COMEDY CENTRAL(R) Greenlights 'Michael and Michael Have Issues,' But Will the Show Make It to Air Before They Kill Each Other?
NEW YORK, Feb. 18 -- Best friends and collaborators for over
20 years, Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter finally have their own TV
show on COMEDY CENTRAL. There's just one problem: they are their own worst
enemies. COMEDY CENTRAL has ordered seven episodes of "Michael and Michael
Have Issues," it was announced today by Lauren Corrao, president, original
programming and development, COMEDY CENTRAL. The new comedy series starring
Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter is scheduled to premiere in July.
Executive produced by Black, Showalter, Jim Biederman ("Whitest Kids U
Know," "I'm With Busey") and Lou Wallach, "Michael and Michael Have Issues"
stars Black and Showalter in a new twist on narrative and sketch comedies that
features the long-time comedic partners as the hosts of their own fictitious
sketch show. Sketches will be interspersed throughout the narrative thread of
each episode. Behind-the-scenes of the show-within-a-show, viewers will get a
first hand look at issues, both big (in an attempt to broaden their appeal,
the guys turn their show into a frat house spectacle) and small (the two
Michaels fight over the approval of a teenage intern writing an article about
them for his high school newspaper) that the two misguided stars wrestle with
as they confront their own issues of insecurity and jealousy as each attempts
to undermine the other. Jim Sharp and Christina Lee are the executives in
charge of production for COMEDY CENTRAL.
"This new hybrid series from Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter
brings their distinctive take on two comedic standards that will be an
outstanding addition to COMEDY CENTRAL's line-up," said Corrao. "I've been a
big fan of both Michaels ever since working with them on the classic MTV
sketch show 'The State' and am excited to be in business with them again as
they bring their dynamic relationship to life for our viewers."
"Michael and I are thrilled to be on COMEDY CENTRAL doing we what we do
best -- making doo-doo jokes," said Showalter. "I wanted to call the show
'Michael Showalter Sucks Starring Michael Ian Black,'" said Black.
Michael Ian Black's career began with "The State," a sketch comedy troupe
he co-founded at NYU in 1988 and aired on MTV. He co-created and starred in
"Viva Variety" and "Stella" for COMEDY CENTRAL, is a frequent contributor to
VH1's "I Love the..." series and also tours regularly as a stand-up comic.
Black wrote and directed the feature film, "Wedding Daze," as well as writing,
"Run Fat Boy Run." His first stand-up CD, "I Am a Wonderful Man," was released
in 2007 and his first book of humorous essays, "My Custom Van (and 50 Other
Mind-Blowing Essays That Will Blow Your Mind All Over Your Face)" came out in
2008. He is also the author of "Chicken Cheeks," a children's book set to be
released this year.
Michael Showalter was a founding member of the sketch comedy troupe, "The
State," which ran for three seasons on MTV. He is a member of "Stella" and
starred in the COMEDY CENTRAL series, along with Michael Ian Black and David
Wain. He co-wrote, co-produced and starred in the cult comedy "Wet Hot
American Summer." He directed, wrote and starred in the IFC FILMS romantic
comedy, "The Baxter," co-starring Michelle Williams and Elizabeth Banks. He
has toured the country performing stand-up comedy and his stand-up comedy
record, "Sandwiches & Cats," was released in November 2007. He has a popular
web series on Collegehumor.com called "The Michael Showalter Showalter." He is
currently on the faculty at NYU Graduate Film School and is working on a
comedic memoir for Grand Central Publishing due out this winter.
COMEDY CENTRAL, the only all-comedy network, currently is seen in more
than 95 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 Press Central, COMEDY CENTRAL's press Web site at
www.comedycentral.com/press.
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world's
leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect
diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and
consumer products. The company's portfolio spans more than 150 television
channels and 350 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1,
CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Noggin, The N, AddictingGames,
Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, Atom, Gametrailers and Xfire.
SOURCE COMEDY CENTRAL Corporate Communications
CONTACT:
Jenni Runyan for COMEDY CENTRAL, +1-310-407-4771
jenni.runyan@comedycentral.com
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