'The Office' star John Krasinski launches YouTube channel to spread only good news

It might feel like the current climate is a good time for bad news. Every time you check your phone or turn on the TV, reports are rife with stories about the spread of the coronavirus.

However, one Hollywood star is on a quest to spread only good news with the launch of his new YouTube channel.

On Sunday, March 29, John Krasinski released the first episode of Some Good News, a web-only series that, its mission statement says, "is a news show dedicated entirely to good news".

The Office star, 40, put out a call on his social media last week, asking his fans to send him uplifting tidbits.

"Even indoors, in the weird world of isolation, good news is happening everywhere," Krasinski, who is married to British actress Emily Blunt, announced in a teaser for the series.

He also acknowledged the home-made aspect of the show, which is shot in a home office and features a hand-scribbled logo, painted by his two daughters, in the background.

"Welcome to this highly produced show, this is what happens when I self-isolate," he joked.

For the first episode, Krasinski enlisted his co-star from The Office, Steve Carell, who appeared via a video link.

The duo reminisced about the American version of Ricky Gervais's mockumentary-style sitcom, which was first broadcast in the US 15 years ago.

"I was a 23-year-old waiter when I got that job, after the pilot I went back to waiting tables because I was sure nothing was going to happen with it," Krasinski revealed.

"It’s such a happy surprise that after all these years, people are still tuning in and finding it," Carell added. "Some of my most fond memories, both personally and professionally, are entwined with that show."

The debut episode also featured clips of people around the world clapping for healthcare workers, families finding ways to connect while in isolation, and an interview with Courtney Johnson, 15.

The American teenager completed her last round of chemotherapy this week, and was welcomed home from hospital by a neighbourhood party, held social-distancing style.

Johnson was surprised when family and friends lined the streets, metres apart, with balloons, signs and cheers, as she was driven home.

"There are a lot of people, like me, who are going through things and have low immune systems," she told Krasinski. "Everyone that isn’t going to be extremely affected by this, are staying home to protect people like me. is really amazing."

It is not yet known when the next episode of Some Good News will hit YouTube, but the first episode has amassed more than six million views.

Krasinski took to Twitter to thank his followers for their support.

"Wow! Totally blown away by the response ... Thank you thank you," he wrote. "But hey, you guys did this! So you keep sending me #SomeGoodNews and making me smile ... and I'll keep trying to return the favour! Pass it on!"

The actor was forced to postpone the release of his latest directorial work, A Quiet Place 2, earlier this month with cinemas around the world closing to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“One of the things I’m most proud of is that people have said our movie is one you have to see all together," he wrote in a statement on his social media pages.

"Well, due to the ever-changing circumstances of what’s going on in the world around us, now is clearly not the right time to do that. As insanely excited as we are for all of you to see this movie ... I’m gonna wait to release the film till we can all see it together."