Second City is partnering with CBC on the talent contest Canada’s Next Comedy Legend, which starts auditions March 20 in Vancouver.

‘This is a great opportunity for us to truly find some real talent and to have some fun with the form,’ says Second City CEO Andrew Alexander, on the phone from Chicago, where the famed comedy troupe is headquartered.

Alexander exec produces with Morgan Elliott of Suddenly SeeMore… Productions (Strip Search). He thought of the idea a year ago after being ‘inundated with American reality TV’ and approached CBC execs Fred Fuchs and Anton Leo.

‘They liked it immediately. It was a very quick response and we flushed it out a bit and made the deal,’ recalls Alexander.

The first two episodes of the 8 x 60 show will feature the audition process, which begins in Vancouver, followed by Calgary, Halifax and lastly Toronto, where the finale will be produced on The Second City stage. The budget is $2.5 million.

‘In Toronto, they’ll be participating in a two-week intensive session and at the end there will be one person left standing,’ explains Elliott, pointing out that contestants will audition as individuals, but finalists will work together in sketch comedy groups.

Former WWE wrestler Trish Stratus is confirmed as host, while the judges are comprised of Second City alums Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty, Elvira Kurt and Mick Napier.

‘There are a lot of people out there with raw talent that are not taking workshops because there are no Second City’s out west or in Halifax,’ says Alexander, adding that ‘this is a unique opportunity.’

The series will turn around quickly and go to air on CBC on July 3.