Canadian comic Harland Williams has been hired by U.S. cable channel TBS to host The TBS Comedy Roadshow, an upcoming vaudeville-themed reality TV series.

The Time Warner channel bought a half-hour pilot from TBS Productions that features Williams (Dumb & Dumber, Rocketman) in a cross-country search of regional theaters and vaudeville shows for the funniest American.

Williams, who has done solo stand-up shows for the CBC and CTV, is based in Los Angeles.

The Toronto-born funnyman will return home in summer 2009 to direct Wingman, the $10-million Canadian comedy that he co-wrote, and which is to be produced by Toronto-based Stardust Pictures.

Williams’ other upcoming gigs include voicing work on the DreamWorks animated comedy Route 66. He is repped by APA Artists Management.