COMEDY CENTRAL Promotes Lauren Corrao To Executive Vice President, Original Programming And Development

NEW YORK, May 24, 2005 -- COMEDY CENTRAL has promoted Lauren Corrao to executive vice president, original programming and development, it was announced by COMEDY CENTRAL president, Doug Herzog to whom she will continue to report. She was previously senior vice president, original programming and head of development.

In her expanded role, Corrao will be responsible for the development and supervision of all of COMEDY CENTRAL's original programming slate. She will oversee the network's talent, development, events and original programming staffs in both Los Angeles and New York. Additionally, Corrao will supervise the development of original content for the network's programming expansion into new digital platforms.

"Lauren's track record at COMEDY CENTRAL speaks for itself," said Herzog. "2004 saw the highest ratings in the network's history and this year the steady ratings growth continues. With ratings-winners like "Chappelle's Show," "RENO 911!" and "Drawn Together," Lauren has been the architect of some of our most successful series and become a key player in COMEDY CENTRAL's phenomenal growth."

During her tenure, Corrao has been instrumental in attracting A-list talent to the network, providing a platform for them to expand and grow and offering them creative freedom, highly valued in the community. On her watch, deals have been signed with top names such as D.L. Hughley, Sarah Silverman, Denis Leary, Stephen Colbert and Adam Corolla, among others.

Corrao came to COMEDY CENTRAL in 2002 from Touchstone Television where she served as executive producer on several projects, including the critically-acclaimed series "The Job" starring Denis Leary. Corrao also spent four years at Fox Television where she was vice president of comedy development and vice president of alternative and late night development, where she developed such hits as "That 70's Show," "MADtv" and "King of the Hill."

Previously, Corrao spent 10 years at MTV where she oversaw the development and production of "The Real World," "The State," "The Ben Stiller Show" and "The Jon Stewart Show."

Before embarking upon her career in television, Corrao received a B.A. in Semiotics from Brown University. She lives in Pasadena, CA, with her husband and two children.

COMEDY CENTRAL, the only all-comedy network, currently is seen in more than 87 million homes nationwide. COMEDY CENTRAL is owned by Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of MTV Networks. COMEDY CENTRAL is a registered trademark of Comedy Partners. COMEDY CENTRAL's Internet address is http://www.comedycentral.com.