robot was taken for repairs, and with an encounter that Paige (Holly Taylor) and her mother have with men attempting to assault them in a dark parking lot. As Paige is telling Elizabeth about her conversation with Matthew Beeman, two men taunt Paige. Elizabeth fights with them and stabs one of them in front of a horrified Paige.
TNT’s dramatic series The Last Ship returns for season three on Sunday, June 12, 2016 at 9pm ET/PT with Travis Van Winkle, Marissa Neitling, Eric Dane, Adam Baldwin, Charles Parnell, and Jocko Sims back in starring roles. The third season will pick up with the Nathan James crew dealing with the possibility the Chinese leader is hoarding the cure rather than giving it to the people. They’re also investigating the rumor of a mutation of the original virus.
The cast of The Last Ship made the trek to the 2016 WonderCon to discuss the upcoming season, with Travis Van Winkle (‘Lt. Danny Green’) and Marissa Neitling (‘Lt. Kara Foster’) teaming up to talk about where we pick up with their characters. Van Winkle says we’ll find the crew of the Nathan James saving the world (again) and Neitling revealed they’ll also be rebuilding society and discovering what a new society will look like both at home and internationally.
“I think what we’re doing on this show is we really fight for the truth and we fight to honor the truth,” explained Van Winkle. “I think a lot of the show what happens is we don’t know who is telling the truth, who to trust, and a lot of our navigating is getting to the source of the corruption. How do we extinguish the virus that has infiltrated humanity – and not necessarily an actual virus but infiltrated the minds and the hearts of the people? That’s what’s at the bottom of corruption. A lot of this season is again just saying the same age-old story of what happens when you put power in front of men. Does he use it for good or does he use it for evil? We’ll see.”
“I have, without giving things away, done some things that you’ve never seen me do on the show before. Sort of…” said Neitling when asked if season three is more physically demanding than season two or one. “Yes, it’s a little bit more physical work for me. Before I was sitting primarily as the TAO in front of a computer screen and now I’m a living, breathing human being in the White House.”
“She gets to let her hair down this season. She gets to really show her leadership in a totally new way,” added Van Winkle. “Watch out for this one this season.”
As for what we can expect of Van Winkle’s Lt. Green, Van Winkle offered, “I think there’s a new sense of purpose that I carry forward in my missions and having to deal with certain times being away from the exact place that I want to be, putting that on the side and carrying it with me while I put mission first. So it’s something that Danny Green’s experienced a lot in this season. It’s just a bit more rich between her and I and it’s nice to carry that forward.”
Season three will find the main characters separated as they undertake different missions. Asked what it’s been like this season to not work with the actors they normally had around in seasons one and two, Neitling replied, “In a way it makes playing those scenes of heartbreak where you’re not with your loved one a little bit more real because we haven’t seen each other on set for a while.”
“What’s great about it, too, is it also creates more dynamic storytelling because we have all these different areas where we’re telling really, really rich stories and then connecting all of those in such a beautiful way, I feel like it’s going to give our audience a lot to grip, a lot to chew on,” said Van Winkle. “To me I think regardless if we see each other a lot or a little, I think it’s story-wise hands down the best season yet.”
Watch the full Travis Van Winkle and Marissa Neitling interview:
Mike (Adam Devine), Tatiana (Aubrey Plaza), Alice (Anna Kendrick) and Dave (Zac Efron) in ‘Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates’ (Photo Credit: Gemma LaMana)
Aubrey Plaza chews seductively on a pencil while Anna Kendrick explains how she hedges hedge funds in the new clip from Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates. Directed by Jake Szymanski from a script by Andrew Jay Cohen and Brendan O’Brien, Mike and Dave stars Zac Efron and Adam Devine as brothers in search of dates that will meet their sister’s high standards. Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates opens in theaters on July 8, 2016.
The Plot: Hard-partying brothers Mike (Adam Devine) and Dave (Zac Efron) place an online ad to find the perfect dates (Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza) for their sister’s Hawaiian wedding. Hoping for a wild getaway, the boys instead find themselves outsmarted and out-partied by the uncontrollable duo.
