MySpace comedy community gets the joke

More than 7,500 comedians have signed up to MySpace Comedy

The MySpace social networking site is having a laugh by adding a community designed especially for comedians. 

The launch of the new MySpace Comedy channel is in partnership with The Improv comedy club chain and is designed to mix user-generated content with branded creative material.

As part of the deal, MySpace will provide exclusive material such as behind-the-scenes footage from Improv clubs throughout the US.

"MySpace has revolutionised the way comics reach fans and market themselves on the internet," said Joe Rogan, stand-up comic and host of NBC's Fear Factor. 

"The community offers a fantastic resource for promoting gigs and letting people see what your comedy is all about before they ever commit to seeing a show."

MySpace said that more than 7,500 comedians had already signed up to use the new tools, which allow comedians to post tour dates, share audio or video clips and interact with fans.

The Comedy section also plans to highlight events in the US, collect funny viral videos posted anywhere on MySpace and offer forums for comedy fans to chat.

MySpace president and co-founder Tom Anderson claimed that comedians had been working MySpace into their routines and giving out their web addresses since as early as 2004. 

"It was a no-brainer to make a Comedy section with features designed especially for comedians," he said.

"It is our hope that MySpace Comedy, much like MySpace Music and MySpace Film before it, will serve as a launch pad for up-and-coming comedians and as an attraction for the biggest names in the industry."