History UsefulNotes / ComicRelief

There's an American version of Comic Relief, which is [[{{Dissimile}} like the British version]], except on Creator/{{HBO}} instead of free TV, focused on stand-up comedy rather than sketches, running irregularly instead of every two years (most recently for a Hurricane Katrina benefit in 2006), and not involving any red clown noses. It was hosted by Creator/BillyCrystal, Creator/WhoopiGoldberg, and Creator/RobinWilliams. In May 2015, Creator/{{NBC}} and the production company behind the HBO telethons revived Comic Relief in America with a Red Nose Day telethon, the first to be held in the country.

There's an American version of Comic Relief, which is [[{{Dissimile}} like the British version]], except on HBO instead of free TV, focused on stand-up comedy rather than sketches, running irregularly instead of every two years (most recently for a Hurricane Katrina benefit in 2006), and not involving any red clown noses. It was hosted by Creator/BillyCrystal, Creator/WhoopiGoldberg, and Creator/RobinWilliams. In May 2015, Creator/{{NBC}} revived Comic Relief in America with a Red Nose Day telethon.

* The 2015 campaign added a twist to the red noses -- there were ''nine'' designs packaged in blind bags/boxes, so a buyer didn't know which one they received until they opened it. On top of that, 12 noses were ''golden'' instead of red. [[Literature/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory If that sounds familiar]], it should -- anyone who found a golden nose received a VIP package to the West End musical ''Theatre/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory''.

There's an American version of Comic Relief, which is [[{{Dissimile}} like the British version]], except on HBO instead of free TV, focused on stand-up comedy rather than sketches, running irregularly instead of every two years (most recently for a Hurricane Katrina benefit in 2006), and not involving any red clown noses. It's hosted by Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, and (until his death) Creator/RobinWilliams.

Creator/TheBBC's other charity telethon. As the name implies, its main focus is on comedy, with many major British comedians often taking part (and some, such as LennyHenry, are almost expected to appear every year), down to the main motif, a red clown nose that takes a different form with every event.

* The 2015 campaign added a twist to the red noses -- there were ''nine'' designs packaged in surprise/blind bags, so a buyer didn't know which one they received until they opened it. On top of that, 12 of these noses were a ''tenth'' design -- golden instead of red. [[Literature/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory If that sounds familiar]], it should -- anyone who found a golden nose received a VIP package to the West End musical ''Theatre/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory''.

Comic Relief often also have a special charity record to go along with the event. This is usually a [[CoverVersion cover]] performed by a well known pop act alongside a popular comedy act, but is sometimes just a cover by a well known pop act with some comedians doing wacky things in the video. As expected, the song is performed during the telethon, often with interference. Another regular fundraiser is a bright red plastic nose (a different design, or more usually two or three different designs, every time) which is inevitably sold using some variant of the phrase "Pick Your Nose Here".

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The telethon, known as Red Nose Day, airs every two years (in March of every odd-numbered year, usually on the third Friday ever since the second telethon in 1989; the first one was [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness in 1988 and aired on the first Friday in February]]) and is generally similar to Series/ChildrenInNeed in format, with comedy skits and spoofs, appearances by celebrities (often poking fun at themselves), and performances by special musical acts (that often get interfered with by the comedians). All the while, there are short reports showing people in desperate need that Comic Relief has helped. Like with Series/ChildrenInNeed, the BBC News separates the family friendly and the racier parts of the night.

The telethon, known as Red Nose Day, airs every two years (in March of every odd-numbered year, usually on the third Friday) and is generally similar to Series/ChildrenInNeed in format, with comedy skits and spoofs, appearances by celebrities (often poking fun at themselves), and performances by special musical acts (that often get interfered with by the comedians). All the while, there are short reports showing people in desperate need that Comic Relief has helped. Like with Series/ChildrenInNeed, the BBC News separates the family friendly and the racier parts of the night.

* ''Series/{{Blackadder}}'' (1988), a [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SXf9-Z3jwk brief episode]], but notable for being by Comic Relief co-founder Richard Curtis (who had had the idea with Lenny Henry in 1985).

* ''Black Adder'' (1988), a [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SXf9-Z3jwk brief episode.]]

There's an American version of Comic Relief, which is [[{{Dissimile}} like the British version]], except on HBO instead of free TV, focused on stand-up comedy rather than sketches, running irregularly instead of every two years (most recently for a Hurricane Katrina benefit in 2006), and not involving any red clown noses. It's hosted by Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, and Creator/RobinWilliams.