Watch the Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates trailer:
Amazon’s announced its latest batch of pilots that will be reviewed and voted on by Amazon Video subscribers to see if they deserve a full season order. The pilots include two one-hour shows aimed at adult audiences and six pilots for kid-friendly series. All of the new pilots will premiere on June 17, 2016. The Last Tycoon comes from writer/director Billy Ray and stars Matt Bomer and Lily Collins in an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s last unfinished novel. The Interestings is based on Meg Wolitzer’s bestselling book and is set to star Lauren Ambrose, David Krumholtz, and Jessica Pare. The kids pilots include a live action version of the classic Saturday morning series Sigmund and the Sea Monsters as well as Morris and the Cow, Toasty Tales, Jazz Duck, The Curious Kitty and Friends, and Little Big Awesome.
“We’re focused on bringing customers compelling, must-see TV and we accomplish this by going directly to them for input,” said Roy Price, Vice President, Digital Video and Amazon Studios. “Our process has proven to work time and time again. Their feedback has helped create series that have become fan favorites among critics and customers.”
Details on Amazon’s New Pilots:
The Interestings – Adapted from Meg Wolitzer’s critically acclaimed New York Times best-seller and a co-production with TriStar Television, The Interestings follows a group of artistic teenagers who meet at summer camp in 1974. As they transition into adulthood over the course of the next few decades, their friendships are tested by tragedy, success, failure and secrecy. At the heart is Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under) as Jules Jacobson, an aspiring actress who uses her wit to compensate for what she is lacking in glamour, money and the talent her other friends seem to have in spades. BAFTA winner Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Four Weddings and a Funeral) directed the pilot written by Lyn Greene and Richard Levine (Masters of Sex). In addition to Greene, Levine and Newell, Michael De Luca (The Social Network) and Lindsay Sloane (Covert Affairs) serve as executive producers. The Interestings also stars David Krumholtz (Numb3rs), Jessica Pare (Mad Men), Matt Barr (Sleepy Hallow), Gabriel Ebert (Ricki and the Flash), Jessica Collins (Rubicon) and Corey Cott (Public Morals). Wolitzer’s novel, which the series is based on, received numerous accolades from top tier press and made countless “best-of” lists, including Amazon Best Books of 2013: Top 10 Literature & Fiction, Top 100 Editors’ Picks, New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2013, inclusion in Oprah’s Best 10 Books of 2013, among others.
The Last Tycoon – A co-production with TriStar Television, The Last Tycoon is written and directed by Academy Award nominee Billy Ray (Captain Phillips), and executive produced by Ray and Christopher Keyser (Tyrant), who serve as showrunners, Joshua D. Maurer (Rosemary’s Baby), Alixandre Witlin, and David A. Stern. Mad Men‘s Scott Hornbacher serves as co-executive producer of the pilot, along with Perri Kipperman (Billions). An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s last work, The Last Tycoon follows Hollywood’s Golden Boy, Monroe Stahr (Matt Bomer, White Collar) as he battles father figure and boss, Pat Brady (Kelsey Grammer, Frasier) for the soul of their studio. In a world darkened by the Great Depression and the growing international influence of Hitler’s Germany, The Last Tycoon illuminates the passions, violence, and towering ambition of 1930’s Hollywood. Lily Collins (The Blind Side) stars as Cecelia Brady and noted Pulitzer-winning Fitzgerald scholar A. Scott Berg serves as consulting producer.
Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (for children ages 6-11; live-action) – Sid & Marty Krofft present Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, a live action show for children ages 6 to 11, based on their classic Saturday morning series from the 1970s. The show is centered on two brothers, Johnny and Scotty, who discover and befriend Sigmund, a friendly young sea-monster who escapes from his old life and his comically dysfunctional brothers Slurp and Blurp. Now, using a Clubhouse as their hiding place, the boys must keep Sigmund safe from an ambitious sea-monster hunter Captain Barnabas. The show is Executive Produced by Sid & Marty Krofft with the pilot being directed by Jonathan Judge (The Thundermans) and starring David Arquette (Scream) as Captain Barnabas. Garrett Frawley and Brian Turner (Santa Baby) wrote the new teleplay based on the classic series.
