Wikipedia

Some Good News

Some Good News is a 2020 American web series created and hosted by American actor and filmmaker John Krasinski on YouTube, which premiered on March 29, 2020. Krasinski self-funded and co-produced the show with his production company, Sunday Night Productions, and filmed each episode remotely from his home in Brooklyn during the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] After eight episodes and a live-streamed prom, a report from the Hollywood Reporter announced that the show was sold to ViacomCBS on May 22, 2020.[2] Krasinski later confirmed that he dropped plans for any adaptations to the show and that it would be kept in its original format.[3] Krasinski brought the show back for a holiday special on YouTube in December 2020.[4]

Some Good News
Genre
Created byJohn Krasinski
Presented byJohn Krasinski
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes9 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time15–25 minutes
Production companySunday Night Productions
Original release
NetworkYouTube
ReleaseMarch 29 (2020-03-29) –
December 20, 2020 (2020-12-20)

Since the first season concluded, Some Good News has raised over $2 million for various charities through their Some Good Merch Sevenly store. Donations have gone to Direct Relief, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Trauma Free World, World Central Kitchen, the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Toys For Tots, and the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund.[5]

Premise

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The show, which was originally developed and hosted on YouTube, is "a news show dedicated entirely to good news," with Krasinski operating inside his home during the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] In each episode, he discusses several feel-good stories and invites celebrity guests to join in conversation.[7]

Cast

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Host

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Guests

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Production

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Krasinski conceptualized Some Good News in 2013, but launched the series in 2020, amid the imposed lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. He self-financed and produced the program, in conjunction with his production banner partner, Allyson Seeger.[8] Various companies were hired for production, editing, marketing, and other aspects.[9]

On May 21, 2020, ViacomCBS announced that it had acquired Some Good News, following a bidding war, with the intention of turning the show into a weekly addition to traditional news segments for CBS All Access and Comedy Central with productions through Comedy Central Productions.[10] Krasinski stated he would step down as host, but remain an executive producer alongside Sunday Night Productions. However, in May 2021, Krasinski announced he and ViacomCBS did not move forward with development plans for the company's streaming platform. Instead, Some Good News would remain in its original format on YouTube as well as secondary video platforms established in the show's original run such as Snapchat.[3][11]

Episodes

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Episodes of Some Good News
No.TitleOriginal release date
1"Some Good News with John Krasinski"March 29, 2020 (2020-03-29)
Krasinski opened the show by stating, "We are all going through an incredibly trying time, but, through all the anxiety, through all the confusion, all the isolation, and all the Tiger King, somehow the human spirit found a way to break through and blow us all away."[12] Krasinski's former costar on The Office Steve Carell appeared on the show as an "entertainment correspondent." Krasinski also interviewed a 15-year-old cancer survivor named Courtney "Coco" Johnson.[13]
2"Zoom Surprise"April 5, 2020 (2020-04-05)
The episode featured a new introduction, which was created by a viewer.[14] In the episode, Krasinski had multiple guest stars, including his wife actress Emily Blunt, actor Robert De Niro, composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the cast of the musical Hamilton (including original performers Leslie Odom Jr., Anthony Ramos and Renée Elise Goldsberry). He also interviewed a nine-year-old girl named Aubrey who was a "superfan" of Hamilton but was unable to see the show due to the coronavirus.[15] He stated he would fly Aubrey out to the show once the coronavirus was over, but in the meantime arranged for the cast to perform for her from their homes via Zoom.[16] Ad Age called the episode "ridiculously wonderful."[17]
3"Baseball Is Back"April 13, 2020 (2020-04-13)
Krasinski and special guest star baseball player David Ortiz treated five different healthcare workers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston with a trip to Fenway Park where they were given lifetime season pass tickets to the Boston Red Sox.[18] Additionally, Krasinski announced that he had coordinated with AT&T to provide free cellphone service for three months for all nurses and doctors in the country.[19]
4"Prom 2020"April 20, 2020 (2020-04-20)
The episode featured guests Chance The Rapper, Brad Pitt, Rainn Wilson, the Jonas Brothers, Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell. Additionally, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Chris Cassidy, and Andrew R. Morgan were featured while aboard the International Space Station. Pitt provided a weather forecast,[20][21] and towards the end of the episode, Krasinski, with support from a few of his special guests, recapped the "virtual prom" he hosted live the previous Friday,[22] for teens who were unable to attend their prom due to the pandemic.[23][24][25]
5"SGN Potluck"April 26, 2020 (2020-04-26)
The episode featured guests Martha Stewart, David Chang, Guy Fieri and Stanley Tucci. Each guest prepared a family recipe sent in by fans. Krasinski announced that PepsiCo was donating an additional 3 million dollars to Fieri's charity, the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund, to help out restaurant workers.[26]
6"Graduation 2020"May 3, 2020 (2020-05-03)
The episode featured guests Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, Malala Yousafzai, Steven Spielberg and Jon Stewart. The episode focused on a virtual graduation, since most high schools, colleges, and universities in the United States and around parts the world did not hold graduation ceremonies because of the coronavirus. Krasinski invited new graduates onto the show, who asked questions of the celebrity guests.[27] In what CNet called "one of the best new segments", Jackson went up to people on the street and shouted compliments at them.[28] Winfrey gave advice to poet Amanda Gorman, the first youth poet laureate, while Reynolds played weatherman.[28][29][30]
7"The Office Cast Reunites for Zoom Wedding"May 11, 2020 (2020-05-11)
The episode begins with Emily Blunt momentarily making an appearance as the host of the show before Krasinski feigns outrage and takes over. Emma Stone delivers the weather report. Krasinski then shares a story of a Maryland couple who proposed in the same way Jim Halpert and Pam Beesley did on The Office. He then introduces them on the show as "love conquers all correspondents". He invites their family on Zoom, where Krasinski announces he is an ordained minister and proceeds to marry them with the help of Zac Brown who plays a song for them. The cast of The Office reenacts Jim and Pam's wedding dance. The cast reprising their roles include Jenna Fischer, Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, Ed Helms, Ellie Kemper, Mindy Kaling, B. J. Novak, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, and Creed Bratton.[31]
8"The SGN Community Episode!"May 17, 2020 (2020-05-17)
9"Holiday Special with Dwayne Johnson"December 20, 2020 (2020-12-20)

