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YouTube is an anomaly in the TV upfronts: Unlike other networks and streamers, it doesn’t present a big slate of new programming to whet Madison Avenue’s appetite for buying ads.

Instead, YouTube touts scale others can’t match. And to underscore the claim that the platform drives culture, it invited a bunch of personalities to this year’s YouTube Brandcast upfront presentation to wow the crowd — including Lady Gaga, who brought down the house with a rollicking five-song performance; MrBeast (aka Jimmy Donaldson), YouTube’s most-followed creator; vlogger and podcaster Brittany Broski; Sean Evans, host of “Hot Ones”; and gaming streamer IShowSpeed. Also on hand: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who talked up the league’s deal for YouTube’s first free livestreamed NFL game next season.

As far as monetizing the zeitgeist, YouTube’s biggest news Wednesday was the announcement of a new sponsorship package for advertisers to...

Celebrity Substitute, the series from Julian Shapiro-Barnum and Broadway composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, has been renewed for a second season, Deadline reports. Initially premiering in October of 2024, Season 1 has already seen over 100 million views since its debut. The second season is now in production. Celebrity Substitute is a digital-first series featuring celebrity guests who “substitute teach” their world-famous skills to a public elementary school class of cute, quirky, and hilarious kids. Each episode follows Julian Shapiro-Barnum as he visits a public school with a celebrity and explores the unexpected connections between the young kids and the superstar, and the ways in which a master in their field figures out how to be a teacher. The first season featured Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh,...

Exclusive: The viral hit digital-first series Celebrity Substitute will return for a second season. The renewal follows a successful Season 1 premiere that drew over 100 million cross-platform views in less than six months. Season 2 is currently in production, with a premiere date Tba.

Created by Julian Shapiro-Barnum (Recess Therapy) and Egot-winning Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the show features celebrity guests who “substitute teach” their world-famous skills to public elementary school classes of endearing and hilarious kids.

Produced by Pasek & Paul’s Ampersand, Celebrity Substitute “pairs celebrities with public school students for fun, inspiring lessons—and plenty of surprises. A mix of heart, humor, and viral classroom chaos, Celebrity Substitute celebrates creativity, community, and the power of learning,” according to the official logline. Jake Wilson will return as director of the series in Season 2.

In collaboration with Amazon, the series includes a feel-good twist by fulfilling each teacher’s Wish List...

Growing up in Highland Park, Billie Eilish and Finneas developed the bulk of their creative tendencies while being homeschooled by their parents. With no particular curriculum to follow, they approached each lesson with curiosity toward whatever sparked their interest at the time. Needless to say, it took them pretty far. And now, Eilish and Finneas can say they have spent time in a classroom — but as teachers, not students. On the latest episode of the digital series Celebrity Substitute, the duo takes over an elementary school class at Highland Park’s Garvanza Elementary.

Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas were the latest A-listers to appear on Celebrity Substitute, a series where celebrities drop by elementary schools to play substitute teacher for the day.

Arriving at Garvanza Elementary in Los Angeles, the pair of Grammy-winning songwriters were tasked with teaching a first grade class how to write a hit song. The kids, predictably, were off the walls when Billie and Finneas show up, with one student even asking “Am I dreaming right now?” and another noting that they saw Eilish performing on TV with red hair. Finneas started playing some piano chords, and the students weighed in on which chords they liked best.

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They eventually cycled through some potential song topics, which included ghosts, Kendrick Lamar, or something “freaky,” per one student’s suggestion. The group landed on the topic of snow, and decided to write a song about a...

Rihanna got some advice about staying from an unlikely source this week, speaking with seven-year-old Miles on the popular YouTube series Recess Therapy on Tuesday. The adorable interview covered everything from playing instruments to how to make new friends.

Rihanna acknowledged she’s a fan of the show, and Miles in particular, having watched many of the show’s other videos that featured him. “You’re really funny,” the singer told Miles, who responded with “I know” almost immediately.

After revealing his favorite Rihanna’s song — “Shine Bright Like a Diamond,...

