He is undisputedly the "king of comedy" in Bollywood today having regaled cinegoers with his unique brand of humour in hundreds of films over the last more than two decades.

Now, in the silver jubilee year of his stint in Bollywood, the "superstar of comedy" Johny Lever is all set to send TV viewers into splits with his new comedy serial 'Johny Ala Re', his first ever show on the small screen.

Premiering on Zee TV on June 5 at 2200hrs, 'Johny Ala Re' will have Johny Lever indulge in mimicry, spoofs and meet celebrities in his own style.

To be aired every week from Mondays to Wednesdays at 2200hrs, the series is being produced by Akashdeep and Sheeba's cinetek telefilms private limited.

Speaking at a press conference in the capital last night to announce the launch of the serial, senior vice president, programming, Zee TV, Ashvini Yardi said the introduction of the comedy series was to consolidate Zee's position as the number two channel in India by strengthening the prime time slot on weekdays which already has 'Saat Phere' at 2100hrs.

''Till now we have been concentrating on game shows. I is after a long time, nearly four to five years, that we have come up with a comedy show,''she said.

On the choice of Johny Lever, she said,''Johny Lever is a comedian par excellence. The best part of doing a show with Johny is that he makes you laugh by just being around. We have also lined up several lively celebrities that go with the flavour of the show.

Johny will meet them in his own comical manner, ensuring that the audience are in slits, rolling in the aisles.'' On his part, Johny Lever promised that he would leave no stone unturned in infusing laughter in the lives of TV viewers.

''This is my first series on television. I have been wanting to do a TV show for a long time. There have been offers too to do comedy shows on television. For example, ten years ago Sony approached me to do their show 'Movers and Shakers'.

But at that time I was too busy in films to be able to devote time to working on a TV show which I felt required putting up a lot of hard work, more than that for films. Then a few years ago also I received a few offers which I turned down for similar reasons,''Johny said.