TBS Orders 10 Episodes of THE VERY FUNNY SHOW, New Late-Night Series Hosted by Tim Meadows and Featuring Comedians Taped at Chicago's Zanies Comedy Club During TBS PRESENTS A "VERY FUNNY" FESTIVAL: JUST FOR LAUGHS

Tapping into the flood of new talent set to perform during TBS PRESENTS A "VERY FUNNY" FESTIVAL: JUST FOR LAUGHS, TBS has given the green light to THE VERY FUNNY SHOW, a new half-hour, late-night standup series hosted by Tim Meadows (TBS's The Bill Engvall Show, Saturday Night Live) and slated to premiere in November.   The series will feature performances by 30 fresh comedic talents, all filmed at the Zanies Comedy Club in Chicago during the Festival.
 
"With THE VERY FUNNY SHOW, we'll be introducing our viewers to some of the best up and coming comedians in the industry," said Michael Wright, executive vice president and head of programming for TBS, TNT and Turner Classic Movies.  "We're especially thrilled to have the talented Tim Meadows as host.   He is an incredibly funny comedian himself, and is already part of the TBS family, doing outstanding work on The Bill Engvall Show."
 
"This series demonstrates how our comedy festivals are more than just first-rate showcases through which we can extend the TBS brand," said Dennis Adamovich, senior vice president and general manager of comedy festivals for TBS.  "They are also an outstanding opportunity to mine fresh talent for the network's comedy lineup."
 
Among the many comedians slated to perform for THE VERY FUNNY SHOW tapings, which will take place at Zanies Friday, June 19, and Saturday, June 20, are Bob Marley, Dwight Slade, Steve Byrne, Andrew Kennedy, Al Madrigal, Joe Matarese, Dwayne Perkins, Jeff Dye, John Caparulo, Nick Thune, Erin Jackson and Louis Ramey.  The showcase is also scheduled to feature a number of comedians with Chi-town connections, including Chicago-based comics Patti Vasquez and Rocky Laporte; Chicago natives such as Hannibal Buress, Matt Braunger, John Roy, Sebastian Maniscalco, John Mulaney and T.J. Miller; and Southern Illinois-based Dale Jones.
 
Tim Meadows currently co-stars in TBS's hit sitcom The Bill Engvall Show, which returns for its third season Saturday, July 18.  Holding the record as one of the longest-running cast member of Saturday Night Live (10 years), he crafted some of that series' most memorable characters.  Prior to his stint on SNL, he was a member of the venerable Second City comedy troupe in Chicago.  Among Meadows' many films are The Ladies Man, Mean Girls, Coneheads, Wayne's World 2, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Semi-Pro and Aliens in the Attic.  His television credits include The Michael Richards Show, Leap of Faith and frequent appearances on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and The Colbert Report.
 
THE VERY FUNNY SHOW is the latest show designed to give comedy fans around the country the opportunity to enjoy some of the extraordinary showcases lined up for TBS PRESENTS A "VERY FUNNY" FESTIVAL: JUST FOR LAUGHS, which takes place Wednesday, June 17 - Sunday, June 21 in Chicago.  Other shows from the Festival being taped for TBS include Ellen DeGeneres' third variety special for TBS, Ellen's Bigger Longer and Wider Show, featuring music, dancers and unique specialty acts; Let Freedom Hum - An Evening of Comedy Hosted by Martin Short, featuring an outstanding slate of comedians, including Martin Short, John Pinette, Kathleen Madigan, Greg Giraldo, Tom Papa and Jeremy Hotz; and Comedy You Can Believe In with David Alan Grier, with Grier performing and introducing an all-star roster that includes Bruce Bruce, Jo Koy, Mark Curry, Aries Spears, Ralph Harris and Marina Franklin.  TBS will present the three specials June 24-26.
 
TBS PRESENTS A "VERY FUNNY" FESTIVAL: JUST FOR LAUGHS will bring together the biggest names in comedy, including George Lopez, Bill Engvall, Lisa Lampanelli, Jimmy Fallon, Russell Peters, Louis CK, Jim Jefferies, Bob Odenkirk and Mike Epps, to name a few.  Among the many events slated for the Festival are live performances by comedy headliners, a showcase of alternative comedy at the Lakeshore Theater, a series of performances by local Chicago talent and a film festival at the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  A special kickoff event on Tuesday, June 16, at the Music Box Theatre, will honor the Chicago-born filmmaker/actor Harold Ramis with a Lifetime Achievement Award, followed by a special screening of Ramis' eagerly anticipated comedy Year One, starring Jack Black (School of Rock) and Michael Cera (Juno).
 
Excitement for the Festival has kicked into high gear, with Ellen's Bigger Longer and Wider Show already sold out; a performance by Jimmy Fallon sold out; and three performances of George Lopez: Tall, Dark and Chicano sold out, with a fourth show added.
 
Tickets for THE VERY FUNNY SHOW at Zanies are now available through the Zanies box office at 1548 N. Wells St., by phone at 312-337-4027 or online at zanies.com.
 
Tickets for performances at The Chicago Theatre, The Vic Theatre and the Rosemont Theatre, as well as for the film showcase at the Gene Siskel Film Center, are available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800/745-3000.  Tickets are also available at respective venue box offices.  Tickets for the Lakeshore Theater performances are available at lakeshoretheater.com or by phone at 773/472-3492.  Additional Festival information is available at www.justforlaughschicago.com.
 
This event marks the first Just For Laughs comedy festival in the United States. TBS and Just For Laughs are also collaborating with the largest independent promoter in the United States, Chicago-based Jam Productions, LTD and Outback Concerts.