BELLAMY’S WHO’S GOT JOKES HITS JACKPOT FOR SEASON 4: Las Vegas vibe, hysterical twists, celebrity judges and audience surprises
Tape up your ribs and pull out an oxygen mask, “Who’s Got Jokes” is returning to TV One on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
This season was produced on location at the lavish Luxor Hotel in everything-goes Las Vegas.
“It’s bigger and better, and the hottest season, yet,” said actor and comedian Bill Bellamy who keeps the hilarious show on track.
Bellamy said that their goal was to create “explosive laughter … We want people to get these comedians right off the top. We took the skits up to another whole level. When you are in Vegas, you can do some ridiculous things.”
Joining Bellamy are comedian cohorts Rodney Perry and Tommy Ford. Perry is the “Man on the Street” and Ford decides whether contestants should lose points if their routines get raunchy or exceed the time limit.
Look for Perry to delight the audiences with skits that include Vegas legends, such as Don King, Criss Angel, Siegfried and Roy, the Blue Man Group, Elvis Presley and many others.
“We tried to bring a real tiger, but Rodney wasn’t having it,” said Bellamy. “The cat was nice to everyone but Rodney and was literally clawing his wardrobe up. We had to downgrade to a stuffed tiger.” Bellamy also let it slip that there is a scene with a guerilla that fans won’t want to miss.
Ford remarked that the show is not only gaining more viewers, it’s getting the attention of new and veteran comics alike, especially when they see the exposure that the winners get.
“George Wallace came in and literally took over one show… he offered the winner a weekend at the Flamingo to perform with him,” said Bellamy.
Past winners are already making their mark. Season 1 winner George Wilborn’s career has taken off; Season 2 winner, Sean Morgan, is touring around the country and has an upcoming comedy; and last season’s winner, Lav Luv, holds court over the Atlanta airwaves with a daily radio show.
According to Bellamy, there was some slight tweaking to the show’s original format by “incorporating celebrity judges, which brought a whole new energy.” Terri Vaughn, Ray J, Wendy Raquel Robinson and LisaRaye are just some of the stars who will join in on the laughs.
Ralph Farquhar, creator and executive producer, noted:
“There were a lot more women coming out this year.”
Bellamy agreed, “There are three girls that are on the verge… Wait until you meet Jackie Fabulous… and it’s all clean!”
Now that Season 4 is complete, what new ideas are brewing?
“I don’t know how we can top ourselves next season, except by going to the moon,” said Bellamy.
“Who’s Got Jokes?” is the only comedy competition show on television, aired on TV ONE, which reaches 48.3 million households.
