Usher to Co-Host Upcoming Global Citizen Contest Series, The Activist

“Does the winner get a blue vest?”Asked a veteran artist and tour director. Dennis De Groot on Twitter, in response to an announcement Thursday that “the international education and rights organization” Global Citizen will soon be launching its own series of contests on CBS, Activist. Usher, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Dancing with the stars veterinarian Julianne Hough are all on board to co-host the five-week reality series, which will premiere Friday, October 22 at 8 p.m. on CBS, simultaneously available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount +.

Through Deadline:

Activist is a competition series featuring six inspirational activists associated with three leading public figures who work together to bring about meaningful change to one of three vitally important global causes: health, education and environment.

Activists compete in challenges to promote their causes, with their success measured by online engagement, social action, and contribution from hosts. All three teams have one ultimate goal: to create impactful movements that amplify their message, incite action and move them forward to the G20 summit in Rome, Italy. There, they will meet with world leaders in the hope of raising funds and raising awareness of their causes. The team that receives the greatest engagement is celebrated as the overall winner of the final, which will also include musical performances by some of the world’s most passionate artists.

So…Fantastic race, but with activists? Or, as a writer and Twitter aficionado @WrittenbyHanna joked: “Not the best American activist“, throwing up a hilarious thread that speculated on the show’s challenges, also noting that do not launch Tyra was a missed opportunity. We highly recommend a read – also, CBS is the brilliant mind you really need in the writers’ room.

All kidding aside, Hugh Evans, CEO and co-founder of Global Citizen says, “Activist is a one-of-a-kind series of competitions that will inspire real change, as the series progresses from the United States to Rome for the activists’ final challenge to the G20, ”he said in a statement to Deadline. “The public will see activists’ passion and commitment to their causes put to the test as they call on world leaders to take urgent action to address the interconnected crises we face.”

CBS and Deviant Media produce alongside Global Citizen; from the upcoming series, Jack Sussman, EVP Specials, Music, Live Events and Alternative Programming at CBS added, “Combining philanthropy and entertainment, Activist is a groundbreaking series ready to inspire viewers, “We are delighted to have Usher, Priyanka and Julianne as part of the series, guiding our CBS audience through the journeys of passionate change makers from around the world.”

But wait, there is more! Global Citizen has also announced its lineup for its upcoming Citizen of the World Live concert in Los Angeles, taking place at the legendary Greek Theater on September 25, and in London in “a ‘spectacular location’ which has not yet been disclosed” Variety reports.

Stevie Wonder will be headlining the L.A. event, joined by HER, Demi Lovato, Adam Lambert, Chloe x Halle, OneRepublic, the Lumineers, Ozuna and 5 Seconds of Summer. Duran Duran will headline the London event, with Nile Rodgers & Chic, Kylie Minogue, Maneskin and Rag’n’Bone Man also starring.

As we reported in August, the programming of the other annual concerts of Global Citizen in cities of six continents, including New York, Paris, Lagos, Nigeria, and more-have already been announced. Variety give more details, noting that New York The lineup will include Billie Eilish, Jennifer Lopez, Coldplay, Lizzo, Meek Mill, Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes, Cyndi Lauper, Lang Lang, Burna Boy and Alessia Cara. Paris will welcome Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, DJ Snake, Black Eyed Peas, Christine and the Queens, Stormzy, Angélique Kidjo, Charlie Puth and Fatma Said.

In Lagos, Femi Kuti will take the stage, as will Tiwa Savage, Davido and Made Kuti. Rio de Janeiro’s lineup includes Alok, Mart’nália, Criolo, Liniker, Tropkillaz and Mosquito. Whi only Delta Goodrem has been announced for the Event in Sydney, Australia, Bailiff, BTS, Metallica, Green Day, Lorde, Andrea Bocelli, Keith Urban and Ricky Martin will also perform in places yet to be announced.

While the London show will be ticketless, “tickets for the LA show are now available on globalcitizenlive.la and can be “won by taking action” to meet Global Citizen’s goals, such as the concerts already announced for Central Park in New York and Paris near the Eiffel Tower, which have ticketing opportunities at GlobalCitizenLive.org», Reports Variety. In London, the event will also be broadcast live “for over nine hours on the BBC as well as on global streaming sites.” In America, ABC will broadcast highlights of the events in a less extended prime time slot the following night, Sunday 26, starting at 7 p.m. ET, ”the outlet notes, adding: “Besides ABC and the BBC, other media showing the concerts worldwide in part or in whole include iHeartRadio, YouTube, Hulu, FX, Twitter, Time, Roku Channel, Australian Channel 9, Multishow and Bis in Brazil, TF1 / TMC in France and Mediacorp in Singapore. “

But let’s come back to this other great philanthropic televised event we were reporting on: “Activist will raise awareness of society’s most pressing issues while empowering every viewer to be a part of the solution – an unprecedented example of how entertainment can change the world, ”Live CEO Michael Rapino told Deadline Nation Entertainment, adding, “Combining competition and compassion, these essential causes will take center stage as the show proves that there is no problem we cannot solve when we work together and demand change.

But seriously, is there a blue vest to win ?