AMERICA’S SWEETHEART PARTICIPATES IN FUND-RAISING DRIVE
NBC is expanding its Red Nose Day charity programming with help from Julia Roberts and other stars.
The network said that its prime-time schedule on May 25 will be devoted to the Comic Relief fundraiser for children in need. Roberts will be joining Running Wild with Bear Grylls for Red Nose Day.
There will also be a celebrity edition of American Ninja Warrior with Derek Hough, Natalie Morales and others.
The night will be capped by NBC’s third annual The Red Nose Day Special, hosted by game show host Chris Hardwick.
“Red Nose Day’s effort to lift children out of poverty is centered around heart and humanity, and we’re excited to create a night of programming that reflects this,” said Paul Telegdy, president of NBC Entertainment’s alternative and reality show group.
Roberts and Grylls will show how donations are helping people in Nairobi, Kenya, with other segments addressing how children in the United States and other countries are being helped.
Entertainment is key as well for Red Nose Day. The roster of stars has yet to be announced, but past specials included Celine Dion, Bono, Will Ferrell and Ludacris.
Red Nose Day was founded in Britain by filmmaker Richard Curtis and expanded to the US two years ago, where it has raised more than $60 million to date. Donations are made through the sale of red noses at Walgreens and Duane Reade drugstores, neighborhood penny drives and bake sales, and the NBC special.
An added attraction this year: Curtis, writer- director of the 2003 movie Love Actually, created a short reunion film that will air as part of The Red
Nose Day Special. Cast members revisiting their roles from the romantic comedy include Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Andrew Lincoln, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy and Rowan Atkinson.
The short film was released in the UK last March 24. Noticeably absent from the British film was meek and caring American named Sarah, played by Laura Linney. In the 2003 film, Sarah sacrificed romance because of her deep love for her mentally ill brother.
Entertainment Weekly learned, though, that Linney will reprise her role in the US version of the film called Red Nose Day Actually.
“I’d done something for the last Red Nose Day. So I’d kept in touch with Richard Curtis. And then he sent me an email, explaining this short film reunion. I said yes, obviously. How could I say no? And right away we were figuring out our schedules,” Linney told the magazine.
“I have no idea what I’m doing yet. Not a clue,” said Linney, who will film her role this month.
Beneficiaries of Red Nose Day grants include charity organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Save the Children and the Children’s Health Fund.
Britain’s Red Nose Day, which took place last month, brought in more than $90 million, according to Comic Relief Inc. The campaign has raised more than $1 billion worldwide since its origin in 1988.