Last Comic Standing Reveals Final Five Contestants on July 11th  7/8/06

NBC'S HOT SUMMER SERIES "LAST COMIC STANDING" REVEALS FINAL FIVE CONTESTANTS ON JULY 11 EPISODE, WITH SPECIAL GUESTS GILBERT GOTTFRIED, PHYLLIS DILLER AND PREVIOUS "LAST COMIC" WINNER ALONZO BODDEN

Two Comics Are Eliminated - But a Third Comic Is Also Sent Home After Breaking the Rules

BURBANK - July 7, 2006 - The final five contestants of NBC's popular summer series "Last Comic Standing" will be revealed on Tuesday, July 11 (9-10 p.m. ET) in a special episode featuring celebrity guests Gilbert Gottfried, Phyllis Diller and previous "Last Comic Standing" winner Alonzo Bodden. Anthony Clark hosts the Emmy-nominated series.

In the July 11 episode, the comics participate in the age-old tradition of a Friar's Club roast, but this time, the one being roasted is one of their own. After the comedians fire away with their wittiest barbs, celebrity judges Gottfried, Diller and Bodden decide which lucky comedian wins the chance to perform with famed funnyman Louie Anderson in Las Vegas.

Then a shocking discovery back on board the Queen Mary reveals that one of the comedians has broken the rules and has to go home. A final head-to-head challenge determines which two comics will be eliminated - and which five comics will be left to compete for the coveted title of "Last Comic Standing."

With an average 3.8 rating, 11 share in adults 18-49 and 8.3 million viewers overall, "Last Comic Standing" is this year's #4 original summer series in adults 18-49. "Last Comic" has nearly doubled NBC's 18-49 average in the Tuesday 9 p.m. ET hour for last summer, delivering a 95 percent increase.

"Last Comic Standing" is produced by Peter Engel Productions, Magical Elves and NBC Universal Television Studio. The executive producers are Peter Engel ("Saved By the Bell," "City Guys"), Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz (Bravo's "Project Runway" and NBC's "Treasure Hunters") and Barry Katz ("Action," "Dane Cook's Tourgasm").

Source: NBC Press Release