The Kids Tonight Show - Chris Colfer and Zaila Avant-garde (S1E18)
"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.
| Air Date | 2021-12-16 |
|---|---|
| TV Rating | TV-G |
| Network(s) | Peacock |
Storyline
In this episode of "The Kids Tonight Show," Young Dylan welcomes two accomplished guests who share their talents and experiences with the young audience. First, Chris Colfer, known for his role on "Glee" and his successful career as a young adult author, sits down with Dylan for a fast-paced lightning round of questions. The segment allows viewers to learn more about Colfer's creative process, his experiences in entertainment, and his advice for young people pursuing their passions.
The second half of the episode features Zaila Avant-garde, the National Spelling Bee champion and Guinness World Record holder for simultaneously dribbling multiple basketballs. During her appearance, Zaila receives an unexpected surprise from a special guest, creating a memorable moment that celebrates her remarkable achievements. The episode showcases two young people who have excelled in very different fields, offering inspiration and entertainment through their conversations with Dylan.
What kids learn
Children watching this episode can learn about the value of pursuing multiple interests and developing diverse talents. Zaila Avant-garde's appearance demonstrates that excellence in one area, such as spelling, doesn't mean abandoning other passions like basketball. Her ability to hold a world record while also becoming a spelling champion shows young viewers that they don't have to choose just one path or limit themselves to a single identity.
Chris Colfer's segment offers lessons about perseverance and using creativity as a form of expression. His transition from acting to writing illustrates how skills and experiences in one field can inform success in another. Young viewers learn that the challenges faced early in life can become sources of strength and inspiration for creative work that helps others.
The episode also reinforces the importance of preparation and practice. Both guests achieved their success through dedication and hard work, whether mastering complex words, perfecting basketball skills, or crafting compelling stories. Children see that recognition and achievement come from consistent effort rather than luck alone.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who is Chris Colfer and why might my child recognize him? | Chris Colfer is best known for playing Kurt Hummel on the musical television series "Glee," which aired from 2009 to 2015. He's also an accomplished author of the young adult fantasy series "The Land of Stories." Children who enjoy reading middle-grade fantasy may know him from his books, while older kids or those with older siblings might recognize him from "Glee." His appearance offers a chance to discuss how creative people often work across multiple mediums. |
| What records does Zaila Avant-garde hold? | Zaila Avant-garde won the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2021, becoming the first African American winner in the competition's history. She also holds three Guinness World Records related to basketball dribbling, including the most basketballs dribbled simultaneously. Her achievements span both academic and athletic domains, making her an inspiring figure for children interested in excelling across different areas rather than focusing on just one talent or skill. |
| Is the lightning round format appropriate for younger children? | The lightning round with Chris Colfer is a quick-fire question-and-answer segment designed to be entertaining and fast-paced. It's age-appropriate for the show's target audience and doesn't involve any challenging content. The format keeps younger viewers engaged through its energy and brevity, while the questions typically focus on fun, lighthearted topics about the guest's work and interests rather than anything controversial or complex. |
| What can my child take away from seeing these accomplished young people? | Both guests exemplify how young people can achieve remarkable things through dedication and passion. Chris Colfer found success as a young actor and author, while Zaila Avant-garde balanced academic excellence with athletic achievement. Children can learn that success comes in many forms, that it's possible to pursue multiple interests simultaneously, and that hard work and practice are essential ingredients for achievement in any field they choose to explore. |
| Does this episode encourage reading or other educational activities? | Yes, Chris Colfer's presence as a successful author naturally promotes reading and creative writing. His book series appeals to middle-grade readers, and the conversation may inspire children to explore his work or try writing their own stories. Zaila's spelling championship highlights the value of vocabulary building and academic competition. Parents can use the episode as a starting point to discuss books, encourage participation in spelling bees, or explore other educational competitions available to their children. |
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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