BYUtv to Debut "Random Acts", Hidden-Camera Show Highlighting Kindness

Premiering April 4th, original prank show to shine a spotlight on the good in humanity

News provided by

Mar 15, 2016, 08:53 ET

PROVO, Utah, March 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Expanding on the breadth of its innovative and inspirational series line-up, BYUtv will debut an all-new unscripted half-hour hidden-camera show, Random Acts on Monday, April 4^th at 8:30pm MT (repeat at 11:30pm MT). In an era often focused on catching people at their worst moments, this refreshing new reality show highlights the altruistic nature of human beings.

Random Acts features real people who are the recipients of random acts of kindness, as the team covertly engages in good deeds like washing strangers' cars while they shop, picking up cancer patients on their way to treatments in a Ferrari courtesy of Über, making breakfast for college students sleeping in public and buying groceries for unsuspecting parents. In addition, the hosts seek out unknowing citizens, putting them in a position where they have the opportunity to complete an act of kindness. Hosted by YouTube comedic sensation Will Rubio, actresses Emilie Starr and Lisa Valentine Clark and comedian Aaron Woodall, a number of notable collaborations will emerge throughout the series, including popular YouTube/Instagram sensations Carlie Butler Wood (CarlieStylez) and Kayli Butler of the Shaytards clan, Alison Faulkner (The Alison Show), Abby Smith (Twist Me Pretty), Brittany Watson Jepsen (The House That Lars Built) and Leanne Barlow (Elle Apparel), as well as the cast from BYUtv's acclaimed sketch comedy series Studio C and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir & Orchestra. The 10-episode show also received overwhelming support from local businesses such as Macey's Grocery Store, Heart 2 Home, Good Concrete and Lawn Butlers, who donated products and services for the show.

"When we began producing original content for BYUtv, we set out to create entertaining programming that showed 'the good in the world,'" says Derek Marquis, managing director of BYUtv and executive producer of Random Acts. "We are constantly bombarded with tragedies, violent crimes and catastrophes that most often show humankind at its worst. Through Random Acts, we seek out and incite kindness and are investing in counterintuitive encounters of giving that inspire."

Hosts Will Rubio, Emilie Starr, Lisa Valentine Clark and Aaron Woodall will be joined by a team of do-gooders who create scenarios in which unsuspecting people's characters are tested and their varied reactions are captured on camera. Rubio is known for bringing good, positive entertainment to the masses through his comedic YouTube channel. He has appeared in national commercials for Ford, Volkswagen, Subway, and Jack in the Box, and had guest-starring roles on the comedy television series Community, as well as Amazon's Emmy® award-winning series Transparent. Starr studied Musical Theatre at Weber State University and currently works at the Salt Lake Acting Company, as part of their Audience Development and Communications team. Her previous non-profit work with charities like Outreach Resource Center for Homeless Youth, The Red Fred Project, and Musical and Memory Coalition, make her the perfect conductor of kindness for Random Acts. Clark is the executive producer, writer, and lead actor in the award-winning web series Pretty Darn Funny and Woodall is recognized for his work on FOX's comedy showcase series, Laughs.

BYUtv commissioned award-winning Salt Lake City-based production house Cosmic Pictures to produce the series. Founded by Director/DP Greg Kiefer, Cosmic Pictures has worked internationally in over 75 countries and across the whole breadth of the communications industry – from feature film and commercials production to television and corporate communication projects.

BYUtv's original programming slate includes the critically-acclaimed drama series Granite Flats, which featured guest stars Christopher Lloyd, Parker Posey, Cary Elwes and George Newbern; the long-running sketch comedy series Studio C, which has an extraordinary following of over 650,000 subscribers on YouTube; and the latest addition to its roster, Relative Race, the first family-history based competitive reality show that follows four couples as they meet relatives linked by DNA for the first time in a race across the States. BYUtv is available in every state of the country via cable, satellite and multiple digital media platforms including byutv.org and on all of BYUtv's digital platforms, including Roku, Xbox360, Amazon FireTV, iOS and Android.

About BYUtv
Owned by Brigham Young University and based in Provo, Utah, BYUtv is a groundbreaking High Definition cable television network that has created a breadth of original "see the good in the world" programming that fills a void in entertainment the entire family can enjoy together, including sketch comedy, history, music and documentary offerings. The cable television network continues to build steady momentum, drawing new viewers to its shows from every state of the country. The non-commercial station is available in more than 55 million households in every state of the country on Dish Network, DirecTV and over 800 cable systems, and offers approximately 1,000 hours of original programming annually, including 500 hours of live HD collegiate sports.