by Who’s got jokes?
TBS has given the green light to a seven-episode Tournament of Laughs featuring 32 comedians in head-to-head competition, hosted by SNL alum Jason Sudeikis. The series premieres 10 p.m. Sunday, June 21, 2020.
The comics will face off virtually in single-elimination contests, with Sudeikis acting as the master of ceremonies and providing color commentary.
Each comedian will have the week to create, produce and star in a video submission, with every aspect of comedy on the table, from stand-up to sketch, characters, music and more. Viewers at home will decide the winners via phone and online votes. The finals, however, will feature an expert panel judging and crowning a champion.
“We may be without some of our favorite sports right now but we can still partake in some fierce rivalries” said Brett Weitz, General Manager of TNT, TBS, and truTV. “These comics promise to bring the funny each week, but the audience will get to decide who gets the last laugh.”
Featured comedians include Jeff Ross, Margaret Cho, Gilbert Gottfried, Judah Friedlander, Michael Rapaport, Jim Norton, Fortune Feimster, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Natasha Leggero, Cameron Esposito, Godfrey, The Sklar Brothers, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Josh Wolf, Clayton English, Yamaneika Saunders, Gina Yashere, Tim Dillon, Moshe Kasher, Jessica Kirson, Paul Rodriguez, Sarah Tiana, Matteo Lane, Beth Stelling, Vladimir Caamano, Ian Edwards, Aida Rodriguez, Megan Gailey, Preacher Lawson, Piff The Magic Dragon and an additional two performers to come.
In addition, a charitable donation will be made to the United Nations Foundation’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and Black Lives Matter.
Tournament of Laughs is produced by The Jay & Tony Show with Jay Blumenfield, Tony Marsh and Pip Wells serving as executive producers. Wells will also serve as showrunner.
