Byron Allen wants to feed America.
The media mogul’s production studio is launching Byron Allen’s Feeding America Comedy Festival to raise money for America’s hunger-relief organization, Feed America, in response to the coronavirus pandemic. And Allen is pulling out some of Hollywood’s big guns to headline the event.
Among the comedy icons who will tape pre-recorded segments for the three-hour live-stream are Kevin Hart, Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Tiffany Haddish, Chris Rock, Billy Crystal, Marlon Wayans, Howie Mandel, Brad Garrett, Taraji P. Henson, Louie Anderson, Margaret Cho, Kenan Thompson, Marc Maron, Jon Lovitz, Caroline Rhea, Byron Allen, Billy Gardell, Tim Meadows, Jamie Kennedy, Bill Engvall and Sheryl Underwood.
There are more comedy icons expected to sign on in the near future.
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Co-produced by the Funny Or Die entertainment brand, Feeding America will stream the comedy festival on the Allen Media Group-owned television networks, Comedy.TV and The Weather Channel, as well as on the free streaming service app Local Now from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm (ET) on Sunday, May 10, 2020.
“In partnership with Feeding America, my comedian friends and all of us at Allen Media Group are pleased to announce this global live-streaming comedy event,” Allen said in a press release. “Laughter is often the best medicine, and we are extremely motivated to bring attention to issues of food insecurity, and to assist in providing meals to families across the country who are financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“The coronavirus pandemic and the economic downturn it has created is shining a light on the fragile nature of people’s household budgets,” added Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, a nationwide network of 200 food banks. “Millions more of our neighbors are turning to food banks for help and we cannot thank Byron Allen and Allen Media Group enough for their support to raise funds and awareness of our work.”