In a delightful turn of events, music icon Rihanna stepped into the role of interviewer during a recent episode of the feel-good YouTube series, Recess Therapy. The episode, which aired on October 29, features Rihanna engaging with 7-year-old Miles, a standout from the series known for its humorous interactions with children. This unique format hosted by Julian Shapiro-Barnum allows kids to…

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Lisa of Blackpink was the latest Celebrity Substitute on the digital series hosted by Recess Therapy creator Julian Shapiro-Barnum. According to a press release, each episode sees the host visit a different public school with a celebrity to “empower educators and help students achieve their dreams by investing directly in essential resources and tools.”

The series partners with Amazon to fulfill each school’s Amazon Wish List of essential learning supplies and resources. The show launched last week with their debut featuring actors Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh.

The pop...

Those who can’t do, teach, goes the saying. (Or rather the misquotation of Aristotle.) But does it work the other way? Can some of the most successful people in their field handle a classroom of rowdy school kids? This is the challenge posed to comic effect in the new web series Celebrity Substitute, which launched today on YouTube, as well as other social platforms.

In the first few episodes, We Live in Time co-stars Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh attempt to teach acting to New York City public elementary school students; Lisa, from K-Pop girl group Blackpink, teaches another class to dance and make a music video; and Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles trains yet another to complete a workout routine.

Each 4-8-minute episode is hosted and co-produced by Julian Shapiro-Barnum, who made and stars in the wildly popular web series, and social media juggernaut, Recess Therapy, which features...

Many kids rejoice when they learn that they’ll have a substitute teacher for the day, and Recess Therapy is making that news even more exciting. The brand is expanding with Celebrity Substitute, a new YouTube series that brings stars like Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield into the classroom.

Celebrity Substitute is produced by Zach Stafford, Danielle Perelman, and Sean Walsh. Each episode takes place at a public school, where high-profile guest stars will draw upon their areas of expertise as they attempt to educate local children. Julian Shapiro-Barnum, the face of the Recess Therapy brand and the host of Celebrity Substitute, is himself a graduate of New York City’s public schools.

For the inaugural installment of Celebrity Substitute, which hit YouTube on October 22, Shapiro-Barnum returned to his old stomping grounds to visit a school in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. His celeb subs, Pugh and Garfield, show up...

Exclusive: WME has upped Eve Attermann to partner in the books department.

Atterman, who has been with WME since 2011, has worked across departments to help agency clients cross over into the book space including thought leaders, journalists, novelists, memoirists, musicians, politicians, and chefs.

She has also assisted with current book clients who are interested in creating content in other verticals.

Some of her work with actors and musicians on their book debuts include Dave Grohl’s memoir The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music and Janelle Monáe’s short fiction collection The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer.

Attermann also has a growing list of cookbooks under her belt. Those clients include Dan Pelosi (GrossyPelosi) , Andrew Rea (Babish), Jessica Seinfeld, Marissa Mullen, Alexis DeBoschnek, Eden Grinshpan and Dominique Ansel.

Among her other clients are CNBC correspondent Julia Boorstin, The Points Guy founder Brian Kelly, Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow,...

The child stars of Recess Therapy may not be old enough to join an award show voting committee, but they have enough moxie to keep up with the biggest stars in Hollywood — and that’s exactly what’s happening on January 7. Recess Therapy host Julian Shapiro-Barnum and two of his young co-stars will conduct red carpet interviews ahead of the 2024 Golden Globes.

Snippets from Recess Therapy’s red carpet interviews will be posted across the Golden Globes’ social channels. The 81st edition of the annual gala begins at 8 Pm on the 7th, with CBS serving as the show’s TV broadcaster for the first time since 1982. The Globes will also stream on Paramount+.

Recess Therapy’s stint as the Globes’ official red carpet interviewer will put another feather in Shapiro-Barnum’s cap. By sharing his playtime interactions with a recurring cast of local schoolchildren, the Recess Therapy host has attracted...

It’s a Kidz Bop party in DJ Khaled’s new video. On Wednesday, Nickelodeon premiered the visual for “Supposed to Be Loved” featuring Lil Baby, Future, and Lil Uzi Vert, which sees children versions of the rappers acting out the silly music video.

The Daps-directed visual opens with Julian Shapiro-Barnum of the viral “Recess Therapy” interviewing a boy playing DJ Khaled about love, before flashing to the four kid versions of the performers showing to a house party.

