The 100-plus clowns have all piled into their one tiny car and left NBC’s “Red Nose Day.”
The charitable broadcast came to a close about at about 11 p.m. ET at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom, where hundreds of jokes were told, thousands of tears were shed and millions of dollars were raised. The event, which has been running annually in the United Kingdom, was emceed by trio of Seth Meyers, David Duchovny and Jane Krakowski.
Red Nose Day is a campaign dedicated to raising money for children and young people living in poverty by simply having fun and making people laugh. The event marked the first-time that the fundraiser took place stateside. The star-studded event included musical performances by Ed Sheeran and Kermit the Frog, U2 and Keith Urban with John Mellencamp.
So many Hollywood stars participated that it might seem like we’re playing favorites if we only name a handful, but we will anyway: Will Ferrell, Nick Offerman, Stephen Merchant, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anna Kendrick, John Krasinski, Olivia Wilde, Chris Hemsworth, Bill Eichner, Martin Short, Jimmy Fallon, Julia Roberts and Eddie Redmayne were among the many actors to offer their support.
There was so much happening at the Hammerstein, in fact, that even if you watched the complete three hours on TV, you couldn’t have possibly seen everything.
Red Noses Literally Raising Money
Red clown noses — for which the charity gets its name — were apparently (and ironically) in short supply on Thursday at Hammerstein. They were so scarce in fact that we heard someone offered $50 for one. Now that’s charitable!
Three’s a Crowd
The show was so lengthy that it needed three different warm-up comics to keep the audience enthused during the commercial breaks. The best of the night worked Seth Meyers’ hour — familiar territory, as the stand-up comedian in question also handles audience warm-up for the “SNL” alum’s “Late Night.”
The well-dressed comics and Meyers shared high-fives each time they crossed paths. At one point, the boss quipped to the ballroom crowd: “Now that I know he has a suit, I kind of wonder why he doesn’t wear it to the work I pay him for.”
First Isn’t the Worst, Seth is the Best
Speaking of Meyers — the NBC personality hosted the first 60-minutes of the show, eventually passing duties off to David Duchovny. In turn, the “X-Files” star was relieved later by “30 Rock” star Jane Krakowski.
Meyers was light-years better than his stage successors. His jokes were sharper, banter better and the former “SNL” head writer proved extraordinarily more competent than his co-hosts, who were nervous at best and dull at worst.
Mic Check: One, Two Microphone problems seemed the plague the show all night. They were often late to turn “hot” in the theater, and suffered similar issues when the host threw the show to Times Square, where Hoda Kotb, Andy Cohen and Gilbert Gottfried were holding court — and drinks.
Turn Down That Damn Rock ‘N’ Roll! The mics and amps sure as hell worked when Keith Urban shared the stage with John Mellencamp to perform the latter singer’s “Pink Houses” though. We don’t think we’re being old grumps here, but it was LOUD. Like, way too loud as in, someone clearly didn’t show up for sound check levels.
Still, the crowd at the 34th Street and 9th Avenue venue seemed to dig the ditty or at least it woke them up.
Sorry Ladies, Kellan Was Clothed
One of the gags early in the night featured heartthrob Kellan Lutz, supposedly naked (sans three socks) on a pedestal behind a wall that would rise with each thousand bucks donated. But that’s merely the magic of TV, Lutz was shirtless but wearing shorts.
To be fair to the gag, Lutz was indeed wearing socks, but just two and on his feet.
Um, It’s Getting Late on a Worknight
We all knew that “Red Nose Day” was to run live from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m ET. What nobody apparently told the audience, however, was exactly how long those three-hours would feel on a worknight. As a result, probably almost half of the Hammerstein audience didn’t stick it out until the very end.
Your bosses thank you for the wise decision, early birds.
Matt Lauer Gets Some Love “Today” show host Matt Lauer rode his bicycle from Boston to New York City — his own personal “Tour de Red Nose” as he called it. The Hammerstein crowd really appreciated the impressive undertaking, as Lauer got one of the biggest ovations of the evening for his efforts.
Michael Che Needs Some Help
As TheWrap exclusively reported, “Saturday Night Live’s” Colin Jost, Michael Che and Jay Pharoah all took part in the festivities. “Weekend Update” anchors Jost and Che came out together to tell a few jokes and introduce a few folks. After the two did their best teleprompter reading and the broadcast cut to commercial, Che became lost — literally.
The former “Daily Show” staffer didn’t know if it was cool to leave the stage, saying into the microphone: “There should be a guy who tells us to leave, right?”
There was, and they left, with Jost gracefully thanking the crowd for their time.
But We’re Here for the Kids Of course, all the comedy was for a cause — raising millions of dollars for children’s charities in the United States and abroad. To drive home the dire points about how poverty effects the young ones, NBC rolled several pre-taped clips of stars such as Blake Shelton, Michelle Rodriguez and Jack Black interacting with kids and families in need. As one might expect, these shorts were heart-breaking.
Two of the biggest tearjerker videos were Black in Uganda, spending a day with a homeless boy named Felix, and the story of a young girl named Rachel who sacrificed birthday presents in lieu of donating money to provide clean well water overseas. Tragically, Rachel died in a car accident one month after starting her fundraising.
