Looking for some good news these days? John Krasinski has got you covered.
The co-star of “The Office” launched a YouTube series on Sunday afternoon called “Some Good News” that focuses on feel-good stories, rather than the more dire, doom-and-gloom reports surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic that have been breaking 24/7 for several weeks now.
Krasinski, who also directed “A Quiet Place,” had put out a call to his Twitter TWTR, +1.19% followers last week, asking them to share the videos and anecdotes that had made them smile recently.
His post received more than 3,000 comments and almost 20,000 likes, which made him realize that he wasn’t the only one looking for some silver linings these days.
“After reading those replies and the incredibly heartwarming stories that came with them, I thought, ‘All right, enough is enough, world,’” Krasinski said in his inaugural newscast. “So ladies and gentlemen, this is your fault. And this is SGN.”
“I am John Krasinski, and if it isn’t clear yet, I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing.”
“Without question, we are all going through an incredibly trying time,” he added, “but through all the anxiety, all the confusion, all the isolation and all the ‘Tiger King’ [Netflix’s NFLX, +3.88% viral hit documentary series], somehow the human spirit found a way to break through and blow us all away.”
The stories he shared in his roughly 15-minute post included ways the world has celebrated the heroism of the health-care community fighting the coronavirus on the front lines, as well as the incredible ways that people have continued to connect — while staying six feet apart.
The good-newscast also reveled in its low production values. For example, it opened with Krasinski’s hand spinning a globe. And the “SGN” sign on the wall behind him was drawn by his daughters, he said.
The video had already racked up almost 3.5 million views and was YouTube’s No. 1 trending video by Monday afternoon.
This could be in part because Krasinski’s “The Office” co-star Steve Carell made a guest appearance (via Zoom Video ZM, -0.54% ) as the “entertainment correspondent” to celebrate their former hit show’s 15th anniversary. The pair reminisced about their favorite memories on the set of the mockumentary series that aired for nine seasons on Comcast’s CMCSA, +2.66% NBC. And while Krasinski looked the part of a news anchor in his suit jacket and tie, Carell told him, “I guarantee you that the bottom half of what you have on does not match the top.” (Indeed, when Krasinski stood up at the end of the segment, he was wearing pajama bottoms.)
YouTube/SomeGoodNews Krasinski’s second guest (via another video chat) was a 15-year-old cancer survivor named Coco who recently finished chemotherapy. A video of her returning home to her family and her neighbors lining the street at a safe distance with balloons and signs to celebrate the end of her treatment has also gone viral. Krasinski said he “cried for a very long time” after watching it, and they were tears of “just very pure joy.”
He wrapped his first segment asking his viewers to remember “that no matter how tough life can get, there’s always good in the world.”
And if you’re looking for more ways to feel good, take your mind off of the coronavirus for a few minutes with these videos, memes and threads (which science says counts as self care). Or check out these nine tips to taking care of your mental health at this time, such as sleeping better.
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