Originally posted Tuesday February 5, 2019 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Two comedians with deep Atlanta ties - veteran stand-up and Alpharetta resident Jeff Foxworthy and "Saturday Night Live" cast member Atlanta native Kenan Thompson - will be judging a new NBC comedy competition talent show.
Unlike NBC’s “Last Comic Standing,” which focused exclusively on stand-up, “Bring the Funny” will feature a mix of stand-ups, sketch troupes, and comedic variety acts.
“America’s Got Talent,” also on NBC, has included comedic acts as well.
Foxworthy’s last major TV appearance was in 2015, when Fox briefly revived “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader,” which originally aired on Fox from 2007 to 2009 and in syndication from 2009 to 2011.
He has also hosted CBS’s “The American Baking Competition,” which was shot in Atlanta and aired for one season in the summer of 2013, and GSN’s “The American Bible Challenge” from 2012 to 2014.
Thompson - who attended Tri-Cities High School in East Point - is the longest running “SNL” cast member in its 40-plus years. He began on the show in 2003.
Chrissy Teigen, co-host of Paramount's "Lip-Sync Battle," is the other judge.
Comedian Amanda Seales will serve as host.
NBC has not said when the 10-episode show will air. The winner takes home $250,000.
The series is currently casting at www.bringthefunnycasting.com.
