For Your Consideration

Celebrity Substitute

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Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series

About the show

Hosted by Julian Shapiro-Barnum (Recess Therapy) and produced by EGOT-winning songwriters Pasek & Paul's banner AMPERSAND, Celebrity Substitute is an emotionally resonant short-form nonfiction series that transforms celebrity classroom visits into authentic stories of joy, surprise, and human connection. What begins as a playful premise quickly reveals something far more rare: a carefully structured format built on childlike candor, emotional immediacy, and the ability to capture the power of real relationships as they form in real time.

Built for impact, each episode places a celebrity in the role of substitute teacher at a New York City public school, where they lead a bespoke lesson inspired by their craft while addressing real, unmet needs in the classroom. The format is engineered for surprise, transforming an ordinary school day into a powerful, lasting reveal - from rebuilding K599's library floor-to-ceiling with Malala Yousafzai, to launching a fully stocked community wardrobe at PS 161 with Gigi Hadid, to creating a state-of-the-art recording studio at PS 125 with A$AP Rocky.

Episodes

Play Kehlani Gives Kids an R&B Crash Course and Films a New 'Out The Window' Music Video

Noah Kahan Helps Students Turn Their Stories Into a Live Music Performance

17 min · Premiered 2026/04/01

Chart-topping singer/songwriter, Noah Kahan steps into PS 15 on the Lower East Side of New York City to teach students the art of storytelling through music. This episode of Celebrity Substitute blends songwriting, vulnerability, and creativity into an unforgettable classroom experience.

A$AP Rocky Transforms Harlem Classroom Into a Rap Video

23 min · Premiered 2026/02/04

Global hip-hop icon A$AP Rocky steps into PS 125 in Harlem to give students an unforgettable lesson in music, creativity, and self-expression. In this landmark episode, Mr. Rocky transforms the classroom into a full-scale music video production set, teaching kids the art of rap, performance, and storytelling.

FKA twigs Turns a Classroom Into an Interpretive Dance Studio

18 min · Premiered 2026/01/07

Global artist and creative visionary FKA twigs steps into PS 133 to give a class of students an unforgettable lesson in interpretive dance, movement, and self expression. In this intimate and imaginative episode, Ms. Twigs challenges the class to use their bodies to tell stories, exploring emotion, freedom, and what it means to grow up through movement.

Reneé Rapp Turns a Classroom into a Recording Studio

15 min · Premiered 2026/09/10

Reneé Rapp surprises a classroom of kids by becoming their music teacher for the day! Reneé turns an ordinary New York Public School class at PS 316 into a recording studio — teaching kids warmups, vocal technique, and the confidence to perform.

Ed Sheeran LIVE Records New Song with Kids Using His Loop Pedal

15 min · Premiered 2025/10/22

Global pop star Ed Sheeran brings his love of music to PS 20 in Brooklyn, teaching students how to turn everyday sounds into songs. From looping beats to layering harmonies, Mr. Ed shows the class how creativity and technology come together to make something magical.

Malala Teaches Kids the Power of Peace

14 min · Premiered 2025/11/05

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai brings her message of compassion and understanding to PS 599 in Brooklyn, teaching students the importance of peace, empathy, and compromise. In this inspiring episode, Ms. Malala helps the class explore what it really means to listen, understand, and find common ground, even when we disagree.

Karl-Anthony Towns Turns Third Graders Into Basketball All-Stars

14 min · Premiered 2025/12/03

NBA superstar Karl-Anthony Towns heads to PS 287 in Brooklyn to give a class of third graders the basketball lesson of a lifetime. In this high energy episode, Mr. Karl teaches the fundamentals from perfecting the pass, to mastering the dribble, to understanding how teamwork makes every player stronger.