Seth Rogen Sings With Bell Biv Devoe, Raises $900,000 for Alzheimer’s Disease (Video)

Rogen’s heroes including Sarah Silverman, Bill Burr, Judd Apatow and Joseph Gordon-Levitt “get young people’s heads out of their asses and aware of Alzheimer’s” at Friday night’s “Hilarity for Charity”

“Don’t be the loser who misses out on prom,” the invites taunted.

Even those who came but left the third annual “Hilarity for Charity” at the Hollywood Palladium before 11:00 p.m. on Friday night ended up the losers.

Hosts Seth Rogen and wife Lauren Miller Rogen joined Bell Biv Devoe on stage for an “if you can dance like it’s 1990, you can come on stage” finale to a night that raised over $900,000 for Alzheimer’s research in a 1980’s themed variety show prom.

Also read: Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anthony Mackie Christmas Eve Comedy Gets Release Date

"I once smoked a joint with (Sarah) when I was 18 and bragged about it for the next 6 months," Rogen said of his pal Silverman, backstage with co-host Lauren Miller. (Getty Images).
“I once smoked a joint with (Sarah) when I was 18 and bragged about it for the next 6 months,” Rogen said of his pal Silverman, backstage with co-host Lauren Miller. (Getty Images).

“Do Me”, “Poison”, and “When Will I See You Smile Again?” finally got people out of their seats as Bell Biv Devoe progressively stripped down from vintage suit and vest fashions to “Boston Strong / 617” branded BBD t-shirts.

Unlike most proms, this one had Sarah Silverman (in a school girl outfit) talking about (Warning: rated R material imminent) divine ejaculation, Joe Gordon-Levitt covering No Doubt’s “I’m Just a Girl”, and Craig Robinson as an impressively fun bandleader. Watchout, Roots crew.

Craig Robinson and his group "Nasty Delicious" showed improv chops, selling jokes with complementary fills. (Getty Images)
Craig Robinson and his group “Nasty Delicious” showed improv chops, selling jokes with instant complementary fills. (Getty Images)

Also read: Sarah Silverman Wants Equal Pay for Women But a Sex Change For Herself (Video)

This prom was 21+ only and had an open bar, despite Rogen’s promo videos of recent weeks that showed his female date spiking the punch bowl from a flask (in addition to shotgunning a joint in an 80’s limo and subpar bedroom relations.)

Hollywood 1980's Prom at the Palladium after the teachers had finished setting up. (Getty Images)
Hollywood 1980’s Prom at the Palladium after the teachers had finished setting up. (Getty Images)

Tickets ranging from $1,000 down to $150 “get-in” seats sold out, quantitatively proving that Rogen and Miller have found the groove on this event after a “House Party” themed outing at the Avalon last year (with the Backstreet Boys) and the inaugural edition on the tightly packed Golden Globes weekend in 2012.

Also read: Seth Rogen to Guest Star on HBO’s ‘The Comeback’

They raised $850,000 before the doors of the Palladium even opened on Friday night. “That’s a big f— you to Alzheimer’s!” Miller said.

Judd Apatow heaved “G’s” on to that “F” by auctioning off a $50 bill for $1,000. He also sold off a series of Rogen personal appearances. One of the top snags was a dinner party cooked by “Top Chef” Michael Voltaggio and Rogen in your own home, which some well-heeled prom-goer took down for $38,000.

“I’ve known Seth since he was 16 years old,” Apatow said. “I thought by now he’d be back in Canada selling beers at hockey games.”

Taylor Lautner and Patrick Schwarzenegger had brother Chris and Maria Shriver at their front table. (Getty Images)
Taylor Lautner and Patrick Schwarzenegger had brother Chris and Maria Shriver at their front table. (Getty Images)

Unlike a lot of one-and-done fundraiser shows, Rogen and Miller have made “Hilarity for Charity” in to an ongoing campaign. The creative couple seeded the Hilarity for Charity concept to college campuses, traveling all the way to the University of Vermont in May to screen “Neighbors” for the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity that had raised the most money for the cause.

(Before you click out of this story for google maps, Burlington, Vermont is 45 minutes from Canada and it’s expected to be 45 degrees there this weekend, so it’s not all about “smacking it, flipping it, and rubbing it down.” Oh no.)

Weird Al was a surprise performer to start the night. After the Emmys and a hit album, he's having a resurgence. (Getty Images)
Weird Al was a surprise performer to start the night. After the Emmys and a hit album, he’s having a resurgence. (Getty Images)

Back in Hollywood on Friday, it was pastel table cloths, streamers hanging from the rafters, balloon arches, a chrome and neon pink “Vice City”-esque logo, and a surprising number of people who actually dressed up in 1980’s prom costumes two weeks to the day before Halloween. Rogen is cool enough to get Hollywood to drop their guard.

Spotted in the crowd (not in costume), Rob Lowe, the duo of Taylor Lautner and Patrick Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver, Marcia Gay Harden, and enough industry insiders to draw both event top shooters, Jeff Vespa and Alex Berliner.

Two prom dates available: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Rogen's first boss, Judd Apatow. (Getty Images)
Two prom dates available: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Rogen’s first boss, Judd Apatow. (Getty Images)

Miller’s personal connection to Alzheimer’s provided the sobering overtone on the night. They have an appropriate sponsor for the cause, Genworth, which provides long term health care insurance, a financial dynamic that impacts patients and families who will benefit from a night like “Hilarity for Charity”.

Jose Cuervo, Hangar 1 Vodka and Dos Equis also kept the party on a non-high school level as sponsors.

Kumail Nanjiani, Weird Al Yankovic, and comic magicians David and Leeman performed, but were trumped by the biggest non-musical crowd pleaser of the night, Bill Burr.

Comments