Last Comic (still) Standing?

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on December 31st, 2009

That’s right: According to the industry rags, LCS may come back.

Why not? It’s cheap, it’s plugs a hole in the schedule (and, really, that’s what it’s all about for the failing networks) and it’s occasionally funny.

NBC is in talks to bring the series back and Paul Telegdy, the network’s head of reality programming, wants to have a new host and format changes, according to a report from Entertainment Weekly’s Hollywood Insider.

Telegdy? Who is this guy? Must be new. (Hold on, we’ll Google him… well… he’s new as of Jan. 5.)

We suppose this means that the show was killed by someone who is no longer at NBC. (Otherwise, the show would stay dead.)

This Telegdy fellow wants to bring it back, but he wants to change it. (So he can claim the credit should it become a ratings behemoth.) He wants a new host and a change in format. Oh, is that all?! Caroline Rhea‘s out– she’s already hosted a show called The Biggest Losers, so there might be confusion. Just kidding!

It’s already a pretty solid performer, so killing it was not the smartest move.

‘Comic’ averaged 5.2 million viewers and a 7 share among adults 18-49 when it last aired in ’08 and does well among adults 18-49 living in homes with $75K to $100k-plus incomes.

It’s spawned a crop of comics that can command a good chunk of change for a weekend at your local chuckle dispensary, so it’s done some good for the visibility of standup comedy. Standup in prime time is the rising tide that lifts all the comedy boats! So we say: Bring it back.

Besides, we get to pick it apart every week and grouse about it!