Sam Smith, John Legend Among Stars Set for NBC's RED NOSE DAY

It will be a night to remember when NBC airs "Red Nose Day," a live three-hour entertainment event on Thursday, May 21 (8-11 p.m. ET) featuring world-class comedy, videos produced by Funny Or Die, incredible music performances and Hollywood's biggest stars.

With a focus on having fun, raising money and changing lives, the star-studded event will help 12 charity organizations lift children and young people out of poverty, in the U.S. and throughout the world. Will Ferrell, Jennifer Hudson, Jack Black, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Michelle Rodriguez and Gwyneth Paltrow will appear, along with music sensations Sam Smith, John Legend and "Voice" coaches Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera and Pharrell Williams.

Matt Lauer, Carson Daly, Nick Offerman, Elizabeth Banks, Chris Pine, Jeff Goldblum, Billy Eichner, Martin Short, Laura Linney, Anna Kendrick, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and John Michael Higgins are also slated to appear, along with Bill and Melinda Gates, Stephen Merchant and many more.

Created by film director/writer Richard Curtis ("Notting Hill," "Bridget Jones Diary," "Love Actually"), Red Nose Day is an enormously popular annual event in the U.K. that has raised more than $1 billion over the past 30 years. Red Nose Day, inspired and supported by Comic Relief U.K., is coming to the U.S. for the first time with the live broadcast on May 21.

People from all walks of life are encouraged to have fun and raise money through buying red noses (sold exclusively at Walgreens and Duane Reade stores nationwide), organizing fundraising events and watching and donating during the television special. The star-studded event will feature sketch comedy, parodies, videos produced by Funny Or Die, live musical performances and short appeals films that shed light on those in need.

As previously announced, the money raised during Red Nose Day will fund programs that address the immediate needs of children and young people living in poverty in the U.S., Africa, Asia and Latin America. Our charity partners include 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.

Richard Curtis is an executive producer for the NBC telecast (a Universal Television production), along with Hamish Hamilton and Ian Stewart of Done + Dusted Productions. Henrietta Conrad and Lily Sobhani will also serve as executive producers, as will Mike Farah, Anna Wenger and Joe Farrell from Funny or Die. Hamilton is set to direct.

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