Frank Caliendo Brings Hilarious Impressions of Celebrities and Newsmakers To TBS In A New Late-Night Sketch Comedy Series FRANK TV
FRANK TV To Premiere Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 11 p.m. (ET/PT)
TBS is changing the face of late night television by channeling pop culture, entertainment, sports and political icons via comic everyman and master impressionist Frank Caliendo (MadTV, Hype). Caliendo brings his multi-personality skills to TBS including an enigmatic John Madden, a bitter Dr. Phil, a devilish Jack Nicholson, an eccentric Al Pacino, a curmudgeonly Robert DeNiro and a befuddled President George W. Bush. FRANK TV is slated to premiere Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 11 p.m. (ET/PT) and run for eight, half-hour episodes.
Named by Variety in 2007 as one of 10 comics to watch, Caliendo has cultivated fans through almost every means possible. His presence on YouTube and MySpace resulted in what one blogger called �The Caliendo Effect,� marking the shift from traditional entertainment outlets to the Internet. Caliendo's spot-on impression of President Bush earned him an invitation to perform during the annual White House Correspondents Dinner, where he brought down the house. Sports fans know him for his weekly picks on Fox NFL Sunday, which he delivers as a wide variety of characters and personalities including his John Madden impression for which he is most famous. Late-night comedy fans remember him as a regular cast member on the popular MadTV sketch comedy series, as well as a regular on late night talk shows such as The Late Show with David Letterman. And he performs to sold-out crowds in comedy venues across the country.
TBS's FRANK TV will feature Caliendo riffing on every aspect of modern society. The series will combine solo stand-up pieces shot before a live audience with sketches. Caliendo will perform his famous impressions in his living room set, as well as in segments shot on location and simulated television appearances. In addition to the well-known public figures he mimics, Frank has some unique characters such as Jay-vid Lenoman, a combination of Jay Leno and David Letterman.
Says Caliendo, �FRANK TV is a show that takes my standup act and brings it to life in the sketch comedy world. Every character is an extension of me. I have always believed that the best comedy comes from truth, realization and observation, and apply those observations to a situation. I like to set things up just enough for the audience so I can take them on a comedy ride�.
FRANK TV is being produced for TBS Productions by New Wave Entertainment� and executive-produced and written by Caliendo, Matt Wickline (In Living Color) and John Bowman (Saturday Night Live), with Barry Katz (Last Comic Standing) also serving as executive producer. Leo Clarke (Moesha, The Steve Harvey Show) serves as producer for the series, Jay Karas (The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show) and Rich Correll (The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, That's So Raven) serve as directors.
New Wave Entertainment� is a premier content development and production enterprise and one of the entertainment industry's largest entertainment marketing and creative services agencies. Burbank-based New Wave is owned by principals Paul Apel and Alan Baral.
TBS, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is television's top-rated comedy network. It serves as home to such original comedy series as My Boys, The Bill Engvall Show, Tyler Perry's House of Payne, 10 Items or Less and Frank TV; hot contemporary comedies like The Office, Sex and the City, Everybody Loves Raymond, Family Guy, King of Queens, Seinfeld and Friends, with My Name Is Earl joining the line-up in 2008; specials and special events, such as Funniest Commercials of the Year and The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas; blockbuster movies; and hosted movie showcases.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and a leading provider of programming for the television industry.
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