The saying goes, "Those who can’t do, teach." (Though it's often a misquote of Aristotle.) But can it work the other way? Can some of the most successful individuals handle a classroom full of rowdy students?
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| Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield in 'Celebrity Substitute' with creator and host Julian Shapiro-Barnum. Danielle Perelman |
This is the premise of Celebrity Substitute, a new web series that launched today on YouTube and other social platforms, blending comedy with this challenge.
In the initial episodes, We Live in Time co-stars Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh teach acting to elementary school kids in New York City. Lisa from K-Pop group Blackpink teaches another class dance and music video production, while Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles leads a workout session with yet another group. Each 4-8 minute episode is hosted and co-produced by Julian Shapiro-Barnum, the creator of the hit web series Recess Therapy, where he humorously interviews kids on topics like peeing your pants and climate change.
His show became so popular that guests have included Michelle Obama, Matt Damon, and Elmo, and even led to red carpet interviews at the Golden Globes. Celebrity Substitute is directed by Jake Wilson, known for his work with Lizzo, Cher, and Kacey Musgraves, and co-executive produced by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the EGOT-winning composers behind Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman, and La La Land.
Shapiro-Barnum, now 25, was partly inspired by a significant experience from his own elementary school days in Brooklyn. “One of the most impactful things that happened to me was when two improv comedians visited my class and taught us about comedy,” he told Reporter. “I didn’t even know that was something you could do for a job. It completely expanded my mind, and I never forgot it.”
For this series, Shapiro-Barnum aimed to capture the transformative impact such visits can have on students, but also to explore how the experience would affect the experts, showing just how challenging and important teaching is.
“These celebrities are great at what they do, but teaching is a whole different story,” he said. “I wanted to create a fun fish-out-of-water scenario and see if they could apply their expertise in front of a classroom.”
To add value to the schools involved, the show includes a philanthropic element. “We highlight the teachers and administration that make the school special, and with the help of our partner Amazon, we fulfill their wish list, whether it’s new supplies, laptops for students, or gym equipment,” Shapiro-Barnum explained.
The shoots are long, starting as early as 6:00 am, and the pressure is on from the get-go. “The clock starts ticking as soon as we arrive. It’s like a real school day—we’ve got to teach, have fun activities, schedule breaks, and keep the kids engaged,” Shapiro-Barnum said. While he’s used to working with one kid at a time on Recess Therapy, this new series has thrown him into the deep end.
“It’s so hard to keep the kids focused. We could be doing something amazing with a famous person, but they might be more curious about whether me and the celebrity are siblings or if they can have more Cheez-Its.”
Despite the challenges, no major disasters have occurred during filming. Shapiro-Barnum adds that while Celebrity Substitute is made with kids, it’s primarily aimed at adults. “I hope it resonates with people my age and older who enjoy trying something new for the first time and seeing celebrities in a completely different role.”
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