{"id":447548,"date":"2026-05-13T23:41:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T23:41:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/447548\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T23:41:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T23:41:08","slug":"youtube-brandcast-upfront-shows-from-alex-cooper-trevor-noah-kareem-rahma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/447548\/","title":{"rendered":"YouTube Brandcast Upfront: Shows From Alex Cooper, Trevor Noah, Kareem Rahma"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tYouTube<\/a> once funded creator-driven original content \u2014 but the streaming giant wound that down<\/a> several years ago and instead embarked on a strategy to promote shows YouTubers are already producing themselves. That makes YouTube an outlier during TV upfronts<\/a> week: It\u2019s making an ad pitch to Madison Avenue on content it doesn\u2019t directly control or finance.<\/p>\n

\n\tAt its YouTube Brandcast in New York Wednesday, the Google-owned platform is doubling down on the strategy. At the heart of its presentation is a slate of new and returning creator shows coming exclusively to YouTube, including from \u201cThe Daily Show\u201d alum Trevor Noah, Alex Cooper<\/a> (of \u201cCall Her Daddy\u201d fame), and popular YouTuber creators Kareem Rahma, Jesser (Jesse Riedel) and Dude Perfect. (See below for details on the shows.) <\/p>\n

\n\tAnd, in a new development, YouTube will now let marketers buy sponsorships and ad inventory for individual creator shows \u2014 just like TV. That joins its other ad programs, including Creator Takeovers<\/a> (giving buyers 100% of the inventory on a top channel) and YouTube Select (ad buys across the top 1% of channels in a category).<\/p>\n

\n\tYouTube hosted Brandcast again at New York\u2019s David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, its fifth year holding the event during upfronts week. At its upfront, talent YouTube will invite on stage to address the crowd includes Noah, Cooper, Rahma, Dwyane\u00a0Wade and Quen Blackwell \u2014 and the evening will be capped off with musical performances by Chappell Roan and Zara Larsson.<\/p>\n

\n\tYouTube execs CEO Neal Mohan, chief business officer Mary Ellen Coe, and Sean Downey, Google\u2019s president, Americas and global partners, will tell the crowd how the platform \u201cstands alone as the future of media,\u201d according to YouTube. The overall message is to emphasize YouTube\u2019s massive reach and usage \u2014 far bigger than any TV network. According to Nielsen, YouTube reached over 244 million people 18+ across all devices in the U.S. (representing 91% of the total population) in November 2025. In addition, YouTube has been the No. 1 streaming service in watch time each month for the last three years, per Nielsen.<\/p>\n

\n\tAt Brandcast, YouTube is announcing a masthead enhancement that allows advertisers to showcase their core \u201chero\u201d creative alongside a custom-curated shelf of videos. It\u2019s also introducing custom AI-powered sponsorships that dynamically curate thematic content packages as well as \u201cBuy With Google Pay,\u201d which promises to let connected-TV viewers watching YouTube ads complete purchases directly on their TV with two clicks.<\/p>\n

\n\tOn the AI front, YouTube is touting \u201cmultimodal\u201d video creation to help marketers create more relevant YouTube ads \u201cfrom just a few prompts,\u201d powered by Google\u2019s latest generative AI models including Gemini, Veo and Nano Banana.<\/p>\n

\n\tBefore the upfront presentation, YouTube hosted a red carpet preshow co-hosted by YouTube creators Adam W and Kay Adams. Talent and creators who were set to walk the carpet include Alan Chikin Chow, Cleo Abram, Doctor Mike, Josh Scherer, Julian Shapiro-Barnum, Kinigra Deon, Michelle Khare and Scott Evans.<\/p>\n

\n\tHere are YouTube\u2019s descriptions of the upcoming creator shows announced at the upfront:<\/p>\n

\n\tAlex Cooper\u2019s Unwell YouTube Channel<\/p>\n

\u201cUnwell Games\u201d: New installment of the reality competition series premiering late summer\/fall 2026, following the format of the \u201cUnwell Winter Games\u201d<\/a> this spring. \u201cUnwell Games\u201d is a high-stakes reality competition where top creators and reality stars live under one roof, battling for power and prize money by day while alliances, relationships and drama unravel by night. Produced by Unwell Productions.<\/p>\n

