Electus acquires Ukrainian comedy format

US multiplatform studio Electus has acquired comedy panel format Crack Them Up from vendor Eccho Rights.

Electus has taken Stateside rights to the Ukrainian format. Former 3Ball producer Barry Poznick’s Barracuda TV is attached to the show.

Crack Them Up comes from Ukraine’s Studio Kvartal 95 and was originally produced for Inter TV. It has been remade in Russia, Lithuania and Belarus, and the local Chinese version is the number one show in its timeslot for mainland broadcaster Jiangxi, according to Eccho.

“The success of Crack Them Up in China proves that this comedy format is universal and will work in any territory,” said Nicola Söderlund, managing partner at Eccho Rights.

In Germany, DEF has optioned the format, while Finland’s Nelonen Media has done the same.