Rosie O'Donnell raises money, Amazon makes kids' shows free: How entertainment industry is coping with corona outbreak
Finding positivity in dark times.
By AP |
Agencies
Rosie O'Donnell's streaming Broadway charity show raised over $600,000 for virus victims.
From finding ways to help others cope to sheltering in place to canceling events, here's a look at some of the ways the entertainment industry is reacting to the spread of the coronavirus, which most people recover from but can cause severe illness in the elderly and those with preexisting medical conditions.
ROSIE RAISES LOTS OF CASH Rosie O'Donnell's streaming Broadway charity show raised over $600,000 for virus victims.
Sunday's show featured Kristin Chenoweth singing ``Taylor the Latte Boy,'' Gavin Creel singing ``You Matter to Me,'' Darren Criss singing ``Being Alive'' and Gloria Estefan singing ``There's Always Tomorrow.''
The special was streamed live on Broadway.com and their YouTube channel. The money went to The Actors Fund to help those suffering the the coronavirus.
Other highlights included Neil Patrick Harris performing a magic act with his children, Patti LuPone performing ``A Hundred Years From Today'' and Adrienne Warren live from her bathtub singing ``Simply The Best.''
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AMAZON MAKES KIDS' SHOWS AVAILABLE FREE Interested users can access the free kids' titles with a valid Amazon account, which is free. Amazon is giving parents free streaming access to more than 40 children's shows, including ``Pete the Cat'' and ``If You Give a Mouse a Cookie'' and select seasons of PBS Kids shows including ``Arthur,'' ``Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood.''
Interested users can access the free kids' titles with a valid Amazon account, which is free. The shows are available to the company's customers worldwide. Usually, the shows are behind the Prime Video paywall.
Others shows now free include ``Jesse and Nessy,'' ``Bug Diaries,'' ``Costume Quest'' and ``The Snowy Day.''
RITA WILSON SHOWS NAUGHTY SIDE Actress and singer Rita Wilson showed off another side to her musical repertoire while riding out the virus stuck inside.
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The performer, married to actor Tom Hanks, posted a video on Instagram over the weekend in which she is seen reading the sci-fi novel ``Ender's Game.`` Then the classic Naughty by Nature 1992 hit ``Hip Hop Hooray'' begins playing and she raps along nonchalantly _ and gamely.
``You drew a picture of my morning/But you couldn't make my day/I'm rockin' and you're yawning/But you never look my way,'' she rapped.
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Wilson titled the video ``Quarantine Stir Crazy.'' Hanks and Wilson are in self-isolation in Australia, where the actor was filming Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Presley biopic when the couple received the diagnosis that both have COVID-19.
Wilson's vocal skills delighted many on the social network: ``The best video EVER!!!!! Kim Kardashian commented. ``Yessssssss R Greeky!`` Jennifer Aniston chimed in.
FALLON'S GOT LONG-DISTANCE COMPANY The segments, with guests talking to Fallon from their homes, are part of continuing ``hybrid episodes'' that include highlights from past shows, NBC said Monday. Moving ``The Tonight Show'' to his house hasn't left host Jimmy Fallon without guests.
The late-night host's ``At Home Edition'' will include Trevor Noah and D-Nice on Monday; John Legend on Tuesday; Niall Horan, Wednesday; Alec Baldwin, Thursday, and Tina Fey on Friday.
The segments, with guests talking to Fallon from their homes, are part of continuing ``hybrid episodes'' that include highlights from past shows, NBC said Monday.
Sirius XM HOST TAKING GUESTS `BACK TO SCHOOL' Broadway figure Seth Rudetsky is taking a bunch of celebrities back to high school during the coronavirus shutdown.
The longtime SiriusXM talk show host has a new podcast debuting Tuesday in which he interviews celebrities about their high school experiences and how those experiences continue to shape them.
Guests include Tina Fey, Vanessa Williams, Michael Urie, Sean Hayes, Rosie O'Donnell, Allison Janney, Bebe Neuwirth, Bob the Drag Queen and Jason Alexander.
Rudetsky promises some wild stories, like how Williams accidentally planted marijuana in her mother's greenhouse and the accident that almost killed Janney when she was 17. Fey's will reveal her real-life influences for ``Mean Girls.''
``Seth Rudetsky's Back to School'' will be available weekly on SiriusXM On Demand and Pandora.