\u201cPot Stirrer\u201d: Two-part miniseries premieres Thanksgiving weekend 2026. Alex Cooper hosts a glamorous, chaos-fueled Thanksgiving dinner that turns into a high-stakes social experiment when two secret \u201cpot stirrers\u201d are planted among a volatile group of reality stars and internet personalities \u2014 each working to sabotage the night from within for a shot at a massive cash prize. Produced by Unwell Productions.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoliday Hard Launch\u201d: Microdrama premieres winter 2026. When two strangers \u2014 one desperate to prove she has her life together, the other trying to get his family off his back \u2014 agree to fake a relationship for the holiday season, their perfectly staged romance quickly becomes the highlight of every party, post and family gathering. But as their \u201crelationship\u201d starts to take on a life of its own \u2014 blurring lines between performance and reality, and drawing in friends, exes, and online attention \u2014 they find themselves risking real heartbreak for something that was never supposed to be real. Produced by Unwell Productions.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore the Steps\u201d: Docuseries (premiering spring 2027) pulls back the velvet curtain on fashion\u2019s most iconic night, following celebrities in the high-pressure months leading up to the Met Gala. Narrated by Alex Cooper, the series captures the chaotic, glamorous, and deeply human journey of becoming \u201cMet-ready\u201d \u2014 from inspiration to that final, unforgettable walk up the steps. Produced by Unwell Productions.<\/p>\n

\n\tKareem Rahma \u201cKeep the Meter Running\u201d: Premieres May 13 on YouTube. New York City-based comedian and YouTube creator Kareem Rahma launches a new series where the journey truly is the destination. In each episode, Rahma hops into a yellow cab and asks the driver to take him to their favorite place \u2014 with one condition: keep the meter running. What begins as a simple fare quickly evolves into a deep dive into the driver\u2019s world and a moving exploration of the American Dream, as Kareem asks the poignant questions he never had the chance to ask his own cabbie father. As the meter rises, each ride becomes a space for connection and storytelling, where Kareem learns about the lives of the people behind the wheel and ultimately discovers a little more about himself. \u201cKeep the Meter Running\u201d is produced by Rhama\u2019s Rahmavision and AND Media. Kareem Rahma and Adam Faze serve as producers.<\/p>\n

\n\tTrevor Noah \u201cTrevor Noah\u2019s World Tour\u201d (premiere date TBA): Trevor Noah invites viewers along for the ultimate global hangout in this prestige travel series on YouTube \u2014 where comedy, culture and spontaneity collide as he journeys from city to city on his world tour \u2014 with friends, collaborators and surprise guests joining the fun. Each episode blends Trevor\u2019s signature humor with authentic, on-the-ground experiences that spotlight local people, food, and culture. Along the way, Trevor turns his discoveries into sharp, hilarious observations that weave into his live performance, creating a fresh window into his comedic process and into the places that inspire him.<\/p>\n

\n\tDude Perfect \u201cSquad Games\u201d Season 2: Premieres 2027. In the second season, Dude Perfect levels up the competition through a bold lineup of original games and next-level challenges. Featuring live event faceoffs, an all-new batch of celebrity competitors and surprise guests, each episode delivers high-energy showdowns where skill, creativity, and clutch performance take center stage. The new season comes on the heels of Dude Perfect\u2019s 2026 live Squad Games Tour, and will feature epic moments and tough tests where every squad is pushed to their limits in the ultimate battle to come out on top.<\/p>\n

\n\tDwyane Wade \u201cFly on the Wall\u201d Season 2: Premieres fall 2026. The three-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer lets viewers be a fly on the wall of his life. This series offers Wade\u2019s honest window into his world. He breaks the fourth wall to share raw stories, genuine reflections and real-life lessons. It\u2019s not just his journey \u2014 it\u2019s an invitation to see the man behind the legend.<\/p>\n

\n\tJesser YouTube Channel<\/p>\n

\u201cJesser\u2019s Summer of Soccer\u201d: Premieres June 2026. During the world\u2019s biggest soccer moment this summer, Jesser launches an eight-episode event series packed with large competitions, fan-favorite challenges and high-energy collaborations with top soccer creators and world-class players including Gerard Piqu\u00e9 and C\u00e9line Dept. Each installment is a front-row seat to the skill and spectacle of soccer!<\/p>\n

