Amazon Prime Video Competition Series “LOL: Last One Laughing”Canadian edition will be launched Feb. 18.
“Last One Laughing Canada”Debra DiGiovanni and Caroline Rhea are some of the competitors. Jay Baruchel hosts the six-part series. Jay will be hosting. The comedians attempt to outlast their competitors by making them laugh (through stand up, musical performance and more), but not by laughing at themselves. The grand prize of $100,000 goes to the charity that outlasts their competitors.
John Brunton and Erin Brock are the executive producers. Shannon Farr is the producer. Insight Productions produces the series.
“LOL: Last One Laughing Canada” is the latest adaptation of “Documental,” an Amazon Original series in Japan owned by Yoshimoto Kogyo and created by and starring Hitoshi Matsumoto — where Matsumoto leads 10 comedians who bet their own money in a “battle of laughter behind closed doors.”This series format has been successful in Mexico, Italy and Germany as well as Australia, India, France, Spain, France, Germany and Australia.
The first two episodes “LOL: Last One Laughing Canada”Two more installments will follow on February 25, and two more on March 4.
Also in today’s TV News Roundup:
FIRST LOOKS
The 20th season “American Idol” is set to premiere on Feb. 27, and ABC is reflecting on the show’s legacy in its latest trailer. The first look features judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, along with host Ryan Seacrest, while they meet this season’s singers — as well as clips of some of the biggest music names to emerge from the singing competition show, including Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood and Adam Lambert. “American Idol” is produced by Fremantle and Industrial Media’s 19 Entertainment and has aired on ABC for 5 seasons. Megan Wolflick, Jennifer Mullin, Trish Kinane and Aaron Saidman are the executive producers. Below is the trailer for Season 20.
PROGRAMMING
Apple TV announces a new documentary series in four parts. “Lincoln’s Dilemma,”This series will offer a more nuanced view of President Abraham Lincoln at the time of Civil War. Narrated by Jeffrey Wright and featuring the voices of Bill Camp as Abraham Lincoln and Leslie Odom, Jr. as Frederick Douglass, the series is a 21st century examination of the people and events that shaped Lincoln’s evolving stance on slavery, while also trying to amplify the narratives of enslaved people. “Lincoln’s Dilemma”Kunhardt Films, Eden Productions and Jacqueline Olive produced this film. Executive producers are Peter Kunhardt, Teddy Kunhardt, George Kunhardt, Josh Tyrangiel, Richard Plepler, Jacqueline Olive, Barak Goodman and Jelani Cobb. The series is directed by Olive and Goodman. All four parts of the series will air on Apple TV February 18, 2018.
EXECUTIVES
BBC Studios announced the promotion of Eve Frederick to senior vice president of production for the company’s Los Angeles production arm. She is currently responsible for overseeing production teams for various BBC Studios-produced series, including three that are under her supervision. “Life Below Zero”National Geographic’s hit documentary on true crime is available at www.National Geographic.com “Murder Among the Mormons”Netflix “Ex-Rated”Andy Cohen hosts the Peacock and “Top Gear America”MotorTrend. Frederick was the most recent vice president of production at BBC Studios Los Angeles Productions. She also has series credits at BBC Studios. “Port Protection” “Breaking Bobby Bones”National Geographic and “Texicanas”Bravo.
A. Smith & Co. Productions has promoted producer and series developer Eli Baldrige to senior vice president of development — where Baldrige will manage the development team and oversee all development across the company. Baldrige previously served as vice president of development at A. Smith & Co. Productions, where he developed programming including “Welcome to Plathville” for TLC, Pharrell Williams’ “Voices of Fire”For Netflix, and “Canine Intervention”Netflix
LATE NIGHT
Ariana deBose, Willem Dafoe & The Lumineers will be appearing on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”Thursday will see Oliver Tree, Fortune Feimster, and Peter Dinklage on the eve. “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”Liev Schreiber, Allison Russell will be featured.