Nearly four years after the last season of Last Comic Standing, the NBC stand-up comedy competition is poised for its return, although, technically, since it’s still a competition, it will only really be triumphant for one.  Season 8 premieres May 22nd at 9PM with a two hour episode.
This time around, NBC has enlisted the services of J.B. Smoove, who you know from Curb Your Enthusiasm or his Comedy Central stand up special That’s How I Dooz It or The Millers or many other appearances, to host, along with Roseanne Barr, Keenen Ivory Wayans, and Russell Peters to judge.
The absence of the open call auditions and this panel of judges is probably the most notable difference from the last season in 2010, which featured the late Greg Giraldo, Natasha Leggero, and Andy Kindler, a considerably more comedically niche group. Instead of exploiting some of the crazier contestants that stand in line, NBC wants to focus more on the stand-up by doing invite-only auditions. Undoubtedly, NBC is banking on Roseanne for some colorful commentary, and I can only hope that contestants joke about her presidential run in the last election (yes, that was a real thing that happened). If nothing else, that should make for some lively back-and-forth in an otherwise a competition where most of the material is air tight.
Image: NBC
Season 1 still holds a special place in my heart. Having all those comedians in a house playing pranks and cracking jokes on each other was better than the actual competition. I can’t believe Dat Phan won though, that was a shame.
I’ve never watched LCS in the past, but if Dave Anthony really does make the cast this season I’m going to have to watch. Walking the Room!
SO HAPPY THIS IS BACK! I don’t normally follow reality/competition shows, but THIS one was must-see TV for me because it was FUNNY rather than sad or capable of making me question humanity. Between listening to Nerdist & YMIW podcasts and doing a few open mics myself, I bet I’ll have a deeper appreciation for the show this time around.