Live virtual prom special

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On April 16, 2020, Krasinski announced that he was DJing a live-streamed prom special on the channel the following night at 8:00 pm EDT.[32][22] The Jonas Brothers performed their song "Sucker" while Eilish and O'Connell performed "Bad Guy". Krasinski stated, "We are all going through this together. It's a very weird time, but each and every one of you are missing something and this is the least I could do and I couldn't be more proud to do it."[33] Mashable called the episode "truly a night to remember."[34] Vulture stated "Overall, [it was] at least as fun as our actual physical prom, minus the $$$. Hope you enjoyed, Class of 2020!"[35]

Around 86,500 people were watching initially, but there were over 214,000 viewers by the end.[34]

Reception

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Audience viewership

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Some Good News debuted on YouTube on March 29, 2020, and accumulated 330,000 subscribers overnight.[36] The first episode appeared on YouTube's Trending page and was viewed 3.1 million times one day after being uploaded.[37] It had been viewed over 12 million times by April 5, 2020.[38]

Within the first eight weeks, the eight episode series drew in over 72 million views and 2.58 million subscribers.[39]

Critical response

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Some Good News was positively received, including the accompanying Twitter account Krasinski set up for the show under the handle @somegoodnews.[40] TV Insider wrote "... Some Good News has proven how powerful spreading positivity can be. TV fans should put their faith in John Krasinski to deliver what the title of his YouTube series promises amidst the chaos and hardships of life during the COVID-19 pandemic."[6][41]

Reviewing the second episode, CBN News stated, "just like the first episode, this one is definitely worth watching."[42] NPR stated the episode was an "explosion of good-hearted joy".[43] Michelle Obama shared the video on social media, adding, "I couldn't help but smile after watching this video with John Krasinski, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the cast of Hamilton surprising a young fan, giving us all a little bit of joy at this difficult time."[44] Jimmy Traina of Sports Illustrated said the third episode "managed to create some damn good sports content—and some tears."[45]

Accolades

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Some Good News won a Special Achievement Award at the 2020 Webby Awards and was nominated for a Streamy Award.[46][47]

Some Good Merch

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In episode eight, John Krasinski announced that Some Good News had partnered with Sevenly and the Starbucks Foundation to launch Some Good Merch, an online merchandise store where 100% of profits go to charity. As of 2021, over two million dollars have been donated to six charities through Some Good Merch. Donations from Some Good Merch to Direct Relief specifically provided emergency aid to the Navajo Nation and White River Indian Hospital in Fort Apache Indian Reservation, a facility serving over 17,000 tribal members and run by the Indian Health Service (IHS). The donation included COVID-19 PPE, thousands of masks and sanitizer, and other relief supplies compiled by a coordinating team at First Nations Fund.[48][49] Additionally, PPE donations were made to SelfHelp Community Services, a home and community-based healthcare service for elderly Holocaust survivors and homebound seniors.[50] With Trauma Free World, Some Good Merch donations went towards the international "Signs for Hope" program, which assists in the training of trauma-informed care for deaf children and orphans.[51] Additionally, donations to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America assisted in the remote re-opening of the Metro Atlanta BGCA after the club was forced to close due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.[52] Donations have also been made to the World Central Kitchen, Toys for Tots, NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, and the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund.