The War Against Coronavirus: Pichai, Jack Ma, Ambani & Other Top Bosses Show The Way
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Chinese billionaire Jack Ma (C) showed his benevolent side as he pitched in to help the world fight the novel coronavirus. The founder of e-commerce major, Alibaba, Ma became the most talked about business figure after he said that he would marshall all available resources at his disposal to take on Covid-19. From donating emergency supplies (1.8M masks, 210K test kits, 36K protective suits, plus ventilators & thermometers) to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal, Pakistan & Sri Lanka in Asia to donating 20,000 test kits, 100,000 masks and 1,000 medical use protective suits in each of the 54 African countries, the 55-year-old proved that he was a good Samaritan whose charity was not mapped by geographical boundaries.
And even as the business magnate didn’t have India in his list of beneficiaries, there was much talk in the country about his act of generosity. And what followed were natural questions: who among India’s rich was doing a Jack Ma?
And it’s not just one individual, but a bunch of lion-hearted boardroom tycoons who have taken the pledge to help fight the virus that has thrown life off-track, in India and across the world.
Chinese billionaire Jack Ma (C) showed his benevolent side as he pitched in to help the world fight the novel coronavirus. The founder of e-commerce major, Alibaba, Ma became the most talked about bu..
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Google chief Sundar Pichai has donated Rs 5 crore to Give India, matching Google's earlier donation to the non-profit organisation for the coronavirus pandemic.
"Thank you @sundarpichai for matching @Googleorg's Rs 5 crore grant to provide desperately needed cash assistance for vulnerable daily wage worker families...," Give India said in a tweet.
Previously, Google had announced an over USD 800 million commitment towards efforts to tackle Covid-19 pandemic that claimed thousands of lives globally. This includes a USD 200 million investment fund for NGOs and banks to help small businesses access capital.
Besides, Google has also teamed up with Apple to work on a contact tracing approach designed with strong controls and protections for user privacy.
(With Inputs from PTI)
Google chief Sundar Pichai has donated Rs 5 crore to Give India, matching Google's earlier donation to the non-profit organisation for the coronavirus pandemic."Thank you @sundarpichai for matching @..
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Hyundai Motor India on Monday said it has donated Rs 7 crore to the PM CARES Fund to fight the Covid-19 crisis.
"Our contribution to the PM CARES Fund stands testament to solidarity we hold with the people of India, amidst this crisis," Hyundai Motor India MD and CEO SS Kim said in a statement.
In challenging times such as these, the company will continue giving back to help India defeat this adversity, he added.
The South Korean automaker had earlier pledged Rs 5 crore to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Relief Fund.
It has also donated imported diagnostic kits worth Rs 4 crore which can cater to testing requirements of over 25,000 individuals.
(With inputs from PTI)
Hyundai Motor India on Monday said it has donated Rs 7 crore to the PM CARES Fund to fight the Covid-19 crisis."Our contribution to the PM CARES Fund stands testament to solidarity we hold with the p..
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Elecon Group CMD, Prayasvin B Patel has donated Rs 11 lakh to the CM Fund to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, relief and rehabilitation work.
Also, Elecon Group has partnered with the District Collector's Office to distribute food and grocery kits among the vulnerable people.
Over 1,000 grocery kits have been distributed under the able guidance of Prayasvin B Patel and Mrs. Taruna P Patel. The grocery bag includes 10kg wheat flour, 5kg rice, 1 kg, dal, 1 kg sugar and 1 kg salt. Lunch and Dinner were also provided to the needy people at Vasad, Chikhodra and Bevda Villages.
(With inputs from ANI)
Elecon Group CMD, Prayasvin B Patel has donated Rs 11 lakh to the CM Fund to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, relief and rehabilitation work.Also, Elecon Group has partnered with the District Collector's..
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Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo, on Friday, announced that it has donated close to 9 lakh masks to government health bodies, police agencies and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).
"Vivo India has donated close to 900,000 masks to government health bodies, police agencies and @tweetndmc. We will continue to do whatever we can, in our capacity, to help the country overcome the COVID19 pandemic. This is for all HeroesWhoCare Folded handsFolded hands Coronarelief," Nipun Marya, Director, Brand Strategy, Vivo India said in a tweet.
Earlier, the company donated one lakh medical masks and 5,000 N-95 masks to the Maharashtra government.
(With Inputs from PTI)
Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo, on Friday, announced that it has donated close to 9 lakh masks to government health bodies, police agencies and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)."Vivo India ha..
