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COMEDY CENTRAL(R) Greenlights 'Michael and Michael Have Issues,' But Will the Show Make It to Air Before They Kill Each Other?

Posted on: Wednesday, 18 February 2009, 12:15 CST

Seven Episode Series Scheduled to Premiere in July

NEW YORK, Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- 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

Source: PR Newswire

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