References

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  1. ^ James, Daron (April 28, 2020). "How John Krasinski's 'SGN' Pulls Off Its Highly Entertaining and Uplifting News Show". No Film School. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  2. ^ Ivie, Devon (May 27, 2020). "John Krasinski Says He Didn't Sell Out Some Good News: It 'Wasn't Sustainable'". Vulture. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Itzkoff, Dave (May 19, 2021). "John Krasinski and the Tense Wait for 'A Quiet Place Part II'". New York Times. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  4. ^ "SGN Returns With A Holiday Episode Featuring The Rock". December 21, 2020. Archived from the original on December 26, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  5. ^ "John Krasinski Announces That SGN Manages To Raise $2 Million In Donations". February 4, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Strout, Paige (April 12, 2020). "Why TV Fans Should Be Watching John Krasinski's 'Some Good News'". TV Insider. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  7. ^ Alexander, Julia (March 30, 2020). "The Office's John Krasinski launched a YouTube channel dedicated to good news". The Verge. Archived from the original on April 16, 2020.
  8. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (May 21, 2020). "John Krasinski's 'Some Good News' Sells to ViacomCBS Following Massive Bidding War". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  9. ^ "Meet John Krasinski's secret weapon that helped make 'Some Good News' a hit". fastcompany.com. May 28, 2020. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  10. ^ "Don't worry: John Krasinski will still host a few 'Some Good News' shows". Los Angeles Times. 27 May 2020.
  11. ^ "Some Good News | Snapchat". Archived from the original on 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  12. ^ Jasevičiūtė, Andželika (March 29, 2020). "John Krasinski Shares Some Good News, Invites Steve Carell To Lift Up People's Spirits". Bored Panda. Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  13. ^ Pesce, Nicole Lyn (March 31, 2020). "John Krasinski and Steve Carell bring 'Some Good News' in a new YouTube series". Market Watch. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  14. ^ Molina-Whyte, Linda (April 6, 2020). "John Krasinski's Some Good News brings together original Hamilton cast". Radio Times. Archived from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  15. ^ Haylock, Zoe (April 6, 2020). "Hamilton Cast Reunion Happens in Separate Rooms". Vulture. Archived from the original on April 13, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  16. ^ Price, Joe (April 6, 2020). "John Krasinski Reunites Original Cast of 'Hamilton' for 'Some Good News' Show". Complex. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  17. ^ Dumenco, Simon (April 6, 2020). "Episode 2 of John Krasinski's 'Some Good News' is Ridiculously Wonderful". Ad Age. Archived from the original on April 14, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  18. ^ Respers France, Lisa. "John Krasinski and David Ortiz surprise nurses and respiratory therapists to say thanks". CNN. Archived from the original on 14 April 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  19. ^ Rorke, Robert. "John Krasinski scores health workers free AT&T, lifetime Red Sox tix". New York Post. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  20. ^ "Watch Brad Pitt's Hilarious Weather Report for John Krasinski's 'SGN'". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  21. ^ "Watch weatherman Brad Pitt in action on John Krasinski's 'Some Good News'". Today.com. 20 April 2020. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  22. ^ a b Ebrahimji, Alisha. "Newton's John Krasinski Hosts Virtual Senior Prom For Class Of 2020". CNN. Archived from the original on 30 April 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  23. ^ Chitwood, Adam (April 20, 2020). "John Krasinski Recaps His Prom and Chats with Rainn Wilson in 'Some Good News' Episode 4". Collider. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  24. ^ "John Krasinski's SOME GOOD NEWS Episode 4 Throws Prom 2020 With Chance the Rapper, The Jonas Brothers, and Billy Eilish Stopping By". GeekTyrant. 20 April 2020. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  25. ^ "NASA astronauts on ISS tell John Krasinski that Earth is still beautiful". cnet. Archived from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  26. ^ Ehrlich, Brenna (27 April 2020). "Martha Stewart, Guy Fieri, Stanley Tucci Throw Potluck With Fans on John Krasinski's 'Some Good News'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  27. ^ Kiefer, Halle (May 4, 2020). "Oprah, Jon Stewart Surprise Graduates With Some Sage Advice on John Krasinski's Some Good News". Vulture. Archived from the original on May 9, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  28. ^ a b Bisset, Jennifer (May 4, 2020). "John Krasinski holds perfect virtual graduation featuring Oprah Winfrey". CNet. Archived from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  29. ^ Slane, Kevin (May 4, 2020). "'Some Good News' did a graduation episode, and John Krasinski got plenty of celebrity commencement speakers". Boston.