Showtime sets 'Live Nude Comedy'
Series mixes standup comedy and burlesque
By JON WEISMAN



Showtime has slated a six-episode run for "Live Nude Comedy," a half-hour mix of standup comedy and modern-day burlesque.

Shannon Elizabeth will host the weekly midnight series, which bows Thursday. The program positions itself as an old-school variety show with a 21st-century sensibility.

Gary Binkow, CEO of production company Salient Media, joked that the show was designed "for the TV ADD crowd." It was inspired by Don Rickles' fond remembrances of working in strip clubs in a docu that Salient produced.

Typical format of "Live Nude Comedy" will open with an audience-participation sketch featuring Elizabeth, followed by each week's two comedians alternating with two dancers.

"Trying to present different ways of showcasing comedians -- that's really the focus of the show," Binkow said. "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."

Comedians Sam Tripoli and Ian Edwards will appear in the first episode, with upcoming comics to include Andy Dick and Whitney Cummings. Dakota Ferreiro and Tonya Kay will dance in the premiere.

Binkow shares exec producer duties with Michael Green. The Collective is working with Salient on the series, which will also have an accompanying live touring component, starting in Atlantic City with plans to expand into Los Angeles.