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NEW YORK, 18 JULY 2019 -- BuzzFeed, the world’s leading tech-powered media company, today announced Internet Live, a one-hour variety special that will bring the best of the Internet to life on Thursday, July 25 live from Webster Hall in the heart of New York City.
Just like scrolling through your social feed, Internet Live will feature bite-sized, must-watch live segments that reflect what’s trending online today and tributes to nostalgic memes. The first of its kind event will feature a live musical performance by today’s top artist and meme-generator Lil Nas X, whose chart-busting song “Old Town Road” has driven Internet culture and made him one of the most viral musical artists. The showcase will bring the best of the Internet to life with live interviews, interactive games, star-studded performances and more, featuring the buzziest names in your feed, including: NYC Mayor and Presidential Candidate Bill de Blasio and First Lady of New York Chirlane McCray; Nickelodeon star and Internet sensation JoJo Siwa; Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Jenni "JWOWW" Farley, Deena Nicole Cortese, and Angelina Pivarnick of MTV’s “Jersey Shore Family Vacation,” and more.
Internet Live will provide endless entertainment with appearances by Comedy Central's Eva Victor; Donté Colley, the social media star known for his uplifting dance videos; Daniel Lara and Josh Holzz, who popularized “Damn Daniel”; 9 year-old Ava Ryan who creates comedy sketches on her mother’s YouTube channel; Zoe Roth aka “Disaster Girl”; teen climate activist Alexandria Villaseñor; broadway star Shoshana Bean; actor and comedian Jason Nash; Sam Primack of “Dear Evan Hanson”; BuzzFeed Multiplayer gaming fanatic Kelsey Impicciche; stand-up comedian and BuzzFeed producer Eric Tabach; Camp Broadway resident DJ Anthony Obi “Fat Tony”; and more. The variety special will be written and curated by BuzzFeed writers, editors, and producers who live and breathe all that is the Internet.
BuzzFeed, the leading digital-first media publisher, quickly took-off with its ability to identify and spread viral content, and the company continues to pioneer Internet culture through new content formats and emerging platforms. Internet Live, a first of its kind event, reflects the breadth of BuzzFeed’s content – from top memes and lifestyle content to hard-hitting news investigations.
“The Internet offers a little bit of everything, and with this event, we can give our audience the opportunity to experience the best of the internet in real life," said BuzzFeed CMO Ben Kaufman. “We’re excited to kick off Internet Live with Lil Nas X, a new type of star who truly understands and defines Internet culture with music that resonates across genres and identities, and JoJo Siwa whose tour is making waves across the nation. We'll also feature entertainers, politicians, activists, and artists who embody the joy (and truth) on the Internet right now.”
Internet Live will be produced and published across the BuzzFeed network on August 4, featuring never-before-seen footage and highlights from the night, to reach its global audience of more than 450 million people worldwide.
Internet Live will be brought to life by award-winning Executive Producers, Alex Coletti and Frank Garritano of Show Shop, which specializes in world-class specials, live event broadcasting and digital programming. Show Shop produces the annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (HBO) and has most recently produced the Game of Thrones farewell special, hosted by Conan O’Brien, Anna Deavere Smith’s one-woman film, Notes From the Field (HBO), David Cross: Making America Great Again! (Netflix), and Joe’s Pub Presents: A Holiday Special (IFC). Internet Live will be produced by Shop Shop’s Gillian Appleby and BuzzFeed’s Ben Kaufman and Katie Notopoulos.
ABOUT BUZZFEED:
BuzzFeed is the world’s leading tech-powered media company, with a cross-platform news and entertainment network that reaches hundreds of millions of people globally. The company produces articles, lists, quizzes, videos, original series; lifestyle content through brands including Tasty, the world’s largest social food network; original reporting and investigative journalism through BuzzFeed News; strategic partnerships, licensing and product development through BuzzFeed Marketing; and original productions across broadcast, cable, SVOD, film and digital platforms for BuzzFeed Studios.
ABOUT SHOW SHOP:
Led by award-winning producing partners ALEX COLETTI and FRANK GARRITANO, Show Shop specializes in world-class specials, live event broadcasting and digital programming. Garritano has produced large-scale music specials such Netflix’s Justin Timberlake and the Tennessee Kids, MTV's broadcast of Legally Blonde: The Musical and HBO's Concert for Valor. Coletti has produced and directed series such as the Sundance's Spectacle: Elvis Costello With, MTV's Unplugged, VH1's Storytellers, and multiple MTV Video Music Awards and NBA All-Star Halftime shows.
Show Shop produces the annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (HBO) and has most recently produced the forthcoming Game of Thrones farewell special, hosted by Conan O’Brien, Anna Deavere Smith’s one-woman film, Notes From the Field (HBO), David Cross: Making America Great Again! (Netflix), and Joe’s Pub Presents: A Holiday Special (IFC).