I am – Hercules!!


After skipping last year, NBC is bringing back reality competition “Last Comic Standing” this summer with arguably its best host yet: comedian and “Hot Tub Time Machine” star Craig Robinson.

2009 wasn’t the first year NBC went without “Standing,” which started on the network in 2003. The show also sat out 2005 (after squeezing two seasons into 2004).

Prior hosts of the show include show creator Jay Mohr, Anthony Clarke and funny-challenged former veejay Bill Bellamy.

Robinson’s other job at NBC is playing warehouse manager Daryl Philbin on “The Office.” He’s also appeared in a trio of Judd Apatow movies: “Knocked Up,” “Walk Hard,” and “Pineapple Express.”

Encouragingly, NBC alternative programming chief Paul Telegdy told TheWrap.com that this 7th edition will try to bring "credibility" back to the show’s selection process by hiring a trio of stand-up comedians as judges.

Finalists on prior seasons have included Ralphie May, Dave Mordal, Gary Gulman, Kathleen Madigan, Tammy Pescatelli, Bonnie McFarlane, April Macie, Gabriel Iglesias, Amy Schumer, Esther Ku and Doug Benson.

The contest’s six prior winners were Dat Phan, John Heffron, Alonzo Bodden, Josh Blue, Jon Reep and Iliza Shlesinger.

Find all of TheWrap’s exclusive on the matter here.

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