Comic Sam Seber hosts

A pilot edition of the American remake of Have I Got News For You has been taped in New York.

Comedian Sam Seder, pictured was chosen to host the show, which is being tested for a possible series on the NBC network.

Seder, 42, is a presenter on liberal radio station Air America, and was once asked to leave a Republican convention because he was trying to find a gay Republican on the convention floor.

The team captains were acclaimed stand-ups Greg Giraldo and Michael Ian Black.

Giraldo, 43, is known for his ranting style. He has recorded two half-hour specials for Comedy Central and is a regular on Lewis Black’s topical US debate show Root of All Evil.

Black, 38, co-wrote the film Run, Fat Boy, Run with Simon Pegg and was guest host of CBS’s The Late Late Show for a while, although lost the permanent job to Craig Ferguson.

Jimmy Mulville, of producers Hat Trick, Twittered after last Friday’s recording: ‘ Just finished the recording of tne pilot of HIGNFY US. They were fantastic.’

And here is what the set looks like – an image Seder himself uploaded onto the web:

Meanwhile, rail workers’ leader Bob Crow is to become the first trade union official to appear on the UK version of the show.

The controversial general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union will be a guest panellist this Friday, opposite Jimmy Carr and host Alexander Armstrong.

Published: 25 Nov 2009