'CHEERS' STARS GEORGE WENDT AND JOHN RATZENBERGER RETURN TO NBC TO SCOUT FOR TALENT IN NASHVILLE, WHILE KATE FLANNERY AND BRIAN BAUMGARTNER FROM 'THE OFFICE' SCOUT FOR TALENT IN MINNEAPOLIS IN THE LAST OF THE U.S. AUDITION EPISODES ON NBC�S 'LAST COMIC STANDING,' AIRING THURSDAY, JUNE 12 (8:30-10 P.M. ET)

BURBANK, Calif. � June 10, 2008 � America's top comics have only one more shot at comedy's biggest prize as NBC's "Last Comic Standing" airs its final U.S. audition episode on Thursday, June 12 (8:30-10:00 p.m. ET). "Cheers" stars George Wendt and John Ratzenberger return to NBC to scout for comics, along with "The Office" stars Brian Baumgartner and Kate Flannery.

This year's celebrity talent scouts � all comedy stars from NBC hit shows past and present � have been north, south, east, west and everywhere in between searching for the funniest comedians in the country. The show's last two U.S. stops will take George Wendt and John Ratzenberger, who played barflies Norm and Cliff on "Cheers," to Nashville, while Kate Flannery and Brian Baumgartner, who play Meredith and Kevin on "The Office," will go looking for laughs in Minneapolis. Viewers will see who the last group of U.S. comics will be to compete for the coveted title of "Last Comic Standing."

On the next episode airing June 19, there will be one additional stop in Miami, the host city for comedians coming in to audition from all over the globe. Then the best of the best will come to Las Vegas to perform for a huge crowd at the Paris Las Vegas, where the top 12 comedy acts will be chosen as finalists. They'll move on to the challenge rounds for a comedy showdown week by week, until the funniest comics return to the Paris Las Vegas for the finals and the finale. The "Last Comic Standing," as determined by America's vote, will win a $250,000 grand prize including an exclusive talent deal with NBC, a brand new Honda, and a starring appearance in Jubilee! at Bally's Las Vegas.

"Last Comic Standing" is produced by Peter Engel Productions and Universal Media Studios. The executive producers are Peter Engel ("Saved By the Bell," "The Next Best Thing"), David Friedman (NBC's "Last Call with Carson Daly," "NBC's New Years Eve with Carson Daly") and Barry Katz ("Action," "Dane Cook's Tourgasm"). Javier Winnik (NBC's "The Singing Bee"), Page Hurwitz ("Last Comic Standing 4 & 5") and Noel Guerra (Bravo's "Project Runway") are co-executive producers.