The clip jumps between party clips and each of the rappers...

Singer Olivia Rodrigo got some adorable dating advice from a little boy. The 20-year-old singer recently appeared on the Recess Therapy show and she straight-up asked a little boy named Miles for dating advice, reports etonline.com.

“How do you think that I find love in my life,” she asked, prompting Miles to respond with, “Pick a person that looks kind.”

The most adorable part came right after, when Miles put his tiny hand on Rodrigo’s knee before telling her, “I really hope you find love.”

Rodrigo was visibly moved by the kind gesture, but Miles wasn’t done yet.

He had her and host Julian Shapiro-Barnum cracking up when Miles also shared, “The only person you can’t marry is your cousins.”

The sweet advice comes not long after Rodrigo dropped ‘Vampire’, which made waves after fans speculated the track is about her ex, Zack Bia.

The DJ...

Singer Olivia Rodrigo got some adorable dating advice from a little boy. The 20-year-old singer recently appeared on the Recess Therapy show and she straight-up asked a little boy named Miles for dating advice, reports etonline.com.

“How do you think that I find love in my life,” she asked, prompting Miles to respond with, “Pick a person that looks kind.”

The most adorable part came right after, when Miles put his tiny hand on Rodrigo’s knee before telling her, “I really hope you find love.”

Rodrigo was visibly moved by the kind gesture, but Miles wasn’t done yet.

He had her and host Julian Shapiro-Barnum cracking up when Miles also shared, “The only person you can’t marry is your cousins.”

The sweet advice comes not long after Rodrigo dropped ‘Vampire’, which made waves after fans speculated the track is about her ex, Zack Bia.

The DJ...

The 20-year-old singer was moved by the child’s sweet advice.

Olivia Rodrigo got some adorable dating advice from a little boy, and it’s damn good dating advice!

The 20-year-old singer recently appeared on the “Recess Therapy” show and she straight-up asked a little boy named Miles for dating advice, and Miles did not disappoint.

“How do you think that I find love in my life,” the songstress asked, prompting Miles to respond with, “Pick a person that looks kind.”

The most adorable part came right after, when Miles put his tiny hand on Rodrigo’s knee before telling her, “I really hope you find love.”

Rodrigo was visibly moved by the kind gesture, but Miles wasn’t done yet. He had her and host Julian Shapiro-Barnum cracking up when Miles also shared, “The only person you can’t marry is your cousins.”

Miles’ dating rules also include no...

“Raven’s Home” star Raven-Symoné, “Reading Rainbow” host LeVar Burton and the creators of “Cobra Kai” were among a star-studded list of honorees at Variety’s first-ever Family Entertainment Awards, presented by Kidoodle.

Both Raven-Symoné and Burton received the storytelling visionary award for their respective long-time contributions to kids’ programming, and their acceptance speeches were tethered by an emphasis on the continued need for children’s content that stimulates thoughtful conversation.

“Kids are the smartest people I know,” Raven-Symoné told audience members last night at The West Hollywood Edition. “The family space and the kids’ space is worthy of bold, thought-provoking content. They can handle it.”

Raven-Symoné stars in and executive produces “Raven’s Home,” a reboot of the 2003 family sitcom “That’s So Raven” that grapples with challenging topics like racial profiling and peer pressure in an age-inclusive format.

“I do believe, like Raven, that [children] deserve the best of what we have to offer,...

Variety will celebrate achievements in executive leadership, creative storytelling and franchise building of entertainment that connects with fans of all ages on Dec. 8 for the Variety Family Entertainment Awards sponsored by Kidoodle.tv.

Pete Docter

Chief Operating Officer, Pixar Animation Studios

Leadership Award

Docter is one of Pixar’s most important team members, having applied his talents to films including “Toy Story,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Up,” “Inside Out” and “Soul,” among others. He’s worked as an animator, screenwriter, voice actor, producer and director, and currently serves as chief creative officer. Keeping the entertainment landscape fertile with family-friendly offerings is one of his highest priorities. “Though there’s more to watch than ever in history, it feels like there is less and less that everybody can enjoy together. Shows are either too violent for kids, too insipid for parents or not emotionally engaging for all audience members. It’s really hard to do all that,...