Little Big Awesome (for children ages 6-11; animated) – Little Big Awesome is a comedy for kids ages 6-11 that combines 2D animation, puppetry, and real live action footage as we explore the whimsically weird world of Ballopolis. Our show follows Gluko, a jelly giant, and Lennon, a small kid-like creature with a fuzzy hat, who are inseparable buddies. They adventure through a universe where sea turtles fly, flowers talk, and tear drops splash around on a hot summer day. Gluko and Lennon’s desire to help those around them can, at times, lead them to epically outlandish places, but at the end of the day, this show is about two best buds making their own fun and enjoying the wonderfully strange world around them. Created by Tomas Dieguez (TRONCO), written by Ben Gruber (Spongebob Squarepants), and animated by Emmy award winning studio Titmouse.
Morris and the Cow (for children ages 6-11; animated) – Morris and the Cow, an animated comedy for 6 to 11 year-olds, follows Morris, a 10 year-old determined to follow his passion and become a cowboy! Wearing homemade chaps and joined by his best friend, a talking cow named Florence, the duo explores the city of South Krumpton while confronting everyday problems with a mix of grit, determination, and country wisdom. The show is created and written by Andreas Trolf (Sanjay and Craig) and Luke Watson (Memphis Beat), with production and animation by Emmy-winning Bento Box Entertainment (Bob’s Burgers). Featuring the voice talent of Jermaine Fowler (Robot Chicken) as Morris, Riki Lindhome (The Muppets) as Florence, and Thomas Lennon (Dawn of the Croods) as Jimmy Ray Royce. Also starring Zoë Kravitz (Divergent), Michael Peña (Ant Man), and Erik Griffin (Workaholics).
Toasty Tales (for children ages 6-11; animated) – Toasty Tales in an animated comedy for kids ages 6-11, featuring Waffle, Burger and Pants– three best friends who happen to be Marshmallows living in the long forgotten Move-Along National Park. Every day is a new adventure filled with strange creatures, perilous excursions, and epic tomfoolery, always served with a side of pancakes, hot off the griddle! Together, the trio explore the mysteries of Move-Along, and spin tall tales that maybe…just maybe…. have a hint of truth. Created by Thomas Borowski and Caroline Foley (Rick and Morty), written by Merriwether Williams (Spongebob Squarepants), and animated by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (Robot Chicken).
The Curious Kitty and Friends (for preschool-aged children) – The Curious Kitty and Friends is a preschool stop-motion animated show, where we will join the upbeat and colorful adventures of kitty cat Komaneko as she explores the wonderful world with her friends Mimmi Bear, Radibo, and Yeti. With her trusty video camera and knapsack in tow, creative and curious Komaneko makes her own movies, usually starring her two favorite dolls, Wink and Ink. This playful show is produced by Dwarf Studios and comes from the mind of Tsuneo Goda, the creator and director of the world-famous DOMO among other numerous characters and award-winning films and series. The talent also includes recognized lead animator Hiro Minegishi, music by Kevin Kiner (Star Wars Rebels) and script by Kent Redeker (Doc McStuffins).
Jazz Duck (for preschool-aged children) – Jazz Duck is an animated series that encourages preschoolers to listen and express themselves as they explore the sounds and musical potential of their world! Jazz Duck is part duck, part saxophone, and loads of physical fun. With the friendship of the Narrator and his animal friends, he embarks on adventures through the noisy Big City that culminate in a musical jam. Created by Tom Jobbins, co-directing with Mark Perrett, the show is animated by award-winning studio Nexus Productions and features a kid-filled voice cast including Myla Beau, Britain Dalton, Tony Espinosa, Aiden Ledowski, and Ava Priestley with saxophonist Ross Hughes as Jazz Duck.
Brett Donahue stars in ‘The Kennedys – After Camelot’ (Photo by Ken Woroner / 2016 ReelzChannel)
Brett Donahue has been cast as John F. Kennedy Jr. in Muse Entertainment’s The Kennedys – After Camelot. Donahue joins the cast that includes Katie Holmes as Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Matthew Perry as Ted Kennedy, Alexander Siddig as Aristotle Onassis, Kristen Hager as Joan Kennedy, Diana Hardcastle as Rose Kennedy, and Kristin Booth as Ethel Kennedy.
The four-hour miniseries will air on REELZ with Katie Holmes and Jon Cassar (The Kennedys) directing. Based on the biography After Camelot: Personal History of the Kennedy Family 1968 to the Present by J. Randy Taraborrelli, the miniseries is written by Stephen Kronish and Sandra Chwialkowska and has Taraborrelli, Holmes, Cassar, Keri Selig, Michael Prupas, Matthew Perry, Stephen Kronish, Evan Tussman, Irene Litinsky, Stan E. Hubbard, Jonathan Koch, Steve Michaels, and Jonas Prupas serving as executive producers.
“We’re thrilled to introduce Brett Donahue in the role of John F. Kennedy Jr.,” stated Stan E. Hubbard, CEO of REELZ. “Brett completes an outstanding cast as he steps into portray such a well known and respected person. We are thrilled with the fit and we’re proud to bring this story to life for our viewers.”
“Our casting team looked at dozens of young actors for this iconic role before we landed on Brett Donahue—whose final audition was absolutely riveting,” said Muse Entertainment CEO Michael Prupas.
Bryan Cranston stars in ‘The Infiltrator’ (Photo Credit: Liam Daniel / Broad Green Pictures)
Broad Green Pictures debuted a new official theatrical trailer for The Infiltrator starring Bryan Cranston. The film’s based on a true story and has the Breaking Bad star working to take down drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. Directed by Brad Furman (The Lincoln Lawyer), The Infiltrator also stars Diane Kruger, John Leguizamo, Benjamin Bratt, Yul Vazquez, Joseph Gilgun, Olympia Dukakis and Amy Ryan. Broad Green’s set a July 13, 2016 theatrical release date for the dramatic thriller.
The Plot: Federal agent Robert “Bob” Mazur (Bryan Cranston) goes deep undercover to infiltrate Pablo Escobar’s drug trafficking scene plaguing the nation in 1986 by posing as slick, money-laundering businessman Bob Musella. Teamed with impulsive and streetwise fellow agent Emir Abreu (John Leguizamo) and rookie agent posing as his fiancé Kathy Ertz (Diane Kruger), Mazur befriends Escobar’s top lieutenant Roberto Alcaino (Benjamin Bratt). Navigating a vicious criminal network in which the slightest slip-up could cost him his life, Mazur risks it all building a case that leads to indictments of 85 drug lords and the corrupt bankers who cleaned their dirty money, along with the collapse of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, one of the largest money-laundering banks in the world.
Asa Butterfield stars as the first human being born on Mars in the sci-fi drama The Space Between Us. STX Entertainment’s released the first official trailer for the adventure film directed by Peter Chelsom (Shall We Dance, Hector and the Search for Happiness) from a script by Allan Loeb. In addition to Butterfield, the cast includes Gary Oldman, Carla Gugino, and Britt Robertson. The Space Between Us will be opening in theaters on August 19, 2016.
The Plot: In this interplanetary adventure, a space shuttle embarks on the first mission to colonize Mars, only to discover after takeoff that one of the astronauts is pregnant. Shortly after landing, she dies from complications while giving birth to the first human born on the red planet – never revealing who the father is. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Gardner Elliot – an inquisitive, highly intelligent boy who reaches the age of 16 having only met 14 people in his very unconventional upbringing.
While searching for clues about his father, and the home planet he’s never known, Gardner begins an online friendship with a street smart girl in Colorado named Tulsa. When he finally gets a chance to go to Earth, he’s eager to experience all of the wonders he could only read about on Mars – from the most simple to the extraordinary. But once his explorations begin, scientists discover that Gardner’s organs can’t withstand Earth’s atmosphere. Eager to find his father, Gardner escapes the team of scientists and joins with Tulsa on a race against time to unravel the mysteries of how he came to be, and where he belongs in the universe.
Do not read any further unless you have watch HBO’s Game of Thrones season six episode five titled ‘The Door’ which aired on May 22, 2016. You’ve been warned! Reaction among fans to the devastating events at the end of the episode prompted Jimmy Kimmel to ask series creator DB Weiss and David Benioff to issue a public apology to fans of the show. Seated on couches surrounded by money, Benioff and Weiss sincerely apologized not for killing off fan-favorite Hodor (played by Kristian Nairn) – by their count they’ve killed off over 700+ key characters – but for all of the idiots who will now shout “Hodor!” when going through a door. “We forgot how annoying people can be. That’s our bad,” says Weiss. “We should have seen that coming,” adds Beniof.
In other Hodor news, actor Nairn has been tweeting about the love shown by fans and about his time on the set of Game of Thrones. Fans have also been showing their support for the now-deceased character with tributes involving, of course, doors.
Hodor. Thank you guys,for the love,+ know that I love you back.I never dreamt of all this.Huge props to @SamColemanActor for an amazing job
John Irwin, President of Irwin Entertainment (Photo Courtesy of NBC)
Since launching in the UK 25 years ago, Red Nose Day has raised more than $1 billion to help out kids in need. In 2015, the annual fundraising event made its way to the United States, with NBC airing the first American-based Red Nose Day Special on May 21, 2015. The first-ever U.S. Red Nose Day brought in $23 million and according to executive producer John Irwin, President of Irwin Entertainment, the goal set for the 2016 broadcast is $30 million.
Airing on Thursday, May 26th at 9pm ET/PT, the 2016 Red Nose Day Special will be hosted by Craig Ferguson and will feature appearances by celebrities including Elton John, Julia Roberts, Will Ferrell, Blake Shelton, Ellen DeGeneres, Jack Black, Tracy Morgan and Kobe Bryant. Also set to help raise much-need funds for designated charities are Paul Rudd, Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Jay Leno, Celine Dion, Anna Kendrick, Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Bono, Ellie Kemper, Blake Griffin, Connie Britton, Mel B, Bill Gates, Tyler Perry, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Vince Vaughn and Sarah Silverman.
The list of celebrities on board is incredible, with the talent including Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Kristen Bell, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Rose Byrne, Chloë Grace Moretz, Steve Buscemi, Danny Trejo, and Adam Devine donating their time to help raise money for kids in the U.S. and in the poorest communities in the world.
For more information or to donate visit rednosedayusa.com.
John Irwin Exclusive Interview:
How did you initially become involved in Red Nose Day?
John Irwin: “I became involved because I’ve been doing quite a few things for NBC recently. I do the New Year’s Eve show for them every year. Then, I did the Burrows tribute with the cast reunion. Then they reached out to me, NBC did, to get involved in Red Nose Day and of course I met with Richard [Curtis] and hit it, and that’s kind of how it came to pass.”
Your schedule is loaded. Was it a tough sell to get involved in a special this big?
John Irwin: “No. Here’s the thing, to be able to work on something that, literally, the hope is that we are going to raise north of $30 million this year to help kids across the country. I don’t know how you’d say no. That’s something for me to get behind; something like that is amazing. The fact that it is combined with comedy, which is obviously one of my passions, it’s kind of a dream job.”
$23 million right off the bat from the US version’s first year is a huge number. Of the $30 million you’re hoping to raise this year, how much of that is actually brought in by sponsors ahead of time and how much of that will come from the public donating while being entertained during the broadcast?
John Irwin: “Well, Walgreens does a huge nationwide campaign. You can walk into any store and they are selling red noses and all kinds of stuff. They are definitely a big driving force behind helping to raise money. Then there’s quite a few other sponsors out there. But we’ve got a really, really powerful show this year. It’s got really good comedy with really big names. I mean we’ve got Tracy Morgan, who is doing a piece, Key & Peele, Sarah Silverman, Jack Black, Margot Robbie, and then we’ve got Bono, Will Ferrell, Julia Roberts, and Ludacris. Julia went to Phoenix and Ludacris went to Atlanta to do appeal film pieces.
It’s a really jam-packed show with a lot of celebrities and a lot of funny comedy and a lot of really moving pieces. Based on that, I feel like it’s going to be hard for people watching not to want to make some kind of contribution.
The thing that I think for me which got me really excited about this project is that I think we are trying… I think one of the hard things for people is understanding where is the money going. We have really this year tried to spell out to the American public some the various things. One of the things we do is helping kids get meals. There are kids across the country who on the weekends literally have no food. It’s a pretty grave situation that we all who are privileged, and that’s most of us, don’t really think about.”
When you are putting together a special like this, how difficult is it to find the right balance? You’ve got to entertain people, you’ve got to give them some things to laugh at, but you also are putting across a very important message while raising funds for charities. How difficult is it to find that balance?
John Irwin: “I mean, it has been very difficult. I think that really is the goal, is trying to find the balance. Obviously, the other piece of it is the transition from comedy to the moving stuff. You know what I mean? It’s what we’ve spent most of our time working on, quite frankly. Like you just said, we want a show that’s going to entertain people. You don’t want to get too dark or too depressing that you have to turn the TV off, so that’s the biggest challenge.
Then, there’s that coupled with the fact that we’ve got 11 comedy sketches – pre-taped comedy pieces – in the show. That alone is a challenge, to get funny comedy. But it’s all kind of coming together magically. It’s all very exciting.”
At this point, do the celebrities just pretty much line up and volunteer to be involved? I would imagine you don’t have to beg people to be on the show.
John Irwin: “They really have. It’s been an amazing experience. It’s just a great thing. I think that’s really kind of what the show represents, that this is Hollywood getting behind and trying to help. Everybody is doing it for free. We’ve got Craig Ferguson and, Paul Shaffer. Craig is hosting and Paul’s the house band. We have Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis who literally have said they just want to do the phone bank. They didn’t want to come on and do a comedy piece, they really just wanted to take phone calls. It’s stuff like that where you just think, ‘My god, it’s so amazing.”
Craig Ferguson (Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/NBC)
Why is Craig Ferguson the perfect host for this year’s show?
John Irwin: “That’s another big challenge is trying to find a comedic personality. You need a comedic personality who knows how to host, who can handle the business of a live show, who has comedy chops, and who also has heart and can go from funny one moment to very sincere the next. I think that’s really what Craig brings. In working with him, he’s amazing. He takes this stuff very seriously. We are just so lucky to have him. And Paul – I think Paul’s going to be great. Paul’s a legend.”
How many months in advance have you been working on this?
John Irwin: “We started working on it I would say in January, just from the standpoint of staffing and stuff like that. It’s a pretty massive endeavor because there are so many moving parts. You’ve got the comedy pieces and then setting up these appeal films and coordinating Julia Roberts going to Phoenix to go meet with different families and Ludacris. That’s like a whole endeavor in of it itself are these are shorts they’re doing.”
That’s a lot to put together logistically. How are the charities chosen? How do you select who’s going to receive the funds raised from Red Nose Day?
John Irwin: “The Red Nose Day Group which has obviously been in existence for north of 30 years, it started in the UK. They have a huge initiative that for years they have been [handling]. That is something I have been less involved with because they are really the ones who know how to properly get the money out and make the right connections. When the show came to the US, they plugged into additional charities and they’ve got a great program in place for that.”
Do you believe the Red Nose Day special will continue to air annually on NBC? Will it stick around the way it has in the UK?
John Irwin: “This is the second year and I think with the help of NBC and Walgreens, definitely more and more people are getting to know about it. My hope is this becomes our Jerry Lewis Telethon. You know what I mean? It goes on and on and on because it is such an amazing cause. That’s why it needs to go on. I think it’s our job to do whatever we can to make it entertaining so that it sticks here.”
I think one of the surprising things was that it was solely in the UK for so long and it finally came to America. It seems like it was a natural fit for American audiences all along.
John Irwin: “Yeah, it’s so true. That’s a good question and I don’t have the answer to why did it take so long to get here? Who knows? Just the fact that they raised north of $20 million last year. In my mind, if we can get to 30, that will be a huge milestone. God knows, in a couple years hopefully it builds to over $100 million. The thing that’s crazy is you realize that for a dollar you can feed a kid. Like, the money that people are giving makes such a huge impact. That’s the part that’s so staggering. The smallest amount of money can really change things.”
Is that the part of all this that surprised you the most is the actual impact on the people that you are helping out?
John Irwin: “Oh my God, 100%. Last year, Jack Black went abroad and did a piece where he met this kid, Felix. Because of Red Nose Day and what they did last year, Felix is now in a totally different situation and we have a follow-up on him this year. To see it actually working, I think that is fantastic. Our biggest initiative this year has been to be really help educate people as they are watching the show to understand, ‘Okay, I see that you raised $20 million. What does that mean? Where is it going?’
Also, for them to understand that a couple dollars can make such an incredible difference for kids. That’s something that I didn’t realize. I’ve always felt like problems were, to a certain extent, insurmountable. We’re trying to spread the message out there that we are talking about lives and kids who are literally dying. An expensive meal out for somebody can change a kid’s life for months.”
