Actors Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield are guests this week on digital-first series “Celebrity Substitute,” debuting with host Julian Shapiro-Barnum. The 25-year-old comedian is best known for his work on the viral online series “Recess Therapy,” in which he interviews young children playing in New York City for Instagram and YouTube videos. The new series, designed for mobile platforms, features celebs serving as substitute teachers in 5- to 8-minute episodes released on YouTube, with clips also shared via TikTok and Instagram. Amazon serves as a sponsored partner of the series as part of the tech giant’s push into branded entertainment.

According to Variety, the show’s premise “is simple: each episode follows Shapiro-Barnum and a celebrity as they visit a public school, and captures the connections that form between the young kids and the star as they figure out how to be a teacher.”

With more than 7 million followers, “Recess Therapy” attracted notable guests including Michelle Obama, Jenna Ortega, Rainn Wilson, Dua Lipa and others. Future episodes of “Celebrity Substitute” will feature personalities such as Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles and Lalisa Manobal (known simply as Lisa) from K-Pop girl group Blackpink.

“While the celebrities bring their talents to the classroom, the real stars of the show are the students and teachers,” reports MediaPost. “Each episode features Shapiro-Barnum and special guests partnered with Amazon to fulfill the school’s Amazon Wish List — providing essential learning supplies and resources.”

The new series is an effort by Amazon “to integrate the values of the brand directly into entertainment to reach customers outside the traditional ad spot,” MediaPost writes, suggesting “it is part of Amazon’s new approach to branded entertainment marketing that the company believes drives brand affinity, discovery and engagement through storytelling.”

“As a show that can be plugged into any tentpole or promotional tour,” notes Tubefilter, “‘Celebrity Substitute’ has the potential” to take on “YouTube-based hits like ‘Chicken Shop Date’ and ‘Hot Ones’,” both of which “have parlayed their celebrity cred into Emmy consideration.”

Check out the first episode on YouTube.