Last Comic Standing is back for a sixth run.  The search for the next funny-man/woman begins anew Thursday at 9:30pm on Global and NBC.  Bill Bellamy (formerly of MTV Jams and Fastlane, as well as the voice of Nickelodeon's Cousin Skeeter) is back on his second season as host of the show.  Joining him is British Fearne Cotton as special correspondent.  Cotton was one of the final hosts of the legendary, 42-year old Top of the Pops before it finally popped off the air two years ago.

Bellamy spoke to the Winnipeg Sun about his duties on Last Comic Standing and the differences and similarities of having contestants from all over the world.

"I feel like I'm the point guard of the show," Bellamy remarked.  "I'm giving the ball to everyone who's performing and hopefully setting the room up in a way where they can go out and do a good job.  It's not my job to show up other comedians.”

"Ultimately, it's the fans who decide what's funny, anyway.  It doesn't matter what I think,” he added.  “Comedy is subjective.  Certain jokes that I might think are hilarious, the crowd might be going, 'Whatever,' so it can go both ways.”

The veteran funnyman himself did stress that the crowd's reaction is still the main barometer that makes or breaks the comedian.

"The crowd's response is everything for a comedian,” Bellamy stated.  “If the crowd goes wild, every comic I know feels on fire inside."

He also commented on what it's like having hopefuls from different nations with their own distinct accents and styles of speaking.

"When we get Canadians on the show, for example, you can't really tell they're Canadian," the Last Comic Standing host said.  "Even with British comedians, who tend to have a more laid-back style and seem to come from a sophisticated and clever standpoint, every-body can relate on some level.  If you took away the British accent, then no, you wouldn't know if they were British or American or Canadian or whatever."

One thing he's definitely looking forward to is having Last Comic Standing on a major network.

"Yeah, network TV man.  And we're going to be must-see-TV this year on Thursday nights, so it'll be even better.  We'll get the full brunt of NBC promoting it, great time slot, and we're going to be an hour and a half this year so it's going to be fun," Bellamy told the Winnipeg Sun.


-Rosario Santiago, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Winnipeg Sun
(Image Courtesy of NBC)