Cynopsis
05. 07 .10
UPFRONT 2010: COMEDY CENTRAL
Comedy Central offers up an eclectic development slate for 2010-2011. The network's series in production (including some previously announced series) includes:
* Futurama - The futuristic animated comedy is back on Comedy Central with 12 new episodes produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television with animation by Rough Draft Studios, Inc. Premieres July 24.
* Russell Simmons Presents: Stand-Up at the El Rey - A unique stand-up show with a hip hop groove hosted by JB Smoove. Each episode features three aspiring comics and music created by DJ Cassidy. Premieres July 11.
* Big Lake - Chris Gethard stars as Josh Franklin, a young guy in pursuit of his dreams even though he's lost his job and lives with his parents. Series also stars Horatio Sanz and Chris Parnell as his buddies. Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy are executive producing. Premieres in August.
* Nick Swardson's Pretend Time - Sketch show featuring stand-up comedian Nick Swardson of RENO 911 fame and two Comedy Central Presents stand-up specials and his own one-hour special. The show will feature irreverent sketches, digital shorts and a segment called Gay Robot. From Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions and Sony Pictures Television. Premieres in October.
* The Onion Sports Network (wt) - Half-hour scripted comedy from The Onion offering sports coverage encompassing the whole spectrum of modern sports - the teams, players, leagues, fans and ridiculous products and hyped coverage. Premieres in January 2011.
* Workaholics - Workplace comedy from the cheeky online sketch group Mail Order Comedy about three guy friends who work together and live together. Series stars Adam Devine, Anders Holm and Blake Anderson. Premieres February 2011.
Comedy Central's pilots/presentations (all titles are working titles):
* Highdeas - Comedy reality show based on the website highdeas.com, where the series' comedic co-hosts explore the type of questions that can only come from stoners. From Embassy Row.
* Jon Benjamin Has a Van - Investigative reporter Jon Benjamin offers his version of human interest stories in this newsmagazine-style sketch program.
* Live Sex Show - Hosts comedian Bert Kreischer and Maxim model Layla Kayleigh lead a weekly interactive panel show that casts a comic eye at all things related to sex. Viewers will be able to interact via Skype, Twitter, email and text.
* Patrice Oneal's Guide to White People - Show offers Patrice Oneals unique take on race relations.
* Rich Dicks - Inspired by the Funny or Die web short, Nick Kroll and Jon Daly star as two obnoxious rich guys who party in L.A. with help from their nanny Consuela.
* Steel Panther - A loosely scripted docu-reality show follows the '80s band Steel Panther which is a parody heavy metal band from Los Angeles.
* This Show Will Get You High - Sketch show of video shorts highlight the next group of stars coming from the famous Upright Citizens Brigade Theater which was founded by Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Matt Walsh and Ian Roberts.
* Untitled Andre Hyland Project - New talent Andre Hyland stars in this mockumentary-style sketch show that is described as a cross between Monty Python and Jackass.
* Untitled Bill Burr/Kevin Hart Pilot - Burr and Hart, both stand-up comedians, star in this half-hour scripted comedy offering a modern-day version of The Odd Couple. From 3Arts Entertainment.
Comedy Central script/paper development projects (all titles are working titles):
* A**Holes - Scripted half-hour comedy series that presents the biggest a**holes in the world - Jeff and Geoff, two 20-something roommates.
* The Fuzz - Police procedural series set in a rough city where humans and puppets live together. Five webisodes have also been approved to air on Comedy Central's sister network, Atom.com this year. From 3Arts Entertainment.
* Intercourse with Whitney Cummings - Half-hour scripted narrative comedy journeys with comedienne Whitney Cummings and her adventures in dating and sex.
* JC - Half-hour animated show about JC (aka Jesus Christ) who wants to live life as an ordinary guy in NYC. From Reveille.
* The Jim Jeffries Show - Australian stand-up comedian Jim Jeffries stars in this half-hour narrative about his new life in the US.
* Joe Squad - Based on classic Saturday morning superhero cartoons, the series features an elite team who want to save the world.
* Mars - Eric Slovin and Leo Allen serve up a comedic vision of life on a space station. From American Work, Inc.
* Midnight Drop Box - A comedic take on Tales from the Crypt, this stoner-horror anthology features eccentric stories paired with comedy guest stars. Each story is bookended by "The Hoster" who introduces the episodes from a haunted video store in an abandoned mini-mall.
* Nocturnal Mission - Live-action comedy stars up-and-comer Chris D'Eilia who has been sent to Earth to save the planet. Project also stars emerging talent Moshe Kasher, playing a nerd who is charged with impregnating as many women as possible. From 3Arts Entertainment.
* Supermax - Animated series where a group of well-known inmates learn to live and love inside a maximum security prison in Colorado.
* Untitled Broken Lizard Minor-League Umpires Project - Series about four minor-league umpires as they travel from game to game in California. From 3Arts Entertainment.
* Untitled Reggie Watts Project - Currently opening for Conan O'Brien on tour, multi-talented Reggie Watts is partnering with Comedy Central on this new project.
* Waiting . . . - Based on the hit movie of the same name, this series follows the employees at Shenaniganz restaurant.
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A&E Network goes into the upfronts ranking as the fourth largest entertainment cable network with A18-49. Currently, A&E has 55% original programming in primetime using the brand "Real Life. Drama."
