Epix is doing more than tossing their hat into the comedy ring by airing several comedy specials featuring Jefferies, Lewis Black, Kevin Smith, Jim Norton, and more.

Also, they’re going to have a panel special a la The Green Room with Paul Provenza on HBO/Talking Funny on Showtime, with Ben Stiller, Ben Stiller’s All-Star Comedy Roundtable with Chris Rock and Jim Carrey, moderated by Bill Hader.

ALSO, they’re going to have a Best of Amnesty International’s Secret Policeman’s Ball, which, by all accounts, was fantastic with Bob Odenkirk, David Cross, Hannibal Buress, and much much more.

At this point, we’d say that Epix has more thrown down a comedy gauntlet.