Steve Carell & David Steinberg Join For New Interview Series Laughing Stock

Multi-hyphenate comic impresarios Steve Carell (The Office) and David Steinberg (Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg) are bringing the biggest names in comedy to the table as executive producers of LAUGHING STOCK, a revealing new comedy interview series featuring the world's funniest personalities, one-on-one with host Steinberg, it was announced today by SHOWTIME President of Entertainment David Nevins. Iconic talent spanning five decades will discuss the art of comedy, evolution of the genre and their ascension to the top of their field. Carell and Steinberg will serve as executive producers, alongside Vance DeGeneres and Charlie Hartsock for Carousel Productions, with Steinberg also serving as Director and Host. The ten, half-hour episodes will debut on SHOWTIME in early 2012.

"We have gathered a monumental assortment of comedic legends, and their contemporary protégées," said Carell. "It's enlightening, fascinating, but more importantly, it's funny."

"What makes our show unique is you will see the comedian's connections to each other and to those who have influenced them in the past," said Steinberg. "It's like getting a look at a comedy tree of the last five decades."

Each episode of LAUGHING STOCK will feature a combination of sit-down interviews with the biggest comedians in the world on the subject they know best - comedy. From pioneers like Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner and Don Rickles, to today's legends and headliners - Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Larry David, Ellen Degeneres, Judd Apatow, Tina Fey, Jane Lynch and Sarah Silverman, these master craftsmen will reveal rarely-told anecdotes, how they developed their own distinctive voices, their mentors and their defining career moments. Carell will also be a guest in one episode.

Best known for his multiple Emmy Award-nominated and Golden Globe(R) Award-winning role headlining the wildly popular hit television series The Office, Carell has been critically hailed for his incredible versatility and straight-laced, layered comedic performances in films as varied as Little Miss Sunshine, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Dan in Real Life and Get Smart. His star turn in the blockbuster hit comedy The 40-Year-Old Virgin was a massive success, grossing nearly $200 million worldwide. He gained popularity for his work on several seasons of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He's currently starring in the romantic comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love and recently voiced the lead character of "Gru" in the hit animated film Despicable Me.

The legendary, groundbreaking Steinberg began his comedy career like many of his peers including Carell, at The Second City in Chicago. He most recently hosted and executive produced Sit Down with David Steinberg on TV Land. In the '70s, he headlined both a U.S. and Canadian version of the comedy variety series The David Steinberg Show, which served as an influence for The Larry Sanders Show. He received Emmy(R) and DGA Award nominations for directing episodes of some of the biggest shows in television, including Seinfeld, Friends, Mad About You and Curb Your Enthusiasm. As a comedian, he appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, 140 times, second only to Bob Hope. He received two Emmy(R) Awards for writing for the Academy Awards and two Grammy nominations for his comedy albums. His best-selling memoir, "The Book of David" was released in 2007.

Carousel Productions was started in the summer of 2008 by Steve Carell and his producing partners, Charlie Hartsock and Vance DeGeneres. The company has recently released its first production, the critically-acclaimed "Crazy, Stupid, Love." through Warner Bros. Pictures, through which it has a first-look deal.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL(TM) and FLIX(R), as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2(TM), SHOWTIME(R) SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME(R), SHOWTIME BEYOND(R), SHOWTIME NEXT(R), SHOWTIME WOMEN(R), SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE(R) and THE MOVIE CHANNEL(TM) XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD(TM), THE MOVIE CHANNEL(TM) HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND(R) and THE MOVIE CHANNEL(TM) ON DEMAND. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel(TM). All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV(R).

 

Photo Credit: BWW-Staff

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