JUST FOR LAUGHS' STAND-UP SERIES RETURNS TO CBC

EIGHT HOUR-LONG EPISODES BEGIN FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2009, AT 9:00 PM

ALSO TUNE IN TO OUR ANNUAL "BEST OF" SPECIAL AT 7:00 PM ON NEW YEAR'S EVE

AND JUST FOR LAUGHS TORONTO: THE COLOUR OF FUNNY ON JANUARY 7 AT 8:00 PM

JUST FOR LAUGHS, the comedy experts, are turning up the laughs on CBC-TV this season with the return of Just For Laughs, the CBC's number one stand-up comedy show. The series will feature eight 1-hour episodes, plus a New Year's Eve "Best Of" show, and a special: Just for Laughs Toronto: The Colour of Funny hosted by CBC's own George Stroumboulopoulos. The series will premiere Friday, January 9 at 9:00 PM and will continue Friday nights at 9:00 PM thereafter.

Each show features the top Gala performances from the 26^th edition of the Montreal Festival. Tune in for rollickingly funny performances by some of comedy's most hilarious stars including: Jimmy Fallon, Kathy Griffin, Craig Ferguson, Joan Rivers, Shaun Majumder, Patrice Oneal, Ron James, Jeremy Hotz, Danny Bhoy, Ron White and more!

A comedic melting-pot of national and international artists, the series also includes such quirky acts as Australian musical trio Tripod, Canadian odd dude Brian Lazanik, offbeat musical Irishman David O'Doherty, flamboyant Scotsman-in-a-kilt Craig Hill, bombastic Brits Hal Cruttenden, Matt Kirshen and Paul Tonkinson, and New Zealand TV sensation Dai Henwood. Canada makes a great showing in the series with acts including Bowser & Blue, Dave Hemstad, Elvira Kurt, Derek Edwards, and David Pryde. Each episode will feature a brief look at the comedic influences of a Canadian comedy performer.

Make sure to check out www.cbc.ca/justforlaughs for exclusive video clips, backstage photos, games, and an inside look at Just For Laughs with an all-new show-by-show blog by producer and creative director Brent Schiess.

PREMIERE EPISODE – Friday, January 9 at 9:00 PM

The premiere episode will feature performances by Jimmy Fallon, Shaun Majumder, Patrice Oneal, Cathy Ladman, Hal Cruttenden, and more. The series continues to air each Friday at 9:00 PM until March 13, 2009.

New Year's Eve – Best of the 2008 Just For Laughs Festival – Wednesday, December 31 at 7:00 PM

Ring in the New Year with an evening of the very best of the 26^th edition of the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival featuring performances by some of the world's funniest and most engaging comedians. Encore airing on Friday, January 2 at 9:00 PM.

Just For Laughs Toronto:The Colour of Funny – Wednesday, January 7 at 8:00 PM

Filmed live at the Winter Garden Theatre during the 2008 Festival, George Stroumboulopoulos, host of CBC's The Hour, presents an all-ethnic evening of hilarity featuring Toronto's own Italian-Canadian musical duo The Doo Wops; Filipino-American and VH1 regular Jo Koy; Indian-Canadian touring sensation, Montreal's own Sugar Sammy; Japanese-American and guest star on ABC's Greek KT Tatara; Mexican-American Comedy Central regular Al Madrigal; and Nigerian-British star of Last Comic Standing, Gina Yashere.

JUST FOR LAUGHS is directed by Shelagh O'Brien and produced by Sylvie Arbour and Brent Schiess. Executive Producers are Gilbert Rozon and Bruce Hills. Creative Director is Brent Schiess. The series is a production of Juste pour rire TV Inc. in association with CBC Television. 

For more information visit: www.hahaha.com or www.cbc.ca/justforlaughs/

Supporting photography available on the CBC Image Gallery: http://www.cbc.ca/imagegallery/

Known throughout the world for its hidden camera pranks, Just For Laughs has teamed up with UK based Bragster.com, the world's largest online community of zany daredevils, for the first-ever Ultimate Prankster Contest.

Interested contestants are invited to upload a video of their wild and wacky (but totally harmless!) public caper to Bragster.com. The person who is able to pull off the funniest and most popular prank will win a trip for two to Montreal for the world's biggest comedy festival: the Just For Laughs Festival presented by Videotron.

Prize includes round trip tickets for two from anywhere in the world, three nights stay at the Delta Hotel, choice seats for six of Just For Laughs' comedy shows, coupons for the Casino de Montréal, and a three-course meal at the exclusive Festival restaurant, Club Charlot.

The Ultimate Prankster Contest is open to all pranksters and their victims worldwide. All entries must be original videos belonging to the contestant. Contestants must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Contest closes on Friday, June 27, 2008, at 6:00 pm EST.

Aspiring pranksters are invited to visit www.bragster.com/contest to watch the world-renown Just For Laughs Gags for inspiration. Have fun, be creative, but please make sure not to harm anyone in the pulling off of your prank.

JustForLaughs.Com, the comedy video portal, is the latest addition to the Just For Laughs Group.

Bragster.com is the essential online community for bragging, boasting and daring. A social network where ego is everything Bragster has skyrocketed to well over 800,000 unique visitors per month worldwide since launching in January 2007.

To participate please visit www.justforlaughs.com/contest or www.bragster.com/contest