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[01/19/11 - 12:40 PM]
New First-Run Dating Reality Strip "Excused" Sold in More Than 50% of the Country
Iliza Shlesinger hosts the series, from the producers of "Blind Date."

[via press release from CBS]

NEW FIRST-RUN DATING REALITY STRIP "EXCUSED" SOLD IN MORE THAN 50% OF THE COUNTRY

Stations From Fox Television Stations, CBS Television Stations, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Weigel Broadcasting and More Among Those Signing on for Fall 2011 Syndication Launch

LOS ANGELES - January 19, 2011 - CBS Television Distribution (CTD) has sold the new first-run syndicated strip "Excused" to stations in more than 50% of the country, it was announced today by Joe DiSalvo, President of Sales for CTD.

The half-hour dating reality strip is cleared in the top three markets on WWOR-TV, New York (Fox); KCAL-TV (CBS), Los Angeles; and WCIU-TV, Chicago (Weigel). Among stations signing on are those from the following groups: Fox Television Stations, CBS Television Stations, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Weigel Broadcasting, Sunbeam Television Corp., Local TV Holdings, Cox Enterprises, Meredith Corp., Tribune Broadcasting, Post-Newsweek Stations, New Age Media, Titan Broadcast, Griffin Communications and Sun Broadcasting.

The show was sold cash plus barter into mostly late fringe and access time periods for a fall 2011 launch.

" 'Excused' is a fresh take on a dating show that will mine the comedy that traditionally comes with relationships," said DiSalvo. "Stations saw this strip as an opportunity to counterprogram and give viewers an alternative to off-network sitcoms."

"Excused" will be produced by Renegade 83 Entertainment, best known for its hit syndicated dating show "Blind Date," and executive produced by David Garfinkle and Jay Renfroe. Hosted by Iliza Shlesinger, who won the sixth season of "Last Comic Standing," each episode of "Excused" will start with a group of men competing for the affections of two women (or vice versa). Once the two women have eliminated the group of men down to one, the final man standing will have