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On Sunday evening Mukesh Ambani (in pic) stepped out to the balcony of his Altamount Road residence ‘Antilia’ and showed his gratitude to the country’s caregivers as he clapped his hands and rang the bell.
Hours later on Monday, Reliance Industries Limited announced that it is enhancing production capacities to manufacture 100,000 face-masks daily and a large number of protective equipment like suits and garments, for the country's health workers who are engaged in fighting the novel coronavirus. The oil and retail major also said that it has provided an initial support of Rs 5 crore to the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
RIL's Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital in collaboration with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, has also set up a dedicated 100-bed centre at Seven Hills Hospital in Mumbai for patients who test positive for Covid-19. The Foundation has also decided to provide free meals to people across various cities in partnership with NGOs.
Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of India's largest firm Reliance Industries, on April 20, pledged free meals, building country's first Covid-19 hospital and is supplying PPEs and masks as part of its effort to help the nation fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
Reliance Foundation's 'Mission Anna Seva' that aims to provide over 3 crore meals to marginalised communities and frontline workers facing hardships during the lockdown, is the largest free meal programme by any corporate foundation globally, its chairperson Nita Ambani said.
(With inputs from PTI)
On Sunday evening Mukesh Ambani (in pic) stepped out to the balcony of his Altamount Road residence ‘Antilia’ and showed his gratitude to the country’s caregivers as he clapped his hands and rang the..
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Home grown Dabur group, on Tuesday, pledged Rs 21 crore to support the relief efforts and help the immediate needs of people affected from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The group will also provide assistance to people engaged in frontline efforts to fight the virus and support to members of vulnerable sections of the society and migrant workers, who are the hardest hit by this pandemic.
"We have earmarked a fund of Rs 21 crore towards relief efforts... Out of this pledged amount, a sum of Rs 11 crore is being contributed to PM CARES Fund by Dabur India and other entities in the Group," said Dabur India Ltd Chairman Amit Burman said.
(With inputs from PTI)
Home grown Dabur group, on Tuesday, pledged Rs 21 crore to support the relief efforts and help the immediate needs of people affected from the Covid-19 pandemic.The group will also provide assistance..
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Indian software major Infosys, too, joined the Covid-19 fight with a Rs 100 crore donation. The Infosys Foundation has contributed half of this amount to the PM CARES Fund to expand hospital capacity for treatment and enable hospital stays for poor Covid-19 patients. The Foundation recently said it would help set up a hospital in Bengaluru exclusively to treat people infected by the virus.
Sudha Murty, who is the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation, said that “these are unprecedented times that require every section of the society to rise up to the challenge.” Infosys CEO Salil Parekh, while terming the Covid -19 pandemic as ‘one of the toughest challenges that the world has been faced with’, reiterated that it is imperative for businesses to join hands with the governments, civil society and healthcare institutions to support the communities.
Indian software major Infosys, too, joined the Covid-19 fight with a Rs 100 crore donation. The Infosys Foundation has contributed half of this amount to the PM CARES Fund to expand hospital capacity..
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On Sunday, as the country observed ‘Janata Curfew’ as a mark of appreciation for the selfless help provided by the caregivers, Anand Mahindra (in pic) shared some heartening news with his 7.5 mn followers on Twitter. The Mahindra Group chairman offered to convert Mahindra Holiday resorts as temporary care facilities. He also tweeted that the group will ‘immediately begin work on how our manufacturing facilities can make ventilators’.And that’s not all. He also pledged that the Mahindra Foundation will create a fund to assist SMEs and SMBs, ‘the hardest hit in our value chain’. The business tycoon himself pledged to contribute 100% of his salary to the fund, and keep adding to it over the course of the next few months.
On Sunday, as the country observed ‘Janata Curfew’ as a mark of appreciation for the selfless help provided by the caregivers, Anand Mahindra (in pic) shared some heartening news with his 7.5 mn fo..
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The Executive Chairman of Vedanta Resources Limited showed his generous side as he pledged Rs 100 cr to fight the pandemic. The 66-year-old Anil Agarwal (in pic), who tweeted a picture of his participation in the ‘Janata Curfew’, wrote on the micro-blogging platform that was ‘committing 100 cr towards fighting the Pandemic’. Expressing concern for the daily wage earners, he wrote that ‘we will do our bit to help’.
The Executive Chairman of Vedanta Resources Limited showed his generous side as he pledged Rs 100 cr to fight the pandemic. The 66-year-old Anil Agarwal (in pic), who tweeted a picture of his partici..
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