THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2006
GOVERNOR TOM VILSACK TO APPEAR ON "THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART" MONDAY, DECEMBER 18 AT 11:00 P.M.
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"Indecision 2008" Begins As First Announced Candidate Makes His Way To Stewart's New York Studio
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NEW YORK, December 14, 2006 -- Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack will make his first appearance as a guest on THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART on Monday, December 18 at 11:00pm (ET/PT). Governor Vilsack recently was the first to announce his intentions to run for the 2008 Democratic nomination for President of the United States.
Governor Vilsack was elected as Iowa's 39th Governor in 1998, the first Democratic governor of the state in more than 30 years. He was re-elected to a second four-year term in 2002. Under Governor Vilsack's leadership, the state has enjoyed a record number of employed Iowans, has made significant investments in Iowa's education system, has increased the number of Iowans with health care coverage, and is a national leader in renewable energy, with the state now leading the nation in producing ethanol and biodiesel and ranking third in the nation in wind energy production. As Chair of the Democratic Leadership Council and former Chair of the Democratic Governors Association, he is a recognized national leader on education, healthcare, economic development and renewable energy. Governor Vilsack will leave office in January of 2007, fulfilling a 1998 campaign promise to serve only two terms, to seek the 2008 Democratic nomination for President (www.tomvilsack08.com).
Other politicians who have appeared on THE DAILY SHOW include former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, former Vice President Al Gore, Senators John McCain, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama, Joseph Lieberman, John Kerry, Joe Biden, Bob Kerrey, Charles Schumer, Norm Coleman, Arlen Specter, Ted Kennedy, Trent Lott, Rick Santorum, Russ Feingold, Barbara Boxer, Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Rahm Emanuel, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Senator John Edwards, who announced his intention to run for the 2004 Democratic nomination during an appearance on THE DAILY SHOW on September 15, 2003. In addition, General Pervez Musharraf, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, was Stewart's guest on September 26, 2006, marking the first time a sitting head of state had appeared on the show.
The nine-time Emmy and two-time Peabody Award-winning THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART was launched in the summer of 1996. The nightly news satire takes a reality-based look at news, trends, pop culture, current events, politics, sports, entertainment and the media. In each show, Stewart and a team of correspondents, including Dan Bakkedahl, Samantha Bee, Jason Jones, John Oliver and Rob Riggle, comment on the day's stories employing actual news footage, taped field pieces, in-studio guests and on-the-spot coverage of important news events.
Jon Stewart and Ben Karlin are the executive producers of THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART with Kahane Corn, Josh Lieb and Dan Sterling serving as co-executive producers. The series' head writer is David Javerbaum who is also supervising producer. Chuck O'Neil is the director.
Each episode of THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART repeats at 1:00am the same night and at 8:00am, 2:00om, and 8:00pm the following day.
COMEDY CENTRAL, the only all-comedy network, currently is seen in more than 90 million homes nationwide. COMEDY CENTRAL is owned by, and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of VIACOM Inc.'s (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) MTV Networks. COMEDY CENTRAL's Internet address is www.comedycentral.com. For up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs visit COMEDY CENTRAL's press-only Web site at www.comedycentral.com/press.
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2006
LARRY THE CABLE GUY CONNECTS WITH COMEDY CENTRAL® FOR ANIMATED PILOT
NEW YORK, December 13, 2006 -- Larry the Cable Guy will bring his well-known and distinctive sense of humor to a half-hour animated pilot with COMEDY CENTRAL, it was announced today by Lauren Corrao, executive vice president, original programming and development, COMEDY CENTRAL.
Created and written by Larry the Cable Guy, Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow, the pilot stars Larry the Cable Guy as a misguided but well-intentioned co-owner of a cable TV station. The station's other owner is a woman of class and taste who does not share his vision for programming, preferring instead a more traditional station line-up to Larry's experimental, half-baked show ideas. They seldom agree on anything but she is stuck with Larry and his push-the-envelope programs.
"Larry the Cable Guy's humor continues to resonate with the COMEDY CENTRAL audience and we're very excited to extend our relationship with him through this animated pilot," said Corrao. "His unique voice and heightened characterization should translate very nicely into the world of animation and what better form of flattery than to create an animated character based on one of Blue Collar comedy's mainstays."
