COMEDY CENTRAL(R) GREENLIGHTS CC:STUDIOS' "THIS IS NOT HAPPENING" TO SERIES MARKING CC:STUDIOS' FIRST DIGITAL-TO-TV SERIES EVOLUTION
Executive Produced by Ari Shaffir, Eric Abrams, Sam Saifer and Jeff Tomsic
CC:Studios Produced Two Seasons of "This is Not Happening" for the Web
NEW YORK, April 23, 2014 - Comedy Central has greenlit CC:Studios' longform storytelling digital series "This Is Not Happening" to the linear channel, it was announced today by Kent Alterman, President, Content Development and Original Programming, Comedy Central. Executive produced by Ari Shaffir, Eric Abrams, Sam Saifer, and Jeff Tomsic, who will direct, the eight-episode season will premiere in the fall, and marks the #1 brand in comedy's first pick-up of a series developed by the in-house creative initiative CC:Studios.
"The only reason we are picking up 'This Is Not Happening' is to prove we can incubate an idea digitally and then have it migrate to the linear channel," said Alterman. "And also, it's really funny storytelling with fantastic talent."
Shaffir added, "Fuck yeah!"
Hosted by Shaffir and based on his long-running live show, "This Is Not Happening" features Shaffir and his comedian friends telling hilarious and true stories in front of a live audience at LA's most distinguished gentlemen's club, Cheetahs. Comedians that have been featured on CC:Studios' two seasons of "This Is Not Happening" include Kurt Braunohler, Joey Diaz, David Koechner, Bobby Lee, Natasha Leggero, TJ Miller, Trevor Moore, Kumail Nanjiani, Jay Oakerson, Steve Rannazzisi and Joe Rogan.
"This Is Not Happening" was originally developed by CC:Studios, Comedy Central's in-house creative initiative for the development of original digital comedy. Platform-agnostic, CC:Studios works with creators to develop concepts and talent for digital distribution and produce original, shareable content in the format best-suited to the creative, whether short-form, long-form, animation, or ultimately on the linear channel. CC:Studios attracts the best comics and comedy writers in the business, giving them an opportunity to create hilarious content that is native to digital screens. Working with CC:Studios, talent has access to Comedy Central's extensive distribution channels including on-air, Comedy Central Records, CC Mobile Apps, Comedy Central Home Entertainment, Comedy Central Radio, VOD and Comedy Central Certified comedy clubs.
Shaffir is repped by The Gersh Agency and Sam Saifer Management.
Available on-air, online and on-the-go, Comedy Central (www.cc.com) is the #1 brand in comedy and is owned by, and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB and VIA).
Viacom is home to premier global media brands that create compelling television programs, motion pictures, short-form video, apps, games, consumer products, social media and other entertainment content for audiences in more than 160 countries and territories. Viacom's media networks, including MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, BET, CENTRIC, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., TeenNick, Nicktoons, Nick at Nite, Comedy Central, TV Land, SPIKE, Tr3s, Paramount Channel and VIVA, reach approximately 700 million television subscribers worldwide. Paramount Pictures, America's oldest film studio, is a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com. Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom's blog at blog.viacom.com and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/Viacom.
|