Exclusive: MacDonald joins 'Last Comic'

Bill Keveney | USA TODAY

NBC's Last Comic Standing will be back this summer — with a comedic infusion of Norm MacDonald.

The Saturday Night Live veteran will be the new guy on a ninth-season panel that includes returning judges and famed comedians Roseanne Barr and Keenen Ivory Wayans. McDonald, who wrote for Roseanne, fills the seat held by Russell Peters when the comedian search returned in 2014 after a three-year hiatus.

Anthony Jeselnik (Comedy Central's The Jeselnik Offensive), a veteran of numerous comedy roasts, will succeed J.B. Smoove as host for Comic's streamlined, eight-episode season, which will feature celebrity guests and a new head-to-head phase of the competition. A premiere date has not been announced.

MacDonald, who starred in The Norm Show and has appeared more recently in The Middle, says he is looking forward to joining Comic's lineup. "I am honored to be a judge, as I'm great friends with Roseanne and I have always admired Keenen," says the comedian, whose behind-the-scenes tweets from SNL's 40th-anniversary special drew a huge audience. "Having Anthony as a host will bring a great dynamic to the team."

And that doesn't even count comic Wanda Sykes, who will be back behind the scenes as an executive producer.

"We are excited that Norm is joining Roseanne and Keenen in helping us find America's newest comedy star," NBC alternative program chief Paul Telegdy said in a statement. "This is a hugely talented and iconic panel. Anthony will add his unique quick-witted humor as the host of the show."

Comic, which starts with invitation-only auditions, will bring together 100 of the nation's top comics and have them compete for 40 semifinal spots. That next round will yield a top 10 who move into the new head-to-head competition, where they will be paired in a single-elimination contest of "stand-up standoffs," according to a description from the show.

Five comedians will compete in the finals, with the winner taking the title of Last Comic Standing and winning prizes worth $250,000, including a TV development deal.

Past Comic contestants have gone on to successful entertainment careers. Among the notable alumni are Amy Schumer of Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer; Cristela Alonzo of ABC's Cristela; Iliza Shlesinger, whose Netflix special, Freezing Hot, recently premiered; Gabriel Iglesias, a successful touring stand-up who has appeared on Cristela; Tommy Johnagin, a Late Show with David Letterman guest who will write and star in a CBS pilot; and Chelsea Lately writer Fortune Feimster, who will star in the ABC pilot, Family Fortune.