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  30. ^ Proctor, Stephen (May 4, 2020). "Oprah and other stars help John Krasinski surprise 2020 grads on 'Some Good News'". Yahoo. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  31. ^ "John Krasinski Reunites 'Office' Cast to Surprise Newlyweds on 'Some Good News'". The Hollywood Reporter. 10 May 2020. Archived from the original on May 17, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  32. ^ Seemayer, Zach (16 April 2020). "John Krasinski Announces He's DJing a Virtual Prom For High School Students". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  33. ^ Ehrlich, Brenna (April 20, 2020). "John Krasinski Threw an Online Prom With Billie Eilish, Chance the Rapper and the Jonas Brothers". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  34. ^ a b Gallucci, Nicole (April 18, 2020). "John Krasinski's virtual high school prom was truly a night to remember". Mashable. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  35. ^ Kiefer, Halle (April 20, 2020). "John Krasinski Threw You a Quarantine Prom With Billie Eilish, Chance, and the Jonas Brothers". Vulture. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  36. ^ Hale, James (30 March 2020). "John Krasinski Launches 'Some Good News' YouTube Channel, Gaining 330K Subscribers Overnight". Tubefilter. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  37. ^ Alexander, Julia (March 30, 2020). "The Office's John Krasinski launched a YouTube channel dedicated to good news". The Verge. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  38. ^ Rahman, Abid (April 5, 2020). "John Krasinski Returns With Second Episode of YouTube Show 'Some Good News'". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  39. ^ Pesce, Nicole Lyn. "John Krasinski tries explaining to furious fans why he sold 'Some Good News' to CBS". MarketWatch. Archived from the original on 2020-06-06. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  40. ^ Gallucci, Nicole (April 2, 2020). "John Krasinski's Some Good News Twitter account will brighten your timeline". Mashable. Archived from the original on April 16, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  41. ^ Kaufman, Hayley (April 17, 2020). "How John Krasinski and 'Some Good News' won the quarantine internet". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  42. ^ Goins-Phillips, Tré (April 11, 2020). "'Office' Star John Krasinski Keeps the Good News Flowing in Epic Second Episode of 'SGN'". CBN News. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  43. ^ Thompson, Stephen (April 6, 2020). "'Hamilton' Cast Reunites For Emily Blunt, John Krasinski And One Lucky 9-Year-Old". NPR. Archived from the original on April 14, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  44. ^ Aniftos, Rania (April 7, 2020). "'Michelle Obama Says John Krasinski's 'Hamilton' Reunion Made Her 'Smile'". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 2, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  45. ^ Traina, Jimmy (April 13, 2020). "John Krasinski Surprises Hospital Workers With Trip to Fenway, Lifetime Season Tickets: TRAINA THOUGHTS". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on April 16, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  46. ^ Kastrenakes, Jacob (20 May 2020). "Here are all the winners of the 2020 Webby Awards". The Verge. Archived from the original on 21 May 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  47. ^ "YouTube Streamy Awards Nominations Unveiled With David Dobrik, Emma Chamberlain And James Charles Leading The Pack". 21 October 2020.
  48. ^ "Direct Relief Sends Emergency COVID-19 Aid Package to Fort Apache Indian Reservation with Support from Some Good News Community". 1 October 2020.
  49. ^ "Navajo Nation Receives COVID-19 Supplies from SGN Community Partners, Including 5th Element, Sevenly and The Starbucks Foundation, through Direct Relief". 27 July 2020. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  50. ^ "Selfhelp Provides Care to Thousands of Holocaust Survivors Using PPE Donations Organized by 5th Element with Direct Relief, SGN and The Starbucks Foundations". 16 October 2020.
  51. ^ "Trauma Free World Brings "Signs for Hope" Program to Deaf Orphans With Help from The Starbucks Foundation, SGN, and 5th Element". 27 October 2020.
  52. ^ "Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta Re-opens to Provide Distance Learning Site for Members, Assisted by Donation from The SGN Community, 5th Element and Starbucks". 8 September 2020.
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