The Kids Tonight Show - Celina Smith and Tituss (S1E13)
"Annie Live" stars Celina Smith and Tituss Burgess talk about their upcoming musical and play the craziest game of Box of Lies; a visit from a caveman, unboxing galore and Recker gets very confused.
| Air Date | 2021-12-02 |
|---|---|
| TV Rating | TV-G |
| Network(s) | Peacock |
Storyline
In this episode of "The Kids Tonight Show," young host and crew welcome special guests Celina Smith and Tituss Burgess, who are starring in the upcoming NBC production "Annie Live!" The two performers sit down to discuss their roles in the highly anticipated musical event, sharing behind-the-scenes stories and their excitement about bringing the beloved Broadway show to television audiences.
The episode features a spirited round of Box of Lies, a popular game where contestants must convince each other whether bizarre items are really inside mystery boxes. Beyond the celebrity interview, the show delivers its signature variety format with a comedic caveman character making an appearance, multiple unboxing segments showcasing toys and surprises, and a recurring bit where co-host Recker finds himself hilariously bewildered by the day's events. The mix of celebrity conversation, interactive games, and kid-friendly comedy sketches creates an energetic half-hour designed to entertain young viewers while giving them a peek at the world of professional theater and television production.
What kids learn
This episode offers children a window into the professional world of musical theater and television production. By watching Celina Smith and Tituss Burgess discuss their work on "Annie Live!," young viewers see that preparing for a major performance requires dedication, rehearsal, and collaboration with other talented people. The guests' enthusiasm for their craft can inspire children to pursue their own creative interests, whether in theater, music, or other performing arts.
The Box of Lies game segment teaches kids about the importance of observation, critical thinking, and reading social cues. Players must decide whether someone is telling the truth or fabricating a story, which encourages children to pay attention to body language, tone of voice, and logical consistency. These skills translate beyond games into everyday situations where discernment matters.
The variety show format itself demonstrates how different elements—interviews, games, comedy sketches, and unboxing segments—can be woven together to create entertaining content. Children see that successful shows require planning, teamwork among hosts and crew, and the ability to adapt when unexpected moments arise, as illustrated by Recker's confusion becoming part of the fun rather than a problem to hide.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Box of Lies game appropriate for young children? | The Box of Lies game featured in this episode is a lighthearted deception game where players try to convince each other about mystery box contents. While it involves fibbing for fun, the context is clearly a silly game with no real-world consequences. Parents can use this as an opportunity to discuss the difference between playful game scenarios and real-life honesty, helping children understand that truth-telling matters in relationships and daily life even when games involve harmless bluffing. |
| Who are Celina Smith and Tituss Burgess? | Celina Smith is a young performer cast as Annie in NBC's "Annie Live!" production, while Tituss Burgess is an accomplished Broadway veteran and television actor known for "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt." Both bring professional theater experience to the interview. Their appearance gives children exposure to working performers who have achieved success through training and dedication, offering positive role models from the entertainment industry who discuss their craft seriously while maintaining an approachable, enthusiastic demeanor. |
| What is the educational value of the unboxing segments? | The unboxing segments in this episode showcase various toys and products, which primarily serve as entertainment rather than explicit education. However, these moments can spark conversations about consumer choices, marketing, and how products are presented. Parents might discuss with children how unboxing videos are designed to generate excitement, helping kids develop media literacy skills and understand that not every toy they see will provide lasting enjoyment, encouraging more thoughtful decisions about what they truly want. |
| Is the humor in the caveman sketch suitable for all ages? | The caveman character appearing in this episode delivers physical comedy and silly humor typical of children's variety programming. The sketch relies on exaggerated prehistoric behavior and misunderstandings rather than sophisticated or potentially inappropriate jokes. This type of broad, slapstick comedy is generally accessible to young viewers and doesn't require cultural references or wordplay that might go over their heads. The humor stays firmly within family-friendly territory throughout the segment. |
