What’s Worth Watching: A Comical Nose for Charity

Red Nose Day ( Thursday, May 21, 8/7c, NBC)

You’ve probably seen the promos and store displays, with celebrities sporting a red clown nose to call attention to this three-hour fundraising marathon of mirth and music, designed to raise money to help children living in poverty in the U.S. and abroad. (The British version of this event, created by Love Actually filmmaker Richard Curtis, has raised more than $1 billion over the last three decades.) Among the highlights: a musical retelling of Game of Thrones from Coldplay and several of the show’s key cast members, including Peter “Still Going Strong” Dinklage. Other comedy will be supplied by Funny Or Die videos, and musical performances will include a collaboration on “Pink Houses” by John Mellencamp and Keith Urban.

And to remind us why this cause is so vital, there will be a series of short films documenting the crisis, featuring Jack Black visiting home children in Uganda, Blake Shelton touring a mobile health clinic in Los Angeles, and Michelle Rodriguez meeting children in need in Peru. Poverty is no laughing matter, but rallying charitable contributions through comedy is a time-honored tradition. (Remember Comic Relief?)