ABC Announces New Hidden Camera Show "Just for Laughs" Premiering July 17  7/4/07

PREMIERE - "LOL" WITH THE DEBUT OF ABC'S "JUST FOR LAUGHS"

Get set to laugh out loud as unsuspecting "victims" fall prey to hilarious hidden-camera tricks and practical jokes on ABC's hidden-camera comedy series, "Just for Laughs," premiering with back-to-back episodes, TUESDAY, JULY 17 (8:00-8:30 & 8:30-9:00 p.m., ET). The program's regular time period will be Tuesdays from 8:30-9:00 p.m., ET. Hosted by Rick Miller, "Just for Laughs" is based on the Canadian series "Just for Laughs Gags" and is the first ever made-for-Canada television series to be broadcast on a major U.S. network.

"Episode 101" -- The season premiere (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET) includes such humorous gags as a jogger running into a pole; officers in their underwear pulling over some very surprised drivers; bystanders sitting on a "freshly painted" bench; pedestrians casually walking into an "invisible" object as passersby look on in confusion, taking care to avoid it, and a monster popping out of the soil to the shock of onlookers.

More laughs follow in "Episode 102" (8:30-9:00 p.m. ET), when a "blind" man pushing a "man" in a wheelchair takes his hands off the chair, sending it rolling down a hill to the astonishment of spectators. Other tricks include a man's head popping out of a porter potty; a basketball hoop falling onto a parked car, and a water hose that turns on just as people are walking by.

"Just for Laughs" television shows are seen in over 125 countries and on over 95 airlines around the world, and in the past have been seen in the U.S. on MTV, Showtime, HBO, BBC America and Fox. Its annual festival is the world's largest and most prestigious comedy event, welcoming over two million people each summer. Over the years, the festival has featured some of the top comics in the world, including Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Stewart, Dave Chappelle, Ray Romano and Tim Allen. This year it celebrates its 25th anniversary. Each year over 1,000 industry executives are drawn to what is considered the hottest breeding ground for new talent. The company successfully tours across the globe, bringing some of the festival's best talent to Canada, the U.S. and Asia, and has personal management offices in Los Angeles, Paris and Montreal.

"Just for Laughs" is broadcast with Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning. A TV parental guideline will be posted closer to airdate.

Source: ABC Press Release