Comic Relief
Comic Relief is a charitable initiative that blends comedy with philanthropy, originally inspired by a British show that aimed to raise funds for relief efforts in the 1980s. The American version of Comic Relief debuted in 1986, produced by Bob Zmuda and featuring prominent comedians like Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, and Whoopi Goldberg as emcees. This live telethon was designed to address the growing issue of homelessness in the United States, showcasing a mix of stand-up comedy, poignant stories of homeless individuals, and celebrity appeals for donations. The inaugural event raised over $2.5 million, marking a significant moment as the first national telethon focused on homeless relief in the U.S.
Over the years, Comic Relief USA organized thirteen annual shows from 1986 to 1998, ultimately raising more than $50 million to assist homeless individuals and provide humanitarian aid to African nations. The initiative is encapsulated by its motto, "Where there is laughter, there is hope," emphasizing the power of humor in fostering support for those in need. After a break, the original team reunited in 2006 to raise funds for Hurricane Katrina victims, demonstrating the ongoing commitment to humanitarian causes. Comic Relief remains a notable example of how entertainment can be harnessed for social good.
Comic Relief
The Event Televised live comedy fund-raiser for the homeless
Date Aired March 29, 1986
Comic Relief was a fund-raising event designed to aid homeless people in eighteen states and twenty-three cities.
Produced by Bob Zmuda, Comic Relief was based on a similarly titled British show, which aired in the United Kingdom in 1985. The British show, produced by comedy screenwriter Richard Curtis, was itself inspired by an earlier 1985 event, Live Aid , which was a mammoth benefit rock concert organized to collect money to relieve hunger in Ethiopia. Live Aid aired internationally and was an enormous success, spurring Curtis to organize an event of his own to raise money for African relief. He recruited comedians and comedy writers to participate in another televised benefit, modeled after Live Aid but with a comedic rather than a musical format.
The following year, Zmuda enlisted Billy Crystal , Robin Williams , and Whoopi Goldberg to act as emcees for an American version of the event, which was to be a live, three-hour comedy show. The proceeds from the event went to help homeless people in the United States, whose growing numbers were a significant social problem of the 1980’s. The premium cable channel Home Box Office (HBO) agreed to air the show live and to record it for future airings. HBO provided free access to the show, so television viewers could watch it regardless of whether they subscribed to the channel. The first show—which featured a combination of live stand-up comedy acts, films of the homeless, stories of their struggles, and recorded pleas by celebrities for donations—was the first national telethon for homeless relief in the United States. Forty-seven comedians performed in the broadcast, which raised more than $2.5 million. The success of the show motivated its organizers to turn it into an annual event, and a total of thirteen Comic Relief USA shows were organized from 1986 through 1998. All were filmed for rebroadcast, enabling them to raise more money over time.
Impact
During the twentieth century, Comic Relief USA raised more than $50 million. The money was used to aid homeless people in the United States and to fund humanitarian aid to people in African nations. The show’s success enabled organizers to bring relief to many people in need, and it gave reality to Comic Relief’s official slogan, “Where there is laughter, there is hope.”
Subsequent Events
After a seven-year hiatus, the original American Comic Relief team reunited in 2006 to raise money to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Bibliography
Gold, Todd, ed. Comic Relief: The Best of Comedy for the Best of Causes. New York: Avon Books, 1996.
Redburn, F. Stevens, and Terry F. Buss. Responding to America’s Homeless: Public Policy Alternatives. New York: Praeger, 1986.