Essential Ndubuisi
Ace comedian Basketmouth has been unveiled as the host of Prime Video’s first unscripted African Original, LOL: ‘Last One Laughing Naija’. The announcement was made during a vibrant press conference held in Lagos on Thursday.
The event, emceed by the highly acclaimed patriarch of stand-up comedy in Nigeria, Alli Baba, lived up to expectations with his spontaneous and uproarious presentations. The conference was attended by Ned Mitchell, Head of African and Middle East Originals at Prime Video, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, Head of Nigerian Originals, the entire cast, and other staff members.
The six-part series aims to showcase the wit and comedic skills of the participating comedians as they compete to become the Last One Laughing. The only rule is simple: if you laugh, you lose. The comedian who can maintain a straight face after six hours of showtime will claim the ultimate prize of donating the entire N40 million to a local charity of their choice. The objective is for the contestants to employ all their comedic tricks to make others laugh while resisting the urge to laugh themselves. Produced by Amazon Studios in collaboration with Nigeria’s LiveSpot360 Productions, the series will be available on Prime Video in over 240 countries.
LOL: ‘Last One Laughing Naija’ is a unique and unscripted comedy show, and it serves as a sequel and adaptation of Prime Video’s global hit comedy franchise, currently produced in over 20 countries including Canada, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, and South Africa. The show is set to launch early next year with Trevor Noah as the host.
This highly anticipated series will feature Basketmouth and ten of Nigeria’s best comedy and entertainment stars engaging in a celebrity showdown. The all-star lineup includes Okey Bakassi, Acapella, Mr Funny (aka Sabinus), KieKie, Buchi, Dat Warri Girl, Taoma, Senator, IGoSave, and Gandoki.
Ned Mitchell, Head of African and Middle East Originals, emphasized that the show is in line with Prime Video’s commitment to delivering local and authentic African films and series to a global audience. Despite initial challenges surrounding the magnitude of the project, the entire series was successfully shot in Lagos.
“We are thrilled to be working with the most talented entertainers in the industry on this project. We believe our customers will witness the exceptional quality they bring to the show. The industry in Africa is undergoing a remarkable transformation, and we are proud to be a part of it,” said Mitchell.
“The series is a global hit for Prime Video, and that’s why we are excited to bring its own version to customers in Nigeria. Trevor Noah was elated when he learned that we were doing this in Africa. It may seem like a simple show, but its production complexity is astounding. It will keep our viewers informed and entertained at the same time,” he added.
Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, Head of Nigerian Originals, expressed her confidence that viewers will enjoy a series filled with incredibly talented Nigerian humor and comedic talent, featuring an A-list lineup.
“We are proud to bring Prime Video customers a genre that is beloved and consumed by Nigerian audiences worldwide,” Mba-Uzoukwu said.
Alli Baba, the veteran comedian who hosted the event, urged all present media personalities to help spread the word. He assured viewers that they can expect to experience the intensity, spontaneity, and originality of the various performers when the show officially premieres on July 14th.
