COMIC TELETHON CASHES IN

Laughter may not be a cure-all, but it is apparently a wallet-opener.

The star-studded Comic Relief 2006 telethon raised $4 million in pledges to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims, Comic Relief president and founder Bob Zmuda announced Wednesday

This year's philanthropic laugh-fest, back on HBO after an eight-year hiatus, tapped original hosts Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams to emcee the event for the ninth time. Additionally, a cleaned-up version of the show, televised live from Caesars Palace on Saturday, aired on TBS with an eight-second delay.

Wayne Brady hosted a remote feed from Harrah's New Orleans. The Harrah's Foundation also donated $250,000 to the relief effort.

Witty celebs ranging from Roseanne Barr and Jimmy Kimmel to Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert—who promised via satellite to match every dollar raised with one Colbuck, which is good anywhere in The Colbert Report studio—worked their darndest to ensure that there was nary a dull moment during the ninth major telecast of Comic Relief, which capped off Las Vegas' weeklong Comedy Festival.

Comic Relief also marked its 20th anniversary as an organization this year. The charity, founded by Zmuda, who is a comedian himself, began as a benefit for Sudanese refugees that aired on the BBC in 1985. Since then, more than 80 telecasts have been produced, including the eight big events on HBO over the years that together have raised more than $50 million.

The funds raised Saturday have been earmarked to help families from New Orleans' devastated lower Ninth Word find low-cost housing, as well as to help care for animals abandoned during Hurricane Katrina and aid future animal rescue operations during times of natural disaster.

Bill Maher, Sarah Silverman, George Lopez, Ray Romano, D.L. Hughley, Rebecca Romijn, Rita Rudner, Lewis Black, Louis C.K., Steve Schirripa, the main Entourage crew (Jeremy Piven, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon and Jerry Ferrara), and Doug Savant, James Denton and Ricardo Chavira from Desperate Housewives were also on hand to discuss the ravages of Katrina and, of course, make people laugh.

Howie Mandel, Stewart and Colbert, and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog dropped by, as well, via video.