“Celebrity Substitute,” the Amazon-produced digital series from “Recess Therapy” host Julian Shapiro-Barnum, is returning to YouTube for its second season with a guest lineup including Reneé Rapp, Gigi Hadid, Role Model, Malala Yousafzai, Ed Sheeran, Rauw Alejandro and more.
Each episide of the series, which debuted its first season on YouTube in fall 2024, sees a celebrity visit a public school classroom for a day to meet students and attempt to teach them new skills. Season 1 kicked off with Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh teaching acting. Other highlights of the season included Billie Eilish and Finneas writing songs with the kids and Kenan Thompson teaching improv comedy. Additionally, with each episode, Amazon sponsors all of the items on one teacher’s classroom wishlist.
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul executive produce “Celebrity Substitute” via their Ampersand banner, with Danielle Perelman, Zach Stafford and Sean Walsh serving as producers. Jake Wilson directs the series, and Allison Klein is showrunner.
“’Celebrity Substitute’ resonates because it blends entertainment with real-world impact,” said Shapiro-Barnum, who serves as host and creator. “This season delivers even bigger surprises, more heartfelt moments and unforgettable connections between our guest substitutes and the students they inspire.”
“We were genuinely moved by the incredible response to the first season, and even more excited for everyone to see what’s in store for the brilliant students and our celebrity guests this time around,” said Pasek and Paul.
“What makes ‘Celebrity Substitute’ special is how it combines genuine educational moments with the joy of unexpected celebrity encounters and meaningful Amazon deliveries,” said Hannah Broadhurst, head of entertainment and content marketing at Amazon. “Season 2 also introduces our new Classroom List tool, thoughtfully designed to simplify how teachers organize and share their classroom needs. This seamless integration invites viewers to participate in the show’s mission by directly supporting teachers nationwide, transforming those heartwarming on-screen moments into resources for classrooms in their own communities.”
See a teaser for “Celebrity Substitute,” plus photos from Rapp’s episode, below.
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