�LAST COMIC STANDING� HAS LAST LAUGH IN SUMMER AND NOW ON NBC�S NEW FALL PREMIERE SCHEDULE BEGINNING AUGUST 30 WITH AN ALL-STAR EDITION

BURBANK, Calif. -� August 13, 2004 �- NBC will premiere the third installment of its Emmy-nominated alternative hit series "Last Comic Standing" with a special Battle of the Best featuring a weekly stand-up battle between the comics from seasons one and two, beginning with a special 90-minute premiere on Monday, August 30 (9:30-11 p.m. ET) and with a second original episode on Tuesday, August 31 (8-9 p.m. ET). On August 30, August 31 and subsequent Tuesdays (8-9 p.m. ET), viewers will vote for which comic should be eliminated and the results will be announced the following week. With many twists, turns and surprises in store, comics will vie for over $500,000 that will be awarded throughout the season.

Last night, almost 9 million viewers watched as John Heffron was declared the "Last Comic Standing" of season two, thereby winning an exclusive talent deal with NBC Universal Studios, a special on Comedy Central and an appearance tonight on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.' In 2003, Dat Phan was voted by America to be the "Last Comic Standing." Since he won, Phan has become the headlining act at comedy clubs nationwide and recently made his acting debut. Both John Heffron and Dat Phan will join the best comics from seasons 1 and 2 for the third installment of the hit series.

"Last Comic Standing" has delivered powerful ratings this summer in its regular Tuesday time period and with additional telecasts on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The Tuesday edition has averaged a 3.8 rating among adults 18-49 and 8.3 million viewers overall, making it NBC's top-ranked program of the summer in 18-49.

"Last Comic Standing" is hosted and executive produced by actor/comedian Jay Mohr ("Jerry Maguire"). In its first two seasons, the series provided a new spin on reality television as it featured the nationwide talent search for professional and non-professional comedians (both male and female). Once the selection process was narrowed to 10, after the final rounds of the national search held in New York and Las Vegas, the program then followed the comedians as they lived together in a house and competed for the ultimate prize-an exclusive talent contract with NBC and a special on Comedy Central.

In the Summer 2004, veteran producers Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz of Magical Elves joined the show as executive producers. Cutforth and Lipsitz's credits include Bravo's "Project Greenlight" and Bravo's upcoming series "Project Runway." "Last Comic Standing" is a Peter Engel Productions in association with Giraffe Productions and NBC Studios. Peter Engel, Barry Katz, Jay Mohr, Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz serve as executive producers.