Upfronts 06: Comedy Central Orders 6 Series, Specials and Pilots

Jordan Klepper

Comedy Central says it has picked up five new series, ten new specials and ordered eleven pilots.

The Viacom-owned network is working to freshen its lineup after a year in which its signature late night block turned over as Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert left and were replaced by Trevor Noah and Larry Wilmore.

Comedy Central will be presenting its programming plans to media buyers at an upfront event in New York Thursday afternoon. Earlier this week, the network announced programming plans for its Snapchat Discover channels and pickups of current series.

As anyone can see, we are continuing our tradition of collaborating with the smartest, funniest talent - both established and emerging, and in front of or behind the camera - to develop content across every imaginable platform, whether through long form, short form or ephemeral form, that is always bound by a strong, distinctive point of view, Kent Alterman, president of original programming at Comedy Central said. Otherwise, the announcement speaks for itself.

Comedy Central series and special orders have been handed out to:

* Jordan Klepper - The Daily Show with Trevor Noah correspondent Jordan Klepper will star in a special revolving around social, cultural and political issues.

* Kevin Harts Hartbeat Productions - Hart will produce and star in two original, stand-up series.

* Jeff Ross - Ross will bring the popular Roast Battles from the comedy club to the screen and follow up his acclaimed special Jeff Ross Roasts Criminals with Jeff Ross Roasts the Police.

* Untitled Comedy Documentaries - Comedy Central is making an unprecedented commitment to a series of cutting edge comedy documentaries that will offer a specific and unique take on compelling stories from the world of comedy - a project conceived for the network by Emmy-nominated Drunk History and Another Period executive producer and director, Jeremy Konner, and Pentimento Productions documentary producer Emma Pildes.

* Stand-up Specials - Kurt Braunohler, Deon Cole, Pete Davidson, Joe DeRosa, Trevor Moore, Big Jay Oakerson, Dan Soder and The Goddamn Comedy Jam.

* Typical Rick - a digital series from creators Nick Swardson and filmmaker Nicholaus Goossen, which will star Swardson and Simon Rex.

* The network has also signed Jessica Williams and Jordan Klepper to independent development deals, with Williams co-writing, producing and starring in a half-hour scripted narrative pilot and Klepper producing and starring in a late night talk show presentation.

* Production deals include projects from Amy Schumer, Chris Hardwick, Channing Tatum, Olivia Wilde, Jack Black, Eva Longoria, Ed Helms, Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone, along with Abominable Pictures, Above Average, Funny Or Die, Gloria Sanchez Productions, and Serious Business, among others.

Heres a complete list of the programming announcements from Comedy Central:

Series and Specials Greenlights:

* Kevin Hart Presents: Hart of the City - produced by Hartbeat Productions, this eight-episode series follows Kevin Hart as he travels to different cities to explore the local comedy scenes in Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Birmingham, Miami and Sacramento. In this series, executive produced by Hart, Dave Becky of 3 Arts Entertainment,

Leland Pookey Wigington and Michele Armour, Hart will introduce some of the newest voices in comedy today. Jonas Larsen and JoAnn Grigioni are the Executives in Charge for Comedy Central.

* Untitled Kevin Hart Stand-Up Series - also produced by Hartbeat Productions, this stand-up series features six half-hour episodes of stand-up where Kevin Hart will spotlight one up-and-coming comedian each episode. Executive produced by Hart, Dave Becky of 3 Arts Entertainment and Leland Pookey Wigington. Jonas Larsen and JoAnn Grigioni are the Executives in Charge of Production for Comedy Central.

* Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle - this new competition comedy special features a no-holds-barred verbal boxing match where comedians go head-to-head in a battle of wit and insults. Led by the Roastmaster General, Jeff Ross, and the referee/comedian, Brian Moses, this Fight Club of comedy is presented in a bracket style competition where two comics in each round face off, roast each other and a winner is declared by a celebrity panel of judges. This unique comedy competition is a true clash of the sharpest, funniest, roast comics on the planet. Welcome to the Thunderdome of comedy! Executive produced by Ross, Joel Gallen, Amy Zvi, Willie Mercer, Moses and Rell Battle. Jonas Larsen, Christian McLaughlin, Jordan Ellner and Ryan Moran are the Executives in Charge of Production for Comedy Central.

* Jeff Ross Roasts the Police - Freeze, youre under a-roast! Americas Roastmaster General, Jeff Ross, steps into some burning national issues and rides along in the hottest seat in town in his new one-hour special. Following on the heels of his celebrated roast of inmates and guards at the Brazos County Jail, this special finds Jeff looking at the complicated national issues surrounding policing; from race, profiling and excessive force to the risks officers take every day and the effect that police work has on their lives, families and health. To understand what it means to be a cop in America today, Ross steps behind the thin blue line for a ride-along/Roast-along with a cross section of officers from a major, metropolitan police force. Along the way, Jeff meets with perps, anti-police activists, newly-minted cadets and seasoned top brass. Executive produced by Ross, Nick McKinney, Meghan OHara, Stu Miller, Amy Zvi and Willie Mercer. Jonas Larsen and Christian McLaughlin are the Executives in Charge of Production for Comedy Central.

LINK:	http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/currency/upfronts-2016-comedy-ce...
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