Editing Comic Relief (section)

==Similar events outside the United Kingdom==
{{Main|Comic Relief, Inc.}}
{{Update|section|date=May 2017}}

* '''United States''': In 2015, Red Nose Day was formally brought to the United States under the auspices of [[Comic Relief, Inc.]], an organisation unrelated to the defunct Comic Relief USA. The 2015 ''Red Nose Day Special'' aired on [[NBC]] on 21 May 2015 and was hosted by [[David Duchovny]], [[Seth Meyers]] and [[Jane Krakowski]],<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Culture-Cafe/2015/0521/Will-NBC-succeed-with-the-US-version-of-Red-Nose-Day|title=Will NBC succeed with the US version of Red Nose Day?|journal=The Christian Science Monitor|first=Molly|last=Driscoll|date=21 May 2015}}</ref> raising $23&nbsp;million. The 2016 NBC special aired on 26 May with [[Craig Ferguson]] as the host.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbc.com/the-red-nose-day-special|title=The Red Nose Day Special - NBC.com|website=NBC}}</ref> Sponsored by [[Walgreens]], Red Nose Day has since become an annual event.
* Inspired by the British charity, a [[Comic Relief USA|United States Comic Relief charity]] was founded in 1986 by [[Bob Zmuda]]. Comic Relief was an irregularly held event, televised on [[Home Box Office]] (HBO), which has raised and distributed nearly US$50&nbsp;million towards providing health care services to [[Homeless people#Twenty-first century|homeless people]] throughout the United States. Comedians [[Robin Williams]], [[Billy Crystal]] and [[Whoopi Goldberg]] were hosts of the event. The 1989 HBO Comic Relief show debuted the song "[[Ray Reach#"Mr. President" on HBO|Mr. President]]", written by Joe Sterling, [[Ray Reach]] and Mike Loveless. The song was sung by [[Al Jarreau]] and [[Natalie Cole]]. On 18 November 2006, the event was revived as a fundraiser for those affected by [[Hurricane Katrina]], and was [[simulcast]] on [[TBS (TV network)|TBS]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-comicreliefhbotbs,0,1080956.story?coll=zap-news-headlines|title='Comic Relief' Returns to HBO|publisher=Zap2it|access-date=2 February 2007|archive-date=27 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927030934/http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-comicreliefhbotbs,0,1080956.story?coll=zap-news-headlines|url-status=dead}}</ref> Richard Curtis also created the [[Idol Gives Back]] special for ''[[American Idol]]'', which follows the same basic premise as Comic Relief, with specially filmed shorts, performances and footage of the stars of the show visiting impoverished countries.
* '''Australia:''' In 1988, the Red Nose Day concept was adopted by the SIDS and Kids organisation to help raise funds for research into [[sudden infant death syndrome]]. Since then, Red Nose Day in Australia is held annually on the last Friday of June.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rednoseday.com.au/|title=Australian Red Nose Day Homepage|access-date=2 February 2007|archive-date=8 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208002914/http://www.rednoseday.com.au/|url-status=dead}}</ref> An Australian version of Comic Relief, Comic Relief Australia, has also been set up.<ref>[http://www.comicrelief.org.au Comic Relief Australia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051124065036/http://www.comicrelief.org.au/ |date=24 November 2005 }}</ref> Following a campaign encouraging people to buy articles such as red wristbands, the first [[telethon]]-style event was held on 6 November 2005 on the [[Seven Network]]. It followed the established format, with comedy interspersed with examples of the sorts of charities to benefit. According to its website,<!-- Retrieved 2006-04-12, for the record --> this raised more than A$800,000. Another telethon was broadcast on 27 November 2006 on Seven Network. The 2006 Comic Relief Show was held under the title '50 Years of Laughs' celebrating 50 years of television in Australia. It was hosted by [[Colin Lane]], and featured presenters such as [[Amanda Keller]], [[Mikey Robins]], [[Ugly Dave Gray]] and [[Derryn Hinch]] interviewing [[Kylie Mole]].
* '''Germany''': The German TV station [[Pro 7]] initiated a similar event in 2003. By selling red noses, money is collected for the charity foundations PowerChild, ''Deutsche Kinder- und Jugendstiftung'' (lit., German Child and Youth Foundation), and Comic Relief. The event is called 'Red Nose Day', and took place annually in March or April from 2003 to 2006. However, ratings and the collected donations fell far short of expectations in 2006, resulting in no main show being produced in 2007 and 2008. In 2003, [[Nena]] (who is famous for her hit song 99 Red Balloons) released an updated version of her song Wunder Gescheh'n (Miracles Happen) for the charity. In 2010, the Red Nose Day returned on Pro7. It took place on 25 November.
* '''Russia''': A similar charity campaign, entitled "Red Nose, Kind Heart", was launched in Russia on 1 April 2007. The main goal of the drive, held between 1 April and 19 May 2007 by the Liniya Zhizni (Life Line) foundation, is raising money to help children afflicted with serious diseases (such as heart diseases).
* '''Finland''': In 2002, the Finnish national broadcaster [[YLE]] started an annual charity event, which initially went under the title "Ylen hyvä". In 2007, the event adopted the name "Nenäpäivä" (Nose day), and the use of red noses to more closely follow the example of the British event.
* '''Iceland''': ''Dagur rauða nefsins'' (Red Nose Day) has been held in support of [[UNICEF]] since 2006. It has featured the sale of red noses to raise funds and has enjoyed support and publicity from many local celebrities and televised events on the national broadcaster, [[RÚV]].
* '''Belgium''': "Rodeneuzendag" (Red Nose Day) was held in Belgium for the first time in 2015 to raise money for children with psychiatric problems, and aired on VTM.
* '''Ireland''': [[RTÉ Does Comic Relief]] was launched in June 2020,<ref name="rte.ie">{{Cite journal|url=https://www.rte.ie/culture/2020/0618/1148237-rte-does-comic-relief-everything-you-need-to-know/|title=RTÉ Does Comic Relief – everything you need to know|date=18 June 2020|via=www.rte.ie}}</ref> to raise funds for charities and local community initiatives within Ireland. The event took place to raise funds that were lost during the COVID-19 pandemic with all proceeds going to [[The Community Foundation for Ireland]] who will distribute the funds raised to more than 4,000 non-profit organisations at a national, regional, and local level throughout Ireland. The event was broadcast live on [[RTÉ One]] and the [[RTÉ Player]] for more than 4 hours on Friday 26 June 2020 raising millions of euro for local charities with appearances by [[Paul Mescal]], [[Aisling Bea]], [[Hozier]], [[Roy Keane]], [[Westlife]], [[Samantha Mumba]], [[Amy Huberman]] and a host of other Irish and international celebrities, comedians, actors, and musicians. The event was hosted by [[Deirdre O'Kane]], [[Nicky Byrne]], [[Baz Ashmawy]], [[Jennifer Zamparelli]], and [[Eoghan McDermott]].<ref name="rte.ie"/> During the live event the [[Government of Ireland]] issued a statement stating it would match all proceeds donated by doubling the amount and a number of Irish and international companies also donated large sums of money to the fund.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2020/0627/1149979-rte-does-comic-relief-raises-plenty-of-laughs-and-cash/
|title = RTÉ Does Comic Relief raises plenty of craic and cash|date=28 June 2020|work=RTE News|access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref>