PRESS RELEASE: LEGIONNAIRES OF LAUGHTER, FOUNDED BY JERRY LEWIS HOLDS INAUGURAL AWARDS CEREMONY HONORING COMEDIANS CONTRIBUTIONS TO HUMANITY

COMEDIAN, KEN JEONG TO HOST, DECEMBER 10TH IN NEW YORK CITY

New York, NY (October 15, 2018) — Legionnaires of Laughter (LOL), the Late Jerry Lewis founded Academy of Comedians to honor comedy’s contribution to humanity, announced today is its first-ever Legacy Awards, happening December 10th, 2018 at Cipriani Wall Street in Downtown New York City. The evening will be hosted by comedian Ken Jeong and will include several special performances and special guest appearances.

“As comedians, we learn from the ones who came before us. From the uncle who asks us to pull his finger at our 5th birthday party, to the legends who broke ground in the art form of comedy and showed us where to find our funny bone. I wanted comedians to understand that it is not how long your funny bone lasts, it is what you do with it. I want ‘The Legionnaires of Laughter Legacy Awards to be the ‘Oscars for Comedy.’ Representing all forms of comedy from standup, film, tv, theatrical, to web-based. I want those who have carried the baton of comedy and those who will continue to, to have the opportunity to be celebrated for their work. Comedy is hard and not many can do it well. And it isn’t valued by the other awards properly. It needs its own Awards nominated and voted on by its own,” said the late Jerry Lewis.

The inaugural event was founded by the late King of Comedy, to celebrate his peers and honor their efforts and achievements in the comedy arena. The evening will recognize comedians in a number of categories and are voted on by an exclusive group of 130 comedians, inducted by Jerry Lewis as the first Legionnaires in the LOL Academy. The categories include:

● LOL Lifetime Achievement Award
● Achievement Award in Comedy Social Impact
● Best Stand Up Comedian Male
● Best Stand Up Comedian Female
● Best Children’s Comedy Artist Male
● Best Children’s Comedy Artist Female
● Best Comedy Musical
● Best Children’s Comedy Writer
● Best Comedy Musical/Theatrical Male Actor
● Best Comedy Musical/Theatrical Female Actress
● Best Children’s Comedy Television Program
● Best Children’s Comedy Film
● Best Comedy Artist Male
● Best Comedy Artist Female
● Best Children’s Comedy Web Series
● Best Political Comedy Artist of Group
● Best Comedy Writer
● Best Political Comedy Writer
● Best Comedy Television Program
● Best Political Comedy Television Program
● Best Comedy Film
● Best Political Comedy Film
● Best Comedy Web Series

Legionnaires of Laughter’s Legacy Awards are executive produced by Emmy & Grammy Award winning producer, Rikki Hughes; Veteran Entertainment Executive Barry Florence; and Australian film producer, Louise Schultze.

Profits from sponsorship of the evening will be donated to Jerry Lewis’ charity, Jerry’s House. Legionnaires of Laughter Legacy Awards is proudly brought to you by Australian Production House, BDC Entertainment, Magic Lemonade Productions, Magnify, Yes Captain (SFX), DWA Entertainment Lawyers, GSM Entertainment, Star Group AV, R.S. Owens, KMG Jewelry, Cipriani, Baldessari & Coster LLP, Stewart Falconer Design & Illustration, David Windsor Legal, Bader Media Group, Impulse Event Group and Pamela Taylor Hair & Makeup.

For more information please visit https://legionnairesoflaughter.com/

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About the Legionnaires of Laughter
The King of Comedy, the late Jerry Lewis, called upon the world’s best in comedy to join him in 2017 to launch the inaugural Legionnaires of Laughter Academy and Legacy Awards. A night to celebrate his peers and honor their contribution to humanity. In a world that needs joy now more than ever, it is extremely timely to honor each of these comedians for their achievements in making a difference in the everyday lives of mankind.

On this night one Legionnaire will also be awarded with the lifetime achievement award for their work in achieving a global impact and creating positive change through laughter, amongst over 20 more awards in global comedy.

This event is set to be the most prestigious honor award nights in comedy. A legacy Jerry Lewis was proud to leave behind.

A huge Congratulations to Rikki Hughes, our Executive Producer on The Legionnaires Of Laughter Legacy Awards. Rikki has won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) for her work as Supervising Producer on Dave Chappelle: Equanimity for Netflix at the 2018 Creative Arts Emmy Awards! #emmys

Dr. Ken Jeong has wowed audiences around the globe with his stand up and Film/TV comedy presence for over 20 years. Ken’s unique style in slapstick, self-deprecating and cross cultural humor bridges the divide and keeps us laughing on the stage, in front of and behind the camera with over 200 credits.

He is a multi-platform, multi-award winning artist and the highest grossing film comedian with the Hangover trilogy, which has earned over $1Billion to date.

It is a true honor to have Ken represent all that comedy is around the world by hosting the inaugural Legionnaires of Laughter Legacy Awards.

Credits – A veteran Producer of comedy specials, award shows, and features. Executive Producer of Dear Mama, a Mother’s Day special for VH1, The ABFF Awards: A Celebration Of Hollywood for BET, The highly anticipated ‘The Age O Spin’ Dave Chappelle Comedy Special and The Feature Digital Lives Matter. Producer of four more comedy specials with Dave Chappelle for Netflix, ‘Equanimity’ and ‘The Bird Revelation’, A comedy series for HBO, All Def Comedy and the 2018 Executive Producer of The ABFF Honors.

Credits – 30yrs experience in leading International Markets in Entertainment, Strategic Planning, Public Relations and Celebrity Engagement. Working with and branding A-List entertainers; Ludacris, Ne-Yo, Nicki Minaj, Nelly, Usher, Heather Hunter, Monica, Kenya Moore, Eudoxie Bridges. Executive Producing The Andrew J Young Leadership Awards.  Executive consulting on Compound Foundation, HerShe Group, CED Group, Rolling Out Magazine, and VIBE Magazine Awards. Consulting on BET Comedy Awards, BET Music Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards, to name a few.

Credits – Distribution and Exhibition Management at Palace Cinemas and Palace Films. Senior Executive Producer for Australian Production House Writing and producing for comedy legends Jerry Lewis, Colin Mochrie, Brad Sherwood. Producing and writing children’s television comedy and new multimedia around the globe. Creator of SIM Videos (Social Impact Music Videos), making music videos global issues with Number One music artists from around the world.