Red Nose Day USA: British stars raise laughs and money for first event
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Version 0 of 1. One Direction, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dame Helen Mirren and Robert Pattinson were among British stars who helped raise money for the first Red Nose Day in the US. The three-hour broadcast opened with a monologue from host Seth Meyers, announcing his plans to trump the UK version of the fundraising marathon. Meyers, who hosts a late-night US talkshow, said he was determined to keep the actors from across the pond out of the spotlight. “I don’t want the British doing anything in front of the cameras,” he said. “They are famously terrible actors so they are all working backstage.” Cameras cut to music mogul Simon Cowell in the director’s chair, Orlando Bloom at the sound board, Naomi Campbell operating a camera, Sir Ian McKellen working the teleprompter, Cumberbatch struggling with cue cards and Mirren making tea. Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne was left with the task of wishing people good luck while Pattinson struggled with valet parking and immediately crashed the first car given to him. Singer Ed Sheeran’s skills were put to better use when he performed the classic Muppets song The Rainbow Connection with Kermit the Frog. The NBC telethon ended with a musical version of Game of Thrones, with songs written by Coldplay. One of the show’s stars, Peter Dinklage, performed an ode to his own survival on the bloodthirsty drama called Still Going Strong, while actor Emilia Clarke, who plays Daenerys Targaryen, sang a reggae anthem called Rastafarian Targaryen. One Direction sported red noses to encourage the American public to donate while Gwyneth Paltrow got stuck as she attempted to abseil down from the ceiling of the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. Another series of pre-recorded videos showed female casts remaking movies with all-male casts including stars of Orangeis the New Black in Reservoir Dogs and Anna Kendrick as Indiana Jones, as well as new versions of 12 Angry Men and Three Men and a Baby. Another video called Hollywood Secrets revealed the use of voice-dubbing in mainstream movies. It featured clips from a selection of Julia Roberts’s films showcasing her deep, male voice, while an interview with Daniel Craig showed he has the voice of a young girl. Excerpts of Hugh Grant’s acting showed off his Spanish accent and unedited clips from the film Taken exposed Liam Neeson’s high-pitch lisp. The charity night has been an annual event in the UK for 30 years but is largely unknown in America and a pre-recorded video showed stars including Zac Efron, Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston recruiting their famous friends to take part in the broadcast without any idea of the name of the event or the charities it helps. The money raised during Red Nose Day will help 12 charities and fund projects for children and young people living in poverty in the US, as well as in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The pre-selected charity partners are Boys & Girls Clubs of America; charity: water; Children’s Health Fund; Feeding America; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; the Global Fund; LIFT; National Council of La Raza; National Urban League; Oxfam America; Save the Children and United Way. People can donate at rednosedayusa.org. |