\u201cPros vs. YouTubers\u201d: Premieres 2027. Jesser and friends take on legendary athletes, such as Dwyane Wade, at their own sports in this new episodic series \u2014 attempting to prove that YouTubers can ball. From hardwood to turf, Jesser and friends test whether chemistry and confidence can compete with elite training and next-level talent.<\/p>\n

\n\tQuen Blackwell: \u201cFeeding Starving Celebrities 2.0\u201d (fall 2026): Series in which celebrity meets chaos \u2014 in the best way. This fast-paced, personality-driven interview series sees Quen inviting today\u2019s biggest stars into her kitchen for a high-energy, funny and revealing experience where nothing is scripted and everything is fair game. Blending sharp humor, irreverent games and unexpected twists, each episode peels back the polished layers of today\u2019s most talked about talent to reveal the human behind the fame\u2026 and no topic is off-limits. Past guests include Charli xcx, Sombr, Tyriq Withers, Halle Bailey and Addison Rae, with a new batch of celebrities joining Quen for the next chapter of the series in 2.0.<\/p>\n

\n\tErling Halaand YouTube Channel<\/p>\n

\u201cRoad to World Cup\u201d: Premieres June 2026. This new docuseries offers a raw, front-row seat to football star Erling Haaland on the biggest stage of his life, as he leads Norway back to the World Cup for the first time since 1998. Viewers will witness Haaland\u2019s rigorous training regime, deep connection to his roots and the emotional highs and lows of the tournament grind \u2013 thirty years after his father helped carry the nation to the 1994 tournament. Launching around the World Cup, the series explores family pride, legacy and the rise of a new era of Norwegian football.<\/p>\n

\u201cErling\u2019s Gauntlet\u201d: Premieres fall 2026. Haaland invites the world\u2019s biggest stars onto the pitch to survive his very own \u201cGauntlet\u201d in this new series. To celebrate the spirit of endurance and peak performance, famous guests like The Sidemen \u2014 featured in the pilot episode \u2014 step onto the pitch to face football-based challenges \u2013 testing speed, strength, skill and mentality. One competitor will conquer the Gauntlet and claim the \u201cHaaland Hammer,\u201d while the lowest scorer faces the ultimate forfeit.<\/p>\n

\n\tJulian Shapiro-Barnum YouTube Channel<\/p>\n

\u201cCelebrity Substitute\u201d Season 3 (premieres June 2): In this series, a world-famous actor, athlete, or musician walks into a public school classroom to teach their craft, and discovers that a room full of elementary school kids may be their toughest crowd yet \u2014 proving that the real stars were the teachers all along. \u201cCelebrity Substitute\u201d was created by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul alongside host\/executive producer Julian Shapiro-Barnum, directed by Jake Wilson, showrun by Allison Klein and produced by Danielle Perelman, Zach Stafford, and Nick Dyer under the production company Ampersand.<\/p>\n

\u201cOutside Tonight with Julian Shapiro-Barnum\u201d (premieres June 17): Billed as the first late-night show tailor-made for the internet age. It takes the classic late-night format and infuses it with the spontaneous, accessible, and irreverent energy of the internet. Created and hosted by Julian Shapiro-Barnum, creator of \u201cRecess Therapy\u201d and \u201cCelebrity Substitute,\u201d the show takes late-night out of the studio and into the streets. Shot at iconic New York City landmarks, parks and street corners, \u201cOutside Tonight with Julian Shapiro-Barnum\u201d turns public spaces into the studio itself. Through interviews, games, musical performances and comedic moments, the series features creators, celebrities, and passersby alike. \u201cOutside Tonight\u201d is a 5 Pangolin LLC production, in association with 5 Parent Productions, Inc. Executive produced by Julian Shapiro-Barnum, Doug Smith, and Cat Sullivan, who also serves as showrunner.<\/p>\n