Watch some video highlights of the evening:
The Scene at 2015 TV Upfront Events In New York (Updating Photos)
Natalie Morales attends the 2015 Telemundo and NBC Universo Upfront at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
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Rebecca Lowe attends the 2015 Telemundo and NBC Universo Upfront at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
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Actress Blanca Soto attends the 2015 Telemundo and NBC Universo Upfront at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
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Actress Aracely Arambula attends the 2015 Telemundo and NBC Universo Upfront at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
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Actress Kate del Castillo attends the 2015 Telemundo and NBC Universo Upfront at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
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Actress Willa Holland attends The CW Network's New York 2015 Upfront Presentation at The London Hotel on May 14, 2015 in New York City.
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Actor Paul Wesley attends The CW Network's New York 2015 Upfront Presentation at The London Hotel on May 14, 2015 in New York City.
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Actor Brett Dier attends the CW Network's 2015 Upfront at the London Hotel on May 14, 2015 in New York City.
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Actor Wentworth Miller attends The CW Network's New York 2015 Upfront Presentation at The London Hotel on May 14, 2015 in New York City.
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Actor Justin Baldoni attends The CW Network's New York 2015 Upfront Presentation at The London Hotel on May 14, 2015 in New York City.
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Actor Jesse L. Martin attends The CW Network's New York 2015 Upfront Presentation at The London Hotel on May 14, 2015 in New York City.
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Actress Danielle Panabaker attends The CW Network's New York 2015 Upfront Presentation at The London Hotel on May 14, 2015 in New York City.
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Actress Rose McIver attends The CW Network's New York 2015 Upfront Presentation at The London Hotel on May 14, 2015 in New York City.
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"Supergirl" takes the stage at the CBS Upfront Presentation at New York's Carnegie Hall.
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James Corden of "The Late Late Show" presents at the CBS Upfront Presentation at Carnegie Hall.
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Actor Colin Hanks attends the 2015 CBS Upfront at The Tent at Lincoln Center on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
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Actress Jane Lynch attends the 2015 CBS Upfront at The Tent at Lincoln Center on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
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Actress Melissa Benoist attends the 2015 CBS Upfront at The Tent at Lincoln Center on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
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Chyler Leigh, Melissa Benoist and Mehcad Brooks at the CBS Upfront Presentation.
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Actors Jake McDorman, Hill Harper, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio attend the 2015 CBS Upfront at The Tent at Lincoln Center on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
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Actor Kevin Pollak attends the 2015 CBS Upfront at The Tent at Lincoln Center on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
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General view at the Turner Upfront 2015 at Madison Square Garden on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
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Conan O'Brien, Robin Meade, and Sean Bean attend the Turner Upfront 2015 at Madison Square Garden on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
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Jack McBrayer, Ashley Tisdale, and Seth Green attend the Turner Upfront 2015 at Madison Square Garden on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
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Ed Burns and Kenny Smith attend the Turner Upfront 2015 at Madison Square Garden on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
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Jack McBrayer, Matt Senreich, Christina Miller, President at GM, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim & Boomerang, TBS, Inc., Seth Green, and Eric Andre attend the Turner Upfront 2015 at Madison Square Garden on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
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Jeff Perry, Tony Goldwyn, Scott Foley, Joshua Malina and Guillermo Diaz attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
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Actor Scott Foley attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
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Actress Kerry Washington attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
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Actress Kerry Washington attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
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Actress Tracee Ellis Ross attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
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Actor Guillermo Diaz attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
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Actor Matt McGorry attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
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Actress Wendi McLendon-Covey attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
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Actor Tony Goldwyn attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
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Actress Sara Ramirez attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
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Actors Julie Bowen (L) and Ty Burrell attend the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
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Actress Katie Lowes attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
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Terry Crews at the Fox Upfront May 11. the event boasted a “Scream Queens” stunt and a lively three-song performance by the “Empire” cast. And it wasn’t all flash either — there was news on “Empire” Season 2 guest stars, the “American Idol” judging table and even new “Gotham” villains.
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Actor Andy Samberg attends the 2015 FOX programming presentation at Wollman Rink in Central Park on May 11, 2015 in New York City.
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Lee Daniels attends the 2015 FOX programming presentation at Wollman Rink in Central Park on May 11, 2015 in New York City.
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John Travolta, Sarah Paulson and Courtney B. Vance attends the 2015 FOX programming presentation at Wollman Rink in Central Park on May 11, 2015 in New York City.
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Actors Jake Johnson and Max Greenfield attend the 2015 FOX programming presentation at Wollman Rink in Central Park on May 11, 2015 in New York City.
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Bob Greenblatt, and Dolly Parton at the NBC Upfront Event on May 11. Neil Patrick Harris, Jimmy Fallon and Nick Cannon made an appearance at the event as well.
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Sophia Bush attends The 2015 NBC Upfront Presentation at Radio City Music Hall on May 11, 2015 in New York City.
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Neil Patrick Harris at the NBC Upfront Event on May 11.
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Nick Cannon attends The 2015 NBC Upfront Presentation at Radio City Music Hall on May 11, 2015 in New York City.
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Craig Robinson attends The 2015 NBC Upfront Presentation at Radio City Music Hall on May 11, 2015 in New York City.
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David Duchovny attends The 2015 NBC Upfront Presentation at Radio City Music Hall on May 11, 2015 in New York City.
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Simon Rich and Jay Baruchel attend the FX Networks Upfront Bowling Party at Lucky Strike on April 22, 2015 in New York City.
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Robert Kelly and Liz Gillies attend the FX Networks Upfront Bowling Party at Lucky Strike on April 22, 2015 in New York City.
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The broadcast networks unveil new season schedules to advertisers during presentations in NY