Dream-Casting an American Version of Last One Laughing

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American audiences haven’t always embraced British TV shows, but that shouldn’t stop us from giving new ones a chance. With the second season of Last One Laughing UK nearing its end on April 2nd on Amazon Prime, it makes you wonder why we haven’t tried making an American version. Last One Laughing actually started in Japan as Documental and has been successfully adapted in several countries—even Canada! So why not the U.S.?

As a huge comedy fan, I’m obsessed with this show called Last One Laughing. The concept is brilliantly simple: ten comedians are locked in a room with everything they need – props, food, even a stage – but the goal is to not laugh. Seriously, crack up twice and you’re eliminated. Last person standing without laughing wins! The host – Jimmy Carr in the UK version – throws in games and challenges to mess with them, and each comedian prepares a bit – it doesn’t even have to be traditional stand-up – hoping to make the others lose it first. But honestly, the best part is just watching them interact and trying to keep straight faces. It’s hilarious! Speaking of which, if anyone at Amazon is listening, I’ve put together a dream list of ten US comedians who I think would absolutely crush it on the first season of Last One Laughing: U.S. – hopefully that’s coming soon!

Nathan Fielder

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=EuTd6xUyLos

Nathan Fielder has built his career on a unique comedic premise: maintaining a deadpan expression while people say increasingly absurd things to him. Throughout shows like Nathan for You, The Rehearsal, and even his early work on This Hour Has 22 Minutes, he’s famously kept a straight face, reacting to outlandish statements with complete composure. He’s only cracked a few times in nearly twenty years, most memorably when a gas station owner on Nathan for You claimed to drink his grandson’s urine for health reasons. Although he’s Canadian, Fielder is now an American citizen, which opens the door for his participation, as demonstrated by Sam Campbell’s inclusion in the U.K. competition. Every season of Last One Laughing benefits from having a clear favorite, creating the potential for a surprising win – like Richard Ayoade in the first season of LOL UK. Nathan Fielder fits that role perfectly.

Aubrey Plaza

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=a7rfGuTKIXA

Before becoming known for roles like the Christmas Witch or in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Aubrey Plaza was already famous for her dry wit and skills as an improviser – she’d likely be a strong competitor alongside Nathan Fielder. While she’s great at delivering hilarious lines with a straight face, she also has a knack for over-the-top performances that could easily throw other contestants off balance. It’s hard to predict what she’d do for her ‘Joker’ task, but we imagine it would have a similar uniquely awkward and unsettling vibe to David Mitchell’s show tunes or Bob Mortimer in disguise.

Chris Fleming

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=eXXYfigdfw0

Chris Fleming is funniest when he fully commits to the silliness. While he’s good at dry humor, his performances are truly captivating when he lets loose and embraces the absurd. He often laughs at his own jokes, and that infectious energy is a big part of what makes him so enjoyable to watch. He brings a lot of intensity to his comedy, and that energy, combined with a somewhat awkward stage presence, creates a uniquely hilarious dynamic. He’s also brave when it comes to playfully teasing other comedians, especially those who are struggling, which makes him a strong and engaging performer, even though he often bursts into laughter himself.

Mandal

As a huge fan of podcasts, I’ve noticed something amazing about Mandal – he just kills with humor. It’s not even about telling a great joke; it’s like everyone around him can feel the funny coming, and they’re practically bracing themselves to laugh for the whole episode! He has this incredible, undeniable comedic presence. Honestly, I think he could win a competition just by saying ‘Ay, man!’ – it’s that powerful. He absolutely needs to be on this show.

Kumail Nanjiani

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=PjFF6_oTr1g

Kumail Nanjiani would be great on Taskmaster because he’s good at appearing friendly before unexpectedly turning things around – a useful skill for the show. He’s already familiar with British panel shows, and his recent stand-up special, Night Thoughts, proves he’s excellent at delivering funny, straightforward explanations. He’s also known for laughing a lot, which means he’d likely struggle to stay serious – and that would be hilarious to watch. You can almost picture him getting emotional or even cracking up completely while trying to keep it together. Plus, he’s gotten incredibly fit, giving the other contestants plenty of material for jokes, which would be really fun to see.

David Cross

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=TS2Myoba668

David Cross is one of America’s best deadpan comedians, though his style is unique. Unlike many in the genre, he doesn’t rely on a completely dry delivery, instead using a surprisingly emotional voice that can shift instantly. His portrayal of Tobias Fünke in Arrested Development perfectly showcased this, balancing hopeful optimism with moments of despair and panic. While he’s masterful at delivering a perfectly timed, impactful punchline, he also fully commits to his comedic bits in a way few others can. Bob Odenkirk is another comedian who does this well, but unfortunately, his health prevents him from joining the comparison.

Meg Stalter

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=4tz7Z33uBZI

Remember when Meg Stalter, known for her roles in Hacks and Too Much, unexpectedly yelled “Get me outta here!” during an appearance on Late Night with Stephen Colbert? After a rambling story about filming Too Much in London, she suddenly erupted in a surprisingly intense outburst. Colbert, always the composed host, was so taken aback he almost laughed. Stalter’s dedication to her characters – something she’s shown at several award shows – makes her wonderfully unpredictable, like comedians Sam Fielder or Aubrey Plaza. She’s not known for a dry delivery; she’s actually quite bubbly, but she really commits to a joke when the time is right. Let’s give her a wild wig and silly outfit and let her loose! Even if she gets carried away, it’ll be hilarious to watch.

Vince Staples

Vince Staples isn’t a stand-up comedian, but he’s definitely shown comedic timing – remember his two seasons on a Netflix show? Recently, he appeared on Ziwe’s show and completely turned the tables on her. Ziwe is known for her challenging interviews, but Staples effortlessly handled her questions without even cracking a smile. He clearly has a knack for comedy that we haven’t fully seen. Imagine putting him in a room with other comedians – a showdown with someone like Nathan Fielder would be fascinating! It’s possible he’d be frustrated, but he also has the potential to be the most compelling contestant on a comedic reality show.

Paul F. Tompkins

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=vPGmrps8r5g

The best contestants on a show like this aren’t just people who laugh a lot – they have truly contagious and unique laughs. This makes it especially satisfying when others try to make them break, and it’s fun to watch the other contestants team up to try and do it. While Bert Kreischer, Stavros Halkias, and Caleb Hearon would all be good choices, Paul F. Tompkins would be the most entertaining. Unlike the others, he wouldn’t just sit back and try to defend himself. Fans of his podcast, Comedy Bang! Bang!, know he’s skilled at any kind of comedic improvisation, so he could easily turn the tables on his attackers. Plus, he’d look fantastic in a sharp suit.

Sarah Sherman

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=7_LX4yZjSoA

Everyone knows Saturday Night Live performers are trained to stay in character, so why not really challenge that skill? But beyond that, Sarah Sherman would be a fantastic addition to the LOL competition. Her uniquely shocking and unsettling comedy would bring something completely new to the show. Comedians are used to how jokes are supposed to work, which means they don’t always find the same things funny as the audience. It usually takes something genuinely surprising to make them laugh. John Fielder might not be easily impressed, but has he ever seen someone drink a whole can of clam chowder in one go?

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2026-03-27 23:55