We're in the midst of some very scary and unpredictable times. As a country, each state has different ideas on how to proceed next. And even though we're all a little stir-crazy and worried about the economy, it's also important not to break the No. 1 reason why we're abiding by these rules. We don't want to get sick or expose our loved ones to illness.
That said, we need comedy more than ever. Fresh off a cameo on the last SNL at Home special, which was also the show's season finale, Tina Fey hosted a recent telethon to help New Yorkers who've been affected by the virus. And the experience literally brought her to tears.
It's kind of sad to see Tina break down, but in doing so, she showed so much. In her emotion, you can tell how much this lockdown has affected not just her, personally, but also the city she loves. Tina has always been such an advocate for New York. It's probably one of the reasons why her presence at the telethon was so important.
The event was called Rise Up New York! The Robin Hood Relief Benefit. By the end of the night, they had raised a whopping $115 million.
According to People magazine, Tina didn't even think the amount raised was real. "Is this real?" she asked producers when she first saw the final total. "Okay. $115 million. We did this. You did this. We are difference makers. $115 million! What a great day for New York."
She also made it clear that the number can continue to rise with extra help. "Thank you, for everyone, who gave and gave and gave, all over the world," she emotionally stated. "There's so much more to do. Please visit robinhood.org. Donate. Share it. Tell your friends. Please. Let's keep this going. Robin Hood's site will say open after this telethon is over because this battle is far from over. Thank you."
That amount means a lot — and not just to New Yorkers. Right now, a countless number of people are fighting for unemployment benefits. The state of the world is in a crazy place. And people are acting out because this is such a change in schedule and we're all so overwhelmed.
Even so, the amount donated was a kind act that'll make a real difference. People proved they still have a heart and we're still focused on beating this. The sooner we all work together, the better chance we have of getting through this rough period. That's enough of a gesture to make anyone cry.
As host, Tina explained why it's so important to raise funds for New York. Even though cases are popping up all around the globe, and it's something we're all working to try to prevent, New York is in a pretty bad situation. The number of cases is overwhelming there, and the virus truly threatens all of what makes New York City so special.
"No place has been hit harder than New York," she told her audience. "Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers are out of work and 2 million of our neighbors are now going hungry. We're going to honor this incredible city and show how we can rise up and help our neighbors in need."
There were plenty of celebrities who made sure to show their faces during the telethon. Tina was joined by talents like Jennifer Lopez, Jimmy Fallon, Robert De Niro, Bette Midler, Trevor Noah, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Matthew Broderick — to name just a few. Having Jennifer there was especially powerful. She made sure to try her hardest to get her fans to donate what they could.
"New York, I know your strength," Jennifer said. "We're going to get through this, but we need to make sure we take care of all our neighbors, including our children." New York also made the news because an alarming number of kids have been getting sick with a strange illness that's been associated with the virus.
Even though J.Lo is a great entertainer, Tina was made for a telethon like this. Thanks to shows like Saturday Night Live, where she was the first female head writer, she's become a public figure. And she's more or less based her entire career around New York City.
Tina also has a ton of big-name hosting gigs on her résumé. Aside from hosting a few episodes of Saturday Night Live after leaving the show, she's also hosted the Golden Globes with her pal Amy Poehler. The two have, without a doubt, been the most popular hosts in recent years.
In fact, they're already booked to take on the awards show in 2021, if it still happens. That would mark the fourth time they've hosted and the first since 2015. For comedy fans, or people who really need to smile right now, it's something wonderful to look forward to.
Tina and Amy have paired up plenty of times before. At one point, they were both anchors on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update. Amy had big shoes to fill when she initially replaced Jimmy Fallon, but the pair made it work. They've also starred in plenty of movies together.
Their most recent was Wine Country, which was released in 2019. The movie features a group of friends vacationing in Napa Valley. It's a great movie to watch if you, yourself, are missing the chance to go on vacation with your friends. The movie also features SNL alum like Ana Gasteyer, Rachel Dratch, Paula Pell, Emily Spivey, and Maya Rudolph.
That said, this has been one of Tina's best roles so far. Her leadership throughout the telethon was one of the many reasons why it was so successful. If you want to donate, it's not too late. Just visit robinhood.org to help make a big difference.