A&E serves up eight new unscripted series for the next season:
* I'm Heavy (wt) - Series follows the journey of individuals who have struggled with their weight as they go through a six-month weight loss program. The series is filmed at two different facilities by two different production companies. The South Carolina episodes are produced by Tijuana Entertainment while the Texas episodes are produced by Megalomedia Inc. Ten one-hour episodes launch in 2011.
* The Peacemaker - Series focuses on Malik Spellman, a violence prevention counselor by day in South Central, Los Angeles while at night he works to bring peace to the area. Ice-T serves as executive producer with OOG Productions producing. Five half-hour episodes premieres 4Q 2010.
* The Untitled David Hasselhoff Project - Actor David Hasselhoff will open up his real-life as a single dad to two teenage daughters in this reality series. FremantleMedia North America is producing with ten half-hour episodes scheduled to debut in 4Q 2010.
* The Squad: Prison Police - Series follows a team of trained special agents who respond and investigate crimes within the Tennessee prison system. Produced by Wild Eyes Productions; ten half-hour episodes premiere 3Q 2010.
* Strange Days with Bob Saget - Bob Saget hits the road utilizing his unique comedic observations about the people, cultures and traditions he encounters. Tijuana Entertainment and Brillstein Entertainment Partners are producing with six one-hour episodes slated to premiere in 2010.
* Growing Up Twisted (wt) - Series centers on Dee Snider, front man of the heavy metal band Twisted Sister. His wife Suzette and their four kids are also involved in the series. Produced by Evolution Media; seven half-hour episodes will debut 3Q 2010.
* Teach: Tony Danza (wt) - Multi-talented Tony Danza harks back to his original dream job, that of being a teacher. The actor and former talk show host takes on the job as a first-year English teacher for sophomore students at Northeast High School in Philadelphia. The series is produced by Leslie Greif's Boutique TV; seven one-hour episodes will premiere in 2010.
* Intervention In Depth: One Man Rehab (wt) - A dramatic series of specials examines what happens after the intervention. GRB Productions produces; five one-hour episodes will open in 3Q 2010.
A&E has one scripted series:
* The Glades - Police procedural drama set in Florida starring Matt Passmore, Kiele Sanchez and Carlos Gomez. Passmore leads as Jim Longworth, a handsome and smart Chicago homicide detective who is wrongfully accused of committing adultery with his captain's wife. He is forced to relocate and lands in the small, nowhere town of Palm Glade, near the Florida Everglades. Fox Television Studios is producing 13 one-hour episodes launching this July.
A&E has several scripted projects in development:
* Coma - Miniseries based on a modern-day adaptation of the novel by Robin Cook and the film by Michael Crichton. Coma is being developed by executive producers Ridley Scott, Tony Scott and David W. Zucker for Scott Free Productions.
* Criminology - Crime procedural about a brilliant psychology professor, Sarah O'Rourke who is enlisted by a local detective, John Acer to help on an unsolved case. This project is being developed by executive producers Ridley Scott, Tony Scott and David W. Zucker for Scott Free Productions. W. Blake Herron is writing the script.
* Big Mike - About a detective who is plus-sized and a force of nature in the San Diego PD. The project is being developed by Sony Pictures Television and executive produced by Doug Robinson for Happy Madison Productions. Ed Decter and John Strauss will executive produce and pen the script.
* American Crime - Plot is about two FBI agents, one female and one male who are partners and sent to unusual locales of the country to work with local police to solve crimes. ABC Studios is developing the project; executive produced by Mark Gordon and Deb Spera. Diana Son and Tanya Wexler are also executive producing and writing.
* Hazel Rhodes - Hazel Rhodes is a brash-talking and quick-minded homicide detective working in Nashville. ABC Studios is developing the project and it is executive produced and written by Daniel Cerone.
A&E is returning several unscripted series:
* Intervention - Season nine with 18 60m episodes premieres June 28 at 9p. From GRB Productions.
* Obsessed - Season two with ten 60m episodes premieres June 28 at 10p. From Tijuana Entertainment.
* Hoarders - Season three with 20 60m episodes premieres 4Q 2010. From Screaming Flea Productions.
* Billy The Exterminator - Season three with 16 30m episodes premieres 4Q 2010. From September Films, a division of DCD Media.
* The First 48 - Season 11 with 20 60m episodes open 3Q 2010. From Granada America.
* Criss Angel Mindfreak - Season six with six 60m episodes will open 3Q 2010. From Angel Productions Worldwide Incorporated and Baram Productions.
* Dog the Bounty Hunter - Season seven with 26 30m episodes will launch 4Q 2010. From Hybrid Films.
* Gene Simmons Family Jewels - Season six will premiere 4Q 2010. From The Greif Company and the Gene Simmons Company.
* Parking Wars - Season four with 13 30m episodes will open 4Q 2010. From Hybrid Films.
* Manhunters: Fugitive Task Force - Season three with 15 60m episodes premiere in 1Q 2011. From Stars & Stripes Media, Inc.
* Paranormal State - Season five with 20 30m episodes will premiere 4Q 2010. From Go Go Luckey and Four Seasons Productions/Picture Shack Entertainment.
* Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal - Season three with seven 60m episodes will open 4Q 2010. From Picture Shack Entertainment.