* 2013 had Music/JessieJ shaving her head and skits where [[Series/TheXFactor Simon Cowell]] gets [[{{Narcissist}} married]] [[SelfDeprecation to himself]] and [[Series/DoctorWho the Doctor]] tries to stop the birth of the most terrifying being the universe has ever seen... Jedward.

TheBBC's other charity telethon. As the name implies, its main focus is on comedy, with many major British comedians often taking part (and some, such as LennyHenry, are almost expected to appear every year), down to the main motif, a red clown nose that takes a different form with every event.

The telethon, known as Red Nose Day, airs every two years (in March of every odd-numbered year, usually on the third Friday) and is generally similar to ChildrenInNeed in format, with comedy skits and spoofs, appearances by celebrities (often poking fun at themselves), and performances by special musical acts (that often get interfered with by the comedians). All the while, there are short reports showing people in desperate need that Comic Relief has helped. Like with ChildrenInNeed, the BBC News separates the family friendly and the racier parts of the night.

There's an American version of Comic Relief, which is [[{{Dissimile}} like the British version]], except on HBO instead of free TV, focused on stand-up comedy rather than sketches, running irregularly instead of every two years (most recently for a Hurricane Katrina benefit in 2006), and not involving any red clown noses. It's hosted by Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, and RobinWilliams.

* ''Series/DoctorWho: The Curse of Fatal Death'' (1999), a spoof ''Who'' [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do-wDPoC6GM adventure]] starring Rowan Atkinson as the Doctor and Jonathan Pryce as the Master. Written by Creator/StevenMoffat, who would later go on to write for the series upon its actual return in 2005 and run the series beginning in 2010.

* 2007 saw a crossover between Lauren Cooper of ''TheCatherineTateShow'' and... then Prime Minister TonyBlair, in which he became increasingly exasperated after listening to two straight minutes of her constant chattering, finally responding [[FunnyMoments with her own catchphrase]].

The skits in the Comic Relief telethons often either special versions of BBC comedy shows, or specially made for the telethon. These usually include spoofs, pieces involving a comedian with a celebrity, or a CrossOver between two different programmes (which have a good chance of being [[IntercontinuityCrossOver from two completely different shows]]). The most notable of these is the ''Series/DoctorWho'' spoof ''The Curse of Fatal Death'', the centrepiece of Red Nose Day '99, which was written by StevenMoffat, the writer of {{Coupling}}, some of the most critical and fan acclaimed episodes of the new Who, and current showrunner.

* ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' (1994), a [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hra0I-w3XBY brief bit]] done for the American Comic Relief that had pretty much all the main cast except Patrick Stewart. The bit, in which some Comic Relief artifacts are found on a planet's surface, is done in such a way that it really doesn't look out-of-place in the ''Trek'' mythos.

* ''DealOrNoDeal'' (2007), a "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2eha1ff-aE mini-episode]]" with Nan of ''The Catherine Tate Show''. The whole thing is played '''extremely''' straight.

'''Notable Relief stuff'''
* ''Let's Dance for Comic Relief'' (2009)- Namely celebs doing dance routines. This one included LampshadeHanging on result announcements ("Can we have some dramatic music?") and a StupidSexyFlanders moment involving Robert Webb, "What a Feeling" and a leotard.
* "Is This the Way to Amarillo?" (2005)- A re-release of the 1971 Tony Christie song, with accompanying video featuring, well, a lot of people, including Ronnie Corbett falling off a treadmill. This charity single spent seven weeks at No.1 and a version done by the Royal Dragoon Guards in Iraq crashed a server at the Ministry of Defence because it was being emailed so much.
* 2007 saw a crossover between Lauren Cooper of TheCatherineTateShow and... then Prime Minister TonyBlair, in which he became increasingly exasperated after listening to two straight minutes of her constant chattering, finally responding [[CrowningMomentOfFunny with her own catchphrase]].
* ''TopGear [[TopOfThePops of the Pops]]'', a 2007 crossover between the car show and the music showcase, featuring the ''Top Gear'' presenters introducing various musical acts instead of cars, talking about music-related topics during the news, charging Music/McFly with writing a new song for the special using the words "sofa", "Hyundai", and "administration", and concluding with a performance of "Red Light Spells Danger" by the Top Gear Band.
* ''Series/DoctorWho and the Curse of Fatal Death'' (1999), a spoof ''Doctor Who'' adventure starring Rowan Atkinson as the Doctor and Jonathan Pryce as the Master. Written by Creator/StevenMoffat, who would later go on to write for and run the series upon it's actual return in 2005.