Thirteen/WNET and Ghost Light films named Billy Crystal host of the new documentary series Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America. The six-hour documentary, which will air in January 2009, will explore the tropes of American comedy and chronicle its evolution.

The comedian will appear in the opening of each episode and introduce viewers to the funniest moments in American entertainment. Some of the comedic talents that will be featured include: Charlie Chaplin, Jack Benny, Abbott & Costello, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Sid Caesar, Anne Beatts, Woody Allen, Larry Wilmore, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Richard Lewis, Jon Stewart, and Chris Rock.

I think this will be both an important and immensely entertaining documentary series. I like how they are focusing on comedians of present day too -- like Jon Stewart of The Daily Show and Chris Rock who has his fifth HBO special airing this fall. Do you have a comedian you think should be included in this series?

And Billy Crystal is the perfect host. The series creator Michael Kantor calls Crystal "a real national treasure." Kantor also points to the Oscars as evidence of the comedian's engaging hosting abilities. He says, "As host of the Oscars, he made the programs unforgettable-no-one can make 'em laugh like Billy Crystal."