Red Nose Day: Will This British Invasion Succeed?

Quick quiz: What is Red Nose Day?

Most Americans probably don't have a clue—yet.

If you're British, it's almost guaranteed you know Red Nose Day is a fundraising extravaganza organized by Comic Relief that takes over the U.K. every two years. Millions of school kids, regular folks and celebrities act a bit bonkers and hit one another up for donations in the weeks leading up to a night of comedy and moving documentaries on BBC One.

All that tomfoolery has generated over a billion pounds to support disadvantaged people in the U.K. and Africa over the last 30 years.