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In all more than 100 stars, including Oscar winners Julia
Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, Eddie Redmayne, Julianne Moore and
Helen Mirren appeared either live or in taped comedy segments,
many of which satirized the entertainment world.
NBC's three-hour live telecast was hosted by Seth Meyers, David
Duchovny and Jane Krakowski.
Meyers, making much of Red Nose Day's 30-year history in
Britain, where it has raised more than $1 billion, joked that
the event's main goal was "to raise enough money to rub this in
England's stuck-up face."
Accordingly, Simon Cowell, Naomi Campbell, Ian McKellen and
Mirren were all seen toiling backstage, ostensibly performing
technical or menial tasks such as serving beverages or in
Benedict Cumberbatch's case, handling cue cards.
Other highlights of the marathon broadcast, which included
segments featuring Jack Black visiting poverty-stricken areas
worldwide, included Coldplay's appearance as the centerpiece of
a sketch film documenting the creation of "Game of Thrones: The
Musical."
Several cast members of the HBO show including Kit Harington,
Diana Rigg and Peter Dinklage took part, with Liam Neeson
narrating.
Roberts was the focus of another bit as co-star Richard Gere
weighed in on her "real," gruffly masculine speaking voice,
which Gere compared to a prizefighter's.
Clips of Roberts, her voiced so-dubbed, followed, along with
James Bond star Daniel Craig speaking with the voice of a small
girl, and action star Neeson sounding like he had inhaled
helium.
Another sketch purported to show hit male-dominated movies
recast with actresses, including riffs on "Indiana Jones," "The
40 Year Old Virgin," "Three Men and a Baby" and "12 Angry Men."
In the last, the women jurors come quickly to a unanimous
verdict, then argue at length about where to get lunch.
Musical performers included U2, John Mellencamp and Keith Urban,
while the judging panel from "The Voice" appeared in several
comic bits.
Fundraising stunts included Nick Cannon dancing for 24 hours
straight and "Today Show" host Matt Lauer bicycling from Boston
to New York.
Other stars who appeared, either live or in taped segments,
included Emily Blunt, Neil Patrick Harris, Diddy, Reese
Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston.
Two hours into the show, donations stood at $10.7 million, and
will continue online and via telephone through the night.
(Reporting by Chris Michaud)
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