iQIYI to stage new stand-up comedy show

The highly anticipated stand-up comedy competition show King of Comedy: Stand-Up Season, produced by streaming giant iQIYI, is set to premiere on Aug 16, with new episodes streamed every Friday and Saturday at 12:00 pm.

The show features Hong Kong comedy legend Stephen Chow as the program's promoter, capturing the essence of his films that often highlight the passion and indomitable spirit of grassroots individuals. The contestants' comedic performances will address social issues, offering profound insights into the lives of ordinary people.

With the slogan "From ordinary people to King of Comedy", the show aims to provide a platform for stand-up comedy enthusiasts to showcase their talents. Participants will share humorous observations and deconstructions of life, work, emotions, and various phenomena, conveying an optimistic attitude and promoting the idea that "everyone is a king of comedy in life".

A media screening for the new show was held on Tuesday, attended by Jiang Bin, iQIYI's vice-president, Tan Xiaohong, the show's chief producer, and stand-up comedians Fu Hang, Xiao Lu, and Liu Yang. They shared behind-the-scenes stories about the show's creation and recording process.

Jiang Bin said the show aims to highlight the unique charm of stand-up comedy, discover more comedy talents, and encourage more people to step onto the stage, showcase themselves, and find joy in ordinary life.

Tan Xiaohong said, "King of Comedy: Stand-Up Season brings together a group of outstanding stand-up comedy talents from the industry, including seasoned professionals and promising newcomers. Together, they present a comedy feast for the audience, allowing viewers to feel the power of thought amidst the laughter."

From over 40 clubs and more than 1,000 actors, 44 groups of comedians were ultimately chosen to compete for the title of King of Comedy.

The star-studded lineup includes Guo Qilin, Francis Ng, Xu Zheng, Yang Tianzhen, Pang Bo, Wang Jianguo, Yang Li, and Zhou Qimo, who will appear on the show to witness the growth of these comedy underdogs alongside the viewers.

The show began recording in Shanghai in June and will air twice a week while being recorded.