TBS Slates New Comedy Series 10 ITEMS OR LESS as First Series in Late-Night Block of Original Programming

Pilot Completed for THE LATE NIGHT BUFFET WITH AUGIE AND DEL, From The Jim Henson Company

Network Orders Pilots for New Sketch Comedy Series from MadTV�s Frank Caliendo, OFF THE ROAD WITH ANDREW DALY and WHAT NEWS?

TBS Begins Development on Sketch Comedy Series

From The Daily Show Associate Producer Jenny Hunter

TBS, television�s �very funny� network, will kick off its new late-night block of original programming with the upcoming original series 10 ITEMS OR LESS, which will air Mondays at 11 p.m. (ET/PT) after Family Guy, beginning Nov. 27. In addition, the network has completed shooting a pilot for THE LATE NIGHT BUFFET WITH AUGIE AND DEL, an irreverent talk show from The Jim Henson Company, and is creating pilots for other potential series to be included in the block, announced Michael Wright, senior vice president of original programming for TBS and sister network TNT. New pilots ordered for TBS�s late-night block include a sketch comedy project from MadTV�s Frank Caliendo based on his acclaimed impersonations; OFF THE ROAD WITH ANDREW DALY, featuring sketch comedian Daly traveling the country; and WHAT NEWS?, a comedy about a local newscast. In addition, TBS has entered into a development deal with The Daily Show associate producer and Man Bites Dog executive producer Jenny Hunter for a new sketch comedy series.

�With 10 ITEMS OR LESS, we have found an ideal series to kick off our late-night block of original programming,� said Wright. �And to continue building the block, we are working with some of the most dynamic production companies and funniest talents in the industry to create programming that, like 10 ITEMS OR LESS, will appeal to a vibrant young audience of comedy lovers who crave programming during that time period.�

10 ITEMS OR LESS is a loosely scripted comedy series starring John Lehr as a less-than-successful businessman from New York City who moves back home to take over the family supermarket after the death of his father. But his management style is markedly different from that of his father, making for a comically chaotic workplace. In addition to Lehr, this show features Kirsten Gronfield, Chris Payne Gilbert, Greg Davis Jr., Christoper Liam Moore, Roberta Valderrama, Robert Clendenin and Jennifer Elise Cox. Robert Hickey, Nancy Hower and John Lehr are executive producers on the series, which is being produced for TBS by Sony Pictures Television.

TBS recently completed shooting a pilot for THE LATE NIGHT BUFFET WITH AUGIE AND DEL, which mixes newly created puppets from the world-famous Jim Henson�s Creature Shop interacting with live celebrity guests in a talk-show format. Puppets Augustus Pfiffle and Delbert Kastle serve as hosts for the show, much of which will be improvised between the puppets and the guests who appear. THE LATE NIGHT BUFFET is being produced for TBS by The Jim Henson Company, with Brian Henson (Farscape) and Bill Barretta (The Muppets� Wizard of Oz) serving as both executive producers and puppeteers.

For his as-yet-untitled project, Frank Caliendo (MadTV, Hype) has developed a sketch comedy show to be shot in front of a studio audience. It will feature his renowned impersonations, from Dr. Phil to Presidents Bush and Clinton. This project is being produced for TBS by New Wave Entertainment and is executive-produced and written by Caliendo, Matt Wickline and John Bowman, with Barry Katz also serving as executive producer.

OFF THE ROAD WITH ANDREW DALY takes the traveling reporter format made famous by Charles Kuralt and turns it on its head. Comic Andrew Daly (MadTV) is a likeable, earnest, folksy �guy next door� who seeks to do respectful, on-location reports from small-town America. Hitting the back roads of the country, he and his correspondents seek out unique people and special stories that make America great. Unlike Kuralt, however, Daly approaches the stories from a completely humorous angle. OFF THE ROAD WITH ANDREW DALY is being co-executive-produced and written by Daly, with Hugh Fink (Saturday Night Live) serving as writer and executive producer.

WHAT NEWS? is a newscast for a fictional small town, but the quirky news team � from a reporter who never gets to the breaking story on time to a sports anchor who is still living the glory of being the high school track star at the local high school � rarely gets the story right. The cast features John Farley (The Benchwarmers), Kevin McDonald (The Kids in the Hall) and Heather McDonald (Watching Ellie). Kim Wayans (In Living Color) and Jeffrey Ross (Comedy Central Roasts) guest star in the pilot presentation. WHAT NEWS? is being executive produced by Sean Hayes (Will & Grace), Todd Milliner (Situation: Comedy) and Bruce McCoy (MADtv).

Jenny Hunter, associate producer on the Emmy�-winning series The Daily Show and executive producer on the series Man Bites Dog, has entered into a development deal to produce and write a new sketch comedy series for TBS.

TBS, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is television�s �very funny� network. It serves as home to such hot contemporary comedies as Sex and the City, Everybody Loves Raymond, Family Guy, Seinfeld and Friends; original comedy series, like the upcoming scripted comedies My Boys and 10 Items or Less; specials and special events, like The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas, for which TBS serves as title sponsor; blockbuster movies; and hosted movie showcases.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a TimeWarner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and a leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.