Howie Mandel To Partner In US Version Of Banijay's Celebrity Stand Up

Banijay Group company Angel City Factory (ACF) has signed an exclusive deal with comedian, host and producer Howie Mandel's Alevy Productions to partner in the US version of the Banijay Group comedy format Celebrity Stand-Up.
The announcement comes on the day of the show's eagerly anticipated launch on primary broadcaster TV2 Denmark on July 18.
Celebrity Stand-Up is distributed by Banijay International, the distribution arm of the global production group and will headline the company's slate at MIPCOM in October.
Howie, a judge on NBC's hit America's Got Talent as well as host of Deal of No Deal, produced the successful new Fox show Mobbed with ACF and is throwing his weight behind the unique Celebrity Stand-Up format. Drawn in by the concept which sees celebrities reveal their personal experiences in order to create an original stand-up act and then battle each other, Howie is looking forward to working with a US broadcast partner, giving him the opportunity to return to his stand-up roots.
Howie said: "There really isn't anything like Celebrity Stand-Up on air in the US right now. I see it as a unique and clever spin on the immersive celebrity interview. The contestants must examine their own lives to write sketches based on their personal experiences, and challenge themselves to go outside their comfort zones. The result is celebrities exposing themselves in a very honest and raw way, giving viewers a really intimate insight. I am very much looking forward to working with ACF again and bringing this show to US viewers."
Chris Cowan, Co-CEO of Angel City Factory said: "We're delighted to be working with Howie once more on Celebrity Stand-Up. We couldn't have hoped for a more perfect US partnership for the show. Howie is still a prolific stand-up comedian himself as well as a well-known and experienced TV personality, so as a producer, he will really be able to get the most out of this format, which can be an emotional rollercoaster of tears and laughter. This is a true pairing of a great idea with great talent."
Created by Banijay Group company Respirator, Celebrity Stand-Up is an original entertainment format where celebrities face possible public humiliation as they write and perform a stand up act in just five days! In the US version, each one hour episode has viewers following two celebrities and watching as they scrutinise their homes and lives to find funny topics and test their jokes on unsuspecting members of the public - all the while ensuring they fulfil the shows mandatory tasks.
Finally, the two celebs - not known for their humorous side - go head to head on the stand-up stage, performing their routine in front of a live audience, which will ultimately decide their fate.
(KMcA)