Marlon Wayans comedy/variety series coming summer 2015 to NBC

Last summer, Marlon Wayans presided over a comedy competition on TBS called Funniest Wins. This summer, this Wayans brother is headed to broadcast network TV on the same channel his older brother Keenen Ivory Wayans is seen on as a judge for Last Comic Standing. No contest.

No, really. No contest. I Can Do That! is the working title for six hourlong comedy/variety episodes coming to NBC in summer 2015, hosted and starring Marlon Wayans along with dancer and choreographer Cheryl Burke, superstar recording artists Joe Jonas, Nicole Scherzinger and Ciara, national standup comedian Jeff Dye and actor Alan Ritchson.

The other six celebrities will pair up and put on a new show each week, ranging from song and dance to magic and danger. It’s based on an original Israeli format that already has spread to 15 countries.

“We’re excited to watch our all-star cast rise to the challenges ahead in such a fresh, new way! Our viewers are going to fall in love with how these natural born entertainers push themselves outside of their comfort zones to put on a spectacular show every week,” said Paul Telegdy, President, Alternative and Late Night Programming, NBC Entertainment. “We’re equally thrilled to be working with a top creative team, led by Audrey Morrissey and Matilda Zoltowski, who have risen to their own challenge of reinvigorating the comedy-variety format, and exceeded our expectations.”

“I’m very excited to be in business with NBCUniversal, one of the greatest brands out there, and to be working with Paul Telegdy and the producing team of ‘I Can Do That!’ I am looking forward to doing a fun, entertaining show that hopefully America loves and enjoys. It reminds me of the shows I used to watch as a kid,” said Wayans. “The cast is amazing. It’s going to be a lot of fun to work with people whose work I admire and to see them in a different light. Who wouldn’t want to work with Ciara, Nicole Scherzinger and Cheryl Burke? And my daughter said if I don’t do a show with a Jonas brother, don’t come home.”

How it works: Each week, the six celebs will watch three big-name acts perform in-studio and decide if they want to challenge themselves to do what the acts they saw did. The duos then have a week to practice, and put on their show in front of a live studio audience. At the end of the six weeks, one of the celebs will be named the season’s top all-around entertainer.

“I Can Do That!” will be produced by Universal Television, and executive-produced by Audrey Morrissey, Matilda Zoltowski, Rick Alvarez, Avi Armoza, Nehama Cohen, Elwin De Groot, Steve Harris and Wayans.

NBC also has a weekly variety series coming in the fall fronted by Neil Patrick Harris; last year, it aired a variety pilot from former SNL star Maya Rudolph.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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