Amazon’s James Farrell, Yoshimoto’s Akihiko Okamoto to Discuss ‘LOL: Last One Laughing’ at Mipcom

As a seasoned movie buff with over three decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the upcoming keynote session featuring James Farrell and Akihiko Okamoto at TV market Mipcom is not to be missed! The success story of “LOL: Last One Laughing” is nothing short of remarkable, and it’s intriguing to see how this simple yet engaging concept has managed to captivate audiences worldwide.


James Farrell from Amazon MGM Studios’ International Originals division and Akihiko Okamoto, the president of Yoshimoto, will be co-presenting at the keynote event during TV market Mipcom.

The management team intends to investigate the creation methodology and strategy that has propelled “LOL: Last One Laughing” into one of the most thriving and globally circulated format trends in recent memory, and a top-viewed program on Prime Video in numerous nations.

The Media Mastermind Keynote series session is scheduled for October 21st, which marks the first complete day of Mipcom. This event will commence at 10:20 a.m. in the Grand Auditorium located within the Palais des Festivals. It’s important to note that this year’s Mipcom, the 40th edition, will be held in Cannes from October 21st through October 24th.

The concept for this show was initially presented to Farrell: “Ten comedians meet in a room, attempting to crack each other up; the one who manages to keep a straight face until the end is declared the winner.” This 2016 series, called “Documental,” produced and performed by Hitoshi Matsumoto and owned by Yoshimoto Kogyo, has been remade in over 20 countries such as Canada, India, Brazil, Nigeria, and the Nordics. It currently holds the record for the most viewed title on Prime Video in France, Germany, and Italy. Notable hosts from different regions include Graham Norton (Ireland), Jay Baruchel (Canada), Eugenio Derbez (Mexico), Fedez (Italy), Michael “Bully” Herbig (Germany), Rebel Wilson (Australia) and Trevor Noah (South Africa).

The Japanese anime has now completed its 13th season, and over the past year, there have been eight different adaptations announced. More recently, it was announced that a British version will be hosted by Jimmy Carr.

Lucy Smith, director of Mipcom and Mip London, stated that ‘LOL: Last One Laughing’ demonstrates how competition formats draw viewers to streaming platforms. Amazon is spearheading this trend, becoming major contributors to unscripted format production. Gaining insight into the strategy behind this successful global rollout and the cultural and comedic adaptations made in each version is crucial for those involved in international IP travel and production.

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2024-10-01 19:46