New TV show mixes stand-up and nudity

America’s Showtime channel has come up with a new way of presenting stand-up, with a show called Live Nude Comedy.

The half-hour programme will be hosted by Amercian Pie actress Shannon Elizabeth, and will mix comedians with burlesque performers.

Producers say that they wanted to come up with a format more interesting than simply filming a comedian talking to appeal to the ‘ADD crowd’.

Gary Binkow of production company Salient Media, told Variety: ‘We just felt that mixing it with dancing and variety and keeping it moving at a fast pace is a better way to consume comedy than just your old-fashioned show against a brick wall.’

Alternatively, it could be seen as a return to the strip-clubs roots of modern stand-up.

Executive producer Whitney Cummings added that the programme, which launches this week, would allow comedians to use X-rated material.. ‘Nothing was off limits on this show,’ she said. ‘It gave comics a chance to show off their edgier material and really let loose on taboo topics.’

The six-part series, whose line-up includes Andy Dick, will feature an audience-participation sketch featuring ex-model Elizabeth, two comedians and two dancers.

A spin-off tour is also set to hit the road in the US.

Here is a trailer:

Published: 14 Jul 2009