André Jebbinson, Staff Reporter

Christopher Daley, the 'driver' of the Comedy Buss.

Comedy, comedy, comedy buss! After a successful freshman season, Comedy Buss is back again for the its sophomore run. The comedian elimination television series, project of Christopher 'Johnny' Daley and Si Wi Yah Entertainment, is looking to take the market by force this year. The first show will be aired in September.

"It was great. I had a great team last year from my staff to my partner in crime, Coleen Lewis. We had the idea and we brought it to a small company. Looking back, we proved ourselves," Daley said.

Along with attracting even funnier acts, the producers have jumped ship from CVM to TVJ where they are expecting more veiwership. The programme will not only be airing on the station but TVJ is the titlesponsor.

"People at the station house weren't backing it as much as they should. They have a bigger market share and will be responsible for the show," Daley said.

Changes this year

Daley said the changes this year will be an upgrade from last season. The episodes were produced solely by him and Lewis then passed on to the station to be aired. With TVJ as the title sponsor, he said Comedy Buss should benefit from better production and better promotional campaigns.

The prizes are not anything to joke about either. As it is now, the winner will be the last one laughing when he leaves the competition with $350,000 cash, a trip to Trinidad and Tobago to participate in the comedic festival and other great treats.

Comedy Buss is responsible for bringing comedians such as Leighton Smith, Rohan Gunter and Keith 'Shebada' Ramsey out of anonymity to fame.

"I was not surprised, just happy. I was not worried people didn't like the comedic level. They took the time to watch and that means it was working," Daley said of last year's show.

The Comedy Buss, which is Jamaica's first televised stand-up comedy series, has now left the terminus and is scheduled to make its first stop at the Island Village in Ocho Rios on Saturday, August 11.

Four auditions

In all, there will be four auditions across the country, the remaining ones to be held at Pier One in Montego Bay on August 18, the Neville Anthony Park in Port Antonio on August 25, and finally at the Oakton Park in Half-Way Tree on September 1. Audrey Reid and Winston Bell will be the judges for the audition round.

Viewers and fans across the island will be able to get in on the action from their living rooms as the show will be aired on TVJ starting on Tuesday, September 18, and will air every Tuesday after at 9:00 p.m. for an hour.