| How does Recker's confusion add to the show? | Recker's bewilderment serves as a recurring comedic element where the co-host reacts with genuine or exaggerated confusion to the episode's events. This creates relatable moments for young viewers who sometimes feel overwhelmed or puzzled by new situations. Rather than presenting perfection, the show embraces these confused reactions as part of the fun, teaching children that it's okay not to understand everything immediately and that mistakes or confusion can become sources of laughter rather than embarrassment. |
Writing
Directing
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | In the inaugural episode, Jimmy Fallon gives the four kid hosts -- Mykal-Michelle, Recker, Olivia and Dylan -- tips on anchoring a talk show, including how to shoot lasers out of their eyes. |
| 1 | 2 | Dancer, singer and actress JoJo Siwa joins the show, shares why she's proud of being her authentic self this year and plays hilarious and intense house games as part of the JoJo-lympics. |
| 1 | 3 | Questlove and Black Thought - members of "The Tonight Show" house band - join to reminisce about how they met in high school and the key to the perfect birthday party before a surprise performance by Dylan and Recker. |
| 1 | 4 | Popular online creators and well-known pranksters Brent and Lexi Rivera, Jeremy Hutchins and Pierson Wodzynski of AMP World join the show for an epic, legendary games episode. |
| 1 | 5 | "NBC Nightly News" anchor Lester Holt joins the show and shares a funny story about how he couldn't stop giggling during a broadcast, plays a hilarious game of Real or Phony News and partakes in an awesome "Mayhem" party. |
| 1 | 6 | Popular online creators Charli and Dixie D'Amelio join the show and reveal the best and worst parts of working together while being sisters; the hosts compete to see who can make the best ice cream sundae without using their hands. |
| 1 | 7 | Magician Dan White stops by the show and performs some crazy and unforgettable magic tricks; one of the hosts gets cut in half and another gets pied in the face. |
| 1 | 8 | "Frozen" actress Kristen Bell joins to talk about the inspiration behind her new book and to show off her weirdest talent; the hosts play a silly game of "Bell or Not Bell"; Egg-braham Lincoln stops by with some jokes. |
| 1 | 9 | Activist, model and star of "Grownish" Yara Shahidi joins the show to talk about her cool karate skills; pointless PSAs, mayhem times a million and a hilarious game of history trivia. |
| 1 | 10 | Real-life astronaut Mike Massimino joins the show to talk about being in space and plays a fun game of Globe Grab. |
| 1 | 11 | Singer-songwriter and "Clash of the Cover Bands" host Meghan Trainor plays a hilarious game of All About that Bass and shares her favorite vacation memories. |
| 1 | 12 | Yo-yo world champion Gentry Stein shows off some of his most awesome tricks, plays a crazy game of Velcro Madness against host Recker and joins the most yo-yo-tastic mayhem party yet. |
| 1 | 13 | "Annie Live" stars Celina Smith and Tituss Burgess talk about their upcoming musical and play the craziest game of Box of Lies; a visit from a caveman, unboxing galore and Recker gets very confused. |
| 1 | 14 | Olympic skateboarding champion Bryce Wettstein kickflips into the show and answers a jaw-dropping question from a surprise guest; a crazy game of All Ball and the silliest, skateboard-iest mayhem party yet. |
| 1 | 15 | "Saturday Night Live" legend and "Kenan" star Kenan Thompson joins the show to talk about his favourite impressions and a possible "Good Burger" sequel; a crazy game of What's Behind Me and a whole bunch of plopping. |
| 1 | 16 | YouTube star Nastya and online looping genius Marc Rebillet join the Pajama Party episode. |
| 1 | 17 | Miranda Cosgrove of "iCarly" joins the show for some random dancing; actor Matt Damon answers the silliest questions from the What?! Bucket; Twitch superstar Ninja stops by. |
| 1 | 18 | "Glee" star and author Chris Colfer joins the show for a lightning round of questions with Young Dylan; National Spelling Bee champion and Guinness World Record holder Zaila Avant-garde gets a surprise from a special guest. |
| 1 | 19 | Actors Matthew McConaughey and Nick Kroll join to talk about the inspiration behind their "Sing 2" characters; adults spell things, two of the hosts have a Corn-Off and the show examines the origin of yogurt. |
| 1 | 20 | Dancer and actor Pressley Hosbach joins the show to talk about her time on "Dance Moms" and "Stage Fright"; Pressley takes a spin on the Random Dance Generator and unleashes a whole lot of mayhem. |
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