Make Me Laugh...I Dare You

This week we will see the return of NBC's Emmy Award nominated show, "Last Comic Standing" and there will be a few changes to the series for it's 5th season.

First, my MySpace buddy Bill Bellamy will be the new host of the show. Bill (Who is also Shaq's cousin) is a great guy and an underrated talent. This gig will be Bill's first prime-time reality series on Network television. More recently, Bill was the host of "Who's Got Jokes" a clean stand-up 3 minute comedy competition on cable.

Comedic Talent All Over The World

Aside from a change of hosts, there will also be new judges (aka 'Talent Scouts') Kathleen Madigan, ANT, and Alonzo Bodden (Season 3 winner) will scour the country (L.A., New York, Minneapolis, San Antonio, Tempe) and a few international locations (London, Sydney, Australia and Montreal, Canada), in search of the laughable talent.

According to NBC, "It's an unscripted laughfest" - isn't that the best kind? I consider everything to be unscripted and can't recall, aside from a movie, that I have watched anything scripted. Of course, no offense to those who do enjoy watching the pre-planned written shows. How about an unscripted drama? Oops, there I go again saying too much.

Anyway, this American Idol type show will feature auditions, semi-finalists, judges (as previously mentioned), eliminations, viewers who vote for their favorite, and a host.

Notice a pattern here? Well, I hope this obvious highlight will inspire you to create an idea around the basic formula (Call me when you have figured it out).

No Laughing Matter

The grand prize winner will receive $250,000, plus an exclusive talent contract with NBC Universal and his or her own half-hour comedy special on Bravo.

What?! When I heard the prize, I wanted to participate and audition for the show myself, not because of the money, but because YOU GET YOUR OWN HALF-HOUR COMEDY SPECIAL ON BRAVO - what an AMAZING prize!

Of course, my other buddy Kathy Griffin already has "My Life On The D-List", so I guess that's already taken...Oh, you don't understand - I am hysterical, but my sense of humour is more of a dry wit can't you tell? I'm viscerally cerebral in my facetiousness - ah, there goes my inner 'Spock' again, that's what happens when I try to be funny -it just comes out sounding like an encyclopedia.

The show, produced by my neighbors Magical Elves (Top Chef & Project Runway), will air a two hour season premiere on Wednesday night and should be good fun.