\n\tCleo Abram \u201cHUGE* If True\u201d: New episodes premiering spring and summer 2026. Journalist and YouTube creator Cleo Abram explores Antarctica, becoming one of fewer than 5,000 people allowed to conduct research on the continent this year. In the first episode, she takes a closer look at a liquid lake hidden deep under the ice of Antarctica, cut off from the rest of the world\u2019s water ecosystem for 15 million years. What if there\u2019s life down there? It would have been evolving separately for all that time! In the second episode, she explains how the continent was almost a war zone during the Cold War, when tensions rose and military testing on the frozen continent began. Today, it is the only place in the world dedicated to peace and science and that change has unlocked research that has saved the lives of millions of people. What can that teach us about what comes next?<\/p>\n

\n\tJohnny Harris \u201cThe Human Element\u201d: Docuseries premieres fall 2026. The Emmy-winning journalist and filmmaker\u2019s cinematic six-episode documentary series journeys to the heart of the world\u2019s most important stories. The forces shaping our lives can often feel distant, abstract, and impossible to grasp \u2014 but through adventure, investigation, and deeply human storytelling, The Human Element inspires a sense of hope and connection. From a journey down the Nile to meet communities whose future relies on a single river, to the remote villages of Nepal where people are carving roads into the world\u2019s tallest mountains, Johnny travels across continents to uncover how global systems are experienced on a human scale. Each episode is an expedition into lives shaped by conflict, ambition, and survival \u2014 turning complex societal forces into stories of resilience, curiosity, and discovery.<\/p>\n

\n\tMorgan Jay \u201cMusic Therapy\u201d: Premieres fall 2026. This digital-first interview series sees comedian and creator Morgan Jay using his music and humor to guide celebrity guests through light-hearted therapy sessions \u2014 blending improv, vulnerability and live songwriting into one seamless format.<\/p>\n

\n\tHopescope \u201cI Acted in a Microdrama\u201d: Premieres winter 2026. YouTube creator Hope Allen, better known as HopeScope, dives into the high-drama world of vertical microdramas. As the creator, director and actor in a series of 60-second Shorts featuring the fast filming pace, dramatic \u201cslap\u201d scenes and intense scripts this genre is known for, Hope sees if she has what it takes to be a mobile-screen star. She will also give her 8 million-plus YouTube subscribers an inside look at the world of microdramas with a full-length video. Hope will partner with a brand to bring this all to life in a campaign that is sure to get people talking.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWe Are Osos\u201d: Docuseries premieres summer 2026. Every pro athlete thinks they could run a team. Now NFL and NBA stars Ryan Kalil, Blake Griffin, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Luke Kuechly, Sam Darnold and Greg Olsen get their chance, taking over a pro football team in Monterrey, Mexico. \u201cWe Are Osos\u201d follows the team\u2019s season under new ownership, as competitive instincts collide with the realities of an upstart league \u2014 one in which players leave their families behind, work second jobs, and chase one last shot at the dream. The series is directed by Jason Sterman and produced by Mortal Media and Supper Club. Executive producers are Ryan Kalil, Blake Griffin, Noah Weinstein, Jason Sterman and Brian McGinn.<\/p>\n

\n\tLOL! Network \u201cCaddie & The Kid\u201d: New episodes premiere May 14 and June 25. In this globe-trotting golf series that goes beyond the fairway, MLB Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. and comedian-golf personality Michael Collins team up to explore iconic courses, vibrant cultures and unforgettable local experiences. Produced by Bark Bark and Hartbeat with director Daniel Sattelmeyer and co-showrunners Daniel Sattelmeyer and Dustin Frissell. In episode three (May 14) Griffey Jr. and Collins host a high-profile gathering at Streamsong Resort in Central Florida, where NFL standouts Aidan Hutchinson, Travis Hunter and Emeka Egbuka trade the gridiron for the fairway. Episode four (June 25) sees the co-hosts take viewers inside Seattle \u2014 Ken\u2019s stomping ground and one of the 2026 World Cup\u2019s key host cities \u2014 to preview matches at Lumen Field joined by local soccer phenoms from the Seattle Sounders FC and Reign FC, while sharing the course with U.S. soccer legends Landon Donovan and Carli Lloyd.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"YouTube once funded creator-driven original content \u2014 but the streaming giant wound that down several years ago and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":447549,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[53642,321,93,61,60,65542,4621],"class_list":["post-447548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-celebrities","tag-alex-cooper","tag-celebrities","tag-entertainment","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-upfronts","tag-youtube"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/447548","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=447548"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/447548\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/447549"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=447548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=447548"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=447548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}