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‘Night Of Too Many Stars’ Speaks For Autism
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When “Saturday Night Live” alums get serious, they do it in a very funny way.
Comedy Central held its second “Night of Too Many Stars” at New York’s Beacon Theater on Sunday to raise money for autism education. The live TV event is both a parody of award shows and a fundraiser.
"If we can convince people we're just kidding, maybe they'll think they're giving us fake money," said host Jon Stewart.
The show is executive produced by Robert Smigel, an SNL alum who is also the voice of Triumph The Comic Dog. Smigel’s 10-year-old son Daniel is severely autistic. He recently uprooted his family to New Jersey when they were unable to find a school for him in Los Angeles.
"As hard as it was to have our son diagnosed, it's even harder to imagine the frustration of parents who just can't get what they need for their child," Smigel said.
Smigel and his wife Michelle had already mounted several autism fundraisers when he approached Comedy Central in 2006 with the idea of doing one on TV. The network loved the idea, so Smigel called on his old SNL pals Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Conan O'Brien, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, and Sarah Silverman. That event raised $2.5 million.
This year, he adds Matthew Broderick, Tom Brokaw, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Kelsey Grammer, Maroon 5, Ben Stiller, and even Rosie O'Donnell, in a rare stand up bit.
With so many stars wandering about, there is always the risk of egos clashing, but Stewart already has a plan.
“You just remind people, ‘You know this is a benefit, right?’ ” he said. “And if that doesn’t work, you threaten to sic Jerry Lewis on them, to teach them some benefit manners.”
Proceeds will support outreach programs that provide in-home training and consultation to families of very young children. A portion will also benefit Autism Speaks, a nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to increasing awareness of autism and raising money to fund autism research.
Donations can still be made online at comedycentral.com, or you can download the show for $1.99 from iTunes, where all proceeds go directly to the charity.