"I am very excited about this animated project," said Larry the Cable Guy. "COMEDY CENTRAL has always been good to me and I thank them for giving me the opportunity, once again, to live up to their low expectations."
The pilot will be executive produced by Larry the Cable Guy, J.P. Williams, Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow. Jim Sharp is the executive in charge of production for COMEDY CENTRAL. This deal was brokered by Abel Lezcano of Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein and Lezcano and CAA.
Larry the Cable Guy has built a successful, multi-faceted career that includes his Grammy-nominated and Gold-selling album, "The Right to Bear Arms," his best-selling book, "Git-R-Done," "Blue Collar TV" for The WB television network and the hugely successful "Blue Collar Comedy Tour" concert films. He also starred in "Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector" and provided the voice for "Mater" in the hit Disney-Pixar animated feature, "Cars."
In addition to the animated pilot for COMEDY CENTRAL, Larry the Cable Guy is slated to star in the 2007 theatrical release, "Delta Farce," and recently taped his own one-hour, stand-up special for COMEDY CENTRAL which will premiere next summer.
Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow have written several feature films including the Disney-Pixar animated feature "Toy Story," "Money Talks" starring Chris Tucker and Charlie Sheen, "Goodbye Lover," which starred Patricia Arquette, Dermot Mulroney, Mary-Louise Parker and Don Johnson, and "Cheaper by the Dozen," starring Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt.
COMEDY CENTRAL's successful history with Blue Collar programming began with the November 2003 Network Television Premiere of the concert film "Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie," which drew over two million viewers. In 2005 the franchise really exploded, first with the World Premiere of the film's sequel, "Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again," which debuted in February and drew a phenomenal 6.1 million viewers. "The COMEDY CENTRAL Roast of Jeff Foxworthy," featuring Bill Engvall, Ron White and Larry the Cable Guy as Roastmasters, followed in March and pulled in an even better 6.2 million viewers. These two programs stand as the 2nd and 3rd most watched programs in COMEDY CENTRAL's history, trailing only the April 1998 episode of "South Park" in which the identity of Cartman's father was revealed.
In June 2006, 5.3 million viewers tuned in to COMEDY CENTRAL for the World Premiere of the Grammy-nominated "Blue Collar Comedy Tour: One for the Road," the final installment in the concert film trilogy. The program ranks as the 5th most watched program in COMEDY CENTRAL's history, coloring the network's Top 5 list a distinctive shade of Blue.
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2006
COMEDY CENTRAL" HIRES CATHERINE MORAN AS VICE PRESIDENT, CONSUMER AND TRADE MARKETING
Lifetime Exec Assumes Post At COMEDY CENTRAL In New York
NEW YORK, December 4, 2006 -- COMEDY CENTRAL has named Catherine Moran vice president, consumer and trade marketing, it was announced by Peter Risafi, senior vice president, brand marketing/executive creative director, to whom Moran reports. Since 2004, she had been vice president, marketing at Lifetime Entertainment Services, where she oversaw strategic and media planning/buying for all Lifetime Networks. Moran will be based in the network's New York City offices.
In her new role, Moran will oversee every aspect of COMEDY CENTRAL's brand image. Her list of responsibilities includes advertising and media strategy, digital marketing initiatives and affiliate marketing.
"Catherine brings an impressive skill set and enormous wealth of experience to COMEDY CENTRAL," said Risafi. "She's a proven brand builder and has the vision and knowledge to make the network even more of a powerhouse in this digital and multiplatform world. I am very excited to welcome her to our team."
Prior to her stint at Lifetime, Moran worked at AMC Network as vice president, advertising/brand manager from 2002 to 2004. Before that, she rose through the ranks at USA Cable, starting in the marketing department at USA and SCI FI in 1993, becoming advertising manager at SCI FI in 1996. She was promoted to director of consumer advertising in 1999 and became acting vice president, marketing, SCI FI in 2001.
Moran sits on the current CTAM Marketing Council. She holds a BA from Bernard M. Baruch College, City University of New York.
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2006
COMEDY CENTRAL® DIALS UP THE WHITE HOUSE FOR NEW ANIMATED SERIES NETWORK GREENLIGHTS AMP'D MOBILE ORIGINAL "LIL' BUSH: RESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES"
For The First Time Original Mobile Programming Migrates To Television
NEW YORK / LOS ANGELES, December 4, 2006 -- COMEDY CENTRAL and Amp'd Mobile today announced that the original animated mobile series "LIL' BUSH: RESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES" is making the leap from mobile to television. The new series, which will be co-produced by comedy writer/producer Donick Cary, COMEDY CENTRAL and Amp'd Mobile, is scheduled to launch in 2007 and marks the first time that original content created for the mobile space has crossed over to a linear channel.
Beginning next year, "LIL' BUSH: RESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATE" will be a true multi-platform series. The show will air first on COMEDY CENTRAL and then it will return to Amp'd Mobile on COMEDY CENTRAL's mobile channel, where fans can also access phone wallpapers and unique character voicetones available for download only on Amp'd.
This landmark announcement and partnership between COMEDY CENTRAL and Amp'd Mobile redefines the traditional method by which creative artists and distribution channels collectively bring top programming to consumers and demonstrates how both COMEDY CENTRAL and Amp'd Mobile are trailblazers in the digital content arena. This deal further emphasizes COMEDY CENTRAL's commitment to creating multi-platform programming that reaches beyond the boundaries of television. With the launch of its original series on COMEDY CENTRAL, Amp'd Mobile entrenches itself as the premiere innovator in mobile entertainment with its finger on the pulse of the youth market.
"'LIL' BUSH' is one of the most innovative projects we've seen and a welcome addition to COMEDY CENTRAL's line-up," said Lauren Corrao, executive vice president, original programming and development, COMEDY CENTRAL. "We are thrilled to partner with Amp'd Mobile on this exciting venture - the first television series to be born out of an original mobile presentation. COMEDY CENTRAL is one of the leading networks in developing and producing original digital content and we will continue to delve further into this expanding medium to create multi-platform programming."
"COMEDY CENTRAL's pick-up of our first original project truly validates our commitment to quality content and we look forward to expanding our original programming lineup with the all-comedy network, Donick and other top Hollywood producers," said Seth Cummings, senior vice president of content development and programming for Amp'd Mobile. "Since our inception, we've been dedicated to executing our core competencies of being a mobile entertainment development studio and the leading broadband wireless provider for 18-35 customers."
"Whether on a cell phone or TV, some stories just demand to be told. The Bush family has been incredibly generous with their time in helping me to bring these powerfully moving stories to broadcast," said Donick Cary, series creator of "LIL' BUSH."
"LIL' BUSH: RESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES" is an Amp'd Mobile exclusive animated series featuring Lil' George and his Lil' White House posse including Lil' Condi, Lil' Rummy and the unintelligible, foulmouthed wisecracker, Lil' Cheney. They're like the Lil' Rascals with access to the A-Bomb; getting into mischief, learning stuff, and squaring off with their many rivals like Lil' Kim Jong Il and Lil' Saddam Hussein.
Since its debut earlier this fall, "LIL' BUSH" has rapidly gained momentum in the mobile and online space. Episodes from the series became the most viewed video content on Amp'd Mobile almost overnight and all episodes have remained atop the Amp'd video ratings since the series debut on September 1st. The series pilot was also rated the number one video viewed on Break.com throughout September.
About Amp'd Mobile
Amp'd Mobile is the first integrated mobile entertainment company for youth, young professionals and early adopters, and the only 3G carrier in the US specifically targeting that demographic. By leveraging the power of broadband wireless (EVDO), Amp'd Mobile offers traditional services such as voice and text within a completely fresh user interface designed specifically for the "mobile graduate" and third-generation (3G) technology. With a myriad of customizable options to meet each person's individual needs, as well as strategic alliances with top entertainment properties, such as MTVN and Universal Music Group, Amp'd Mobile brings a more relevant, personal experience to the wireless lifestyle with unique music, video, community, entertainment, sports and gaming offerings divided into various channels for quick and easy access. Amp'd Mobile is offered nationwide and more information can be found at www.ampd.com.
About COMEDY CENTRAL
COMEDY CENTRAL, the only all-comedy network, currently is seen in more than 90 million homes nationwide. COMEDY CENTRAL is owned by, and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of VIACOM Inc.'s (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) MTV Networks. COMEDY CENTRAL's Internet address is www.comedycentral.com. For up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs visit COMEDY CENTRAL's press-only Web site at www.comedycentral.com/press.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2006
RATINGS ALERT: Comedy Central Scores Highest Rated November in History With P18-49
COMEDY CENTRAL had much to be thankful for in November as the only all-comedy channel registered its highest rated November in history among P18-49 and marked its 8th consecutive month of Prime ratings growth.
Among individual series, November saw the completion of "South Park's" incredible 10th Season which finished as the #1 cable program in its timeslot among P18-49 and with all Male demos and has garnered the largest M18-34 audience of any basic cable original series this year.
November was also very, very good to Stephen Colbert (who earned a spot in PEOPLE magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" issue) and to "The Colbert Report" which was up an outstanding +36% in P18-49 viewers and +32% in P18-49 rating vs. November 2005, leading the late-night series' to the most watched and highest rated month in its history for this key demo.
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COMEDY CENTRAL Performance Highlights - November 2006
COMEDY CENTRAL averaged a 0.9 HH / 0.6 P18-49 rating (1.1 million Total Viewers P2+ / 600,000 P18-49 Viewers) in Prime for November 2006.
HH ratings are up +9%, P18-49 ratings are up +9%, Total Viewers (P2+) are up +12% and P18-49 Viewers are up +12% vs. November 2005.
The 0.6 P18-49 rating marks COMEDY CENTRAL's highest rated November in history and ranked #6 in prime among all basic cable networks.
November marks COMEDY CENTRAL's 8th consecutive month of Prime ratings growth.
November 2006 Programming Highlights
"South Park" - Fall Season (Season 10B: 10/04/06-11/15/06)
2.6 HH Rating (3.1 million Total Viewers P2+)
2.0 P18-49 Rating (2.1 million P18-49 Viewers)
"South Park's" Fall Season averaged a 2.6 HH (3.1 million Total Viewers P2+) and a 2.0 P18-49 rating (2.1 million P18-49 viewers).
"South Park" was the #1 cable program in its timeslot among P18-49 and with all Male demos.
HH ratings increased +18% and P18-49 ratings shot up +24% vs. the 2005 Fall Season (Season 9B). This led to a +22% increase in Total Viewers P2+ and an incredible +28% jump among P18-49 vs. Season 9B.
Season 10B attracted 1.0 million M18-34, +30% more than Season 9B, giving the series the largest M18-34 audience of any basic cable original series this year.
"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" - November 2006
1.4 HH Rating (1.7 million Total Viewers P2+)
1.0 P18-49 Rating (1.1 million P18-49 Viewers)
"The Daily Show" averaged a 1.4 HH (1.7 million Total Viewers P2+) and 1.0 P18-49 rating (1.1 million P18-49 Viewers) for its 11:00 p.m. premiere episodes.
The 1.0 P18-49 rating was +14% higher vs. November 2005 and marked the 2nd highest rated month for the demo in the award-wining series' history.
The 1.7 million Total Viewers (P2+) and 1.1 million P18-49 viewers increased +10% and +17%, respectively, vs. November 2005.
"The Colbert Report" - November 2006
1.1 HH Rating (1.3 million Total Viewers P2+)
0.8 P18-49 Rating (900,000 P18-49 Viewers)
"The Colbert Report" averaged a 1.1 HH (1.3 million Total Viewers P2+) and 0.8 P18-49 rating (900,000 P18-49 Viewers) for its 11:30 p.m. premiere episodes.
The 900,000 P18-49 viewers and 0.8 P18-49 are up an outstanding +36% and +32%, respectively, vs. November 2005 and made November 2006 the most watched and highest rated month in the series history for this demo.
HH ratings are up +13% and Total Viewers (P2+) increased +23% vs. November 2005.
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