By Lori Perkins
John Krasinski, who had cheered us up at the beginning of the pandemic, with a YouTube show on good news during bad times. It was so popular that he ultimately sold it to ViacomCBS, and promised us it will go in in another incarnation, and that he could then go back to working as an actor.
But no one expected us to still be in quarantine by Christmas, so he brought together a holiday edition, and asked Justin Timberline to join him, as well as .plenty of cameos from A-list stars such as Steve Carell and his other Office castmates, Oprah, Billie Eilish, his wife, Emily Blunt.
Krasinski put up some Christmas decorations and dressed up for the occasion, before continuing to share inspiring news from around the world. That was followed by a weather report by George Clooney.
The best part of the episode, however, came when Krasinski pulled in Dwayne Johnson, who showed up as "Dwanta Claus" this season (complete with a "Dwanta" hat). The two surprised Jay Abel, a widowed single father who was selling his favorite collector items on eBay to pay for his children's Christmas gifts.
Dwanye Johnson told him that he won't have to sell his favorite things because, "I want you to take all of your stuff off of eBay because Dwanta Claus is going to take care of all of that stuff, man." He then offered to fly Abel out to California after the pandemic was over to visit him at the DC Universe. Johnson, who is starring in the upcoming Black Adam film, shared that he was going to bind and sign his working copy with his notes of the film's script and send it to Abel.
Johnson told him, "You represent so many parents around the world who are going through the struggle this Christmas. That is why my good buddy John and I called some of our elf friends to see if they're able to help some other families just like yours all around the world." He explained that he and Krasinski had reached out to FedEx, a sponsor of the show, and they are donating $5 million to the Toys for Tots program.
Wishing you all some Good News this holiday season!