Will Ferrell, Luis Guzman, Aisha Tyler, and Emma Watson are among the celebrities who’ll be showing off their pickleball skills on CBS’s two-hour special Pickled. The comedy special is for a good cause, with funds raised during the event going toward Comic Relief US’s safety programs that address the “life-altering impact of homelessness, rootlessness and lack of safety often experienced by children and families living in poverty.”
Filling out the celebrity roster of participants are Jimmie Allen, Murray Bartlett, Dierks Bentley, Jaime Camil, Max Greenfield, Phil Keoghan, Daniel Dae Kim, Sugar Ray Leonard, Tig Notaro, June Diane Raphael, Kelly Rowland, and Paul Scheer. Emmy Award-winner Stephen Colbert is hosting the special and his production company Spartina produces along with Funny Or Die and CBS Studios.
Colbert will also be joining Kenny Loggins to perform the National Anthem.
“If you love pickleball and you love celebrities and you love helping people, you’re going to love watching these celebrities help people by playing pickleball,” stated host Stephen Colbert.
“Funny Or Die is so proud to produce Pickled. Along with Stephen Colbert, CBS and our celebrity players, we all came together for two great causes: to support Comic Relief US and to add more articles about Pickleball to everyone’s newsfeed,” said Mike Farah, CEO of Funny Or Die.
Cari Champion, John Michael Higgins, and Bill Raftery will be providing color and commentary during the matches. Claussen Pickles is sponsoring the halftime show. CBS offered this description of what to expect during halftime: “The host and analysts gathered in the branded space with the competitors to review first-half highlights and laugh about the lighter moments in the matches. Of course, there were pickles provided by the brand, for everyone including the fans in attendance to enjoy.”
Pickled will air on CBS and Paramount+ on Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT.
