Last Comic Standing to Return in June

NBC has announced the fifth season premiere of Last Comic Standing, the Emmy-nominated reality talent competition that searches for the funniest stand-up comics in the world.

Last Comic Standing 5 will premeire Wednesday, June 13 at 9PM ET/PT with a special two-hour show. Following its special debut, the competition will air in the Wednesdays 9-10PM ET/PT time period.

Viewers will be introduced to a new face for Last Comic Standing's fifth season, as the series will be hosted by comedian Bill Bellamy, the show's third host in its last three seasons. The actor and former MTV VJ served as host of Bill Bellamy's Who's Got Jokes?, a Last Comic Standing-like reality series that aired on the TV One cable network.

Despite a new host, some familiar Last Comic Standing faces will be part of the show's fifth season. NBC has tabbed three former Last Comic Standing contestants - Last Comic Standing 3 winner Alonzo Bodden and Last Comic Standing 2 contestants Ant and Kathleen Madigan - to serve as the show's new talent scouts. Celebrity judges will also join the talent scouts in their search for the world's funniest new comic.

Last Comic Standing's fifth season casting search was international, with talent scouts for the series making stops in Sydney, Australia, London, England and Montreal, Canada.

Also new to the show's fifth season will be a bigger prize package - in addition to landing an NBC talent contract deal and Bravo half-hour comedy special that's similar to the prizes that previous Last Comic Standing winners have received, the fifth season's winner will also receive a $250,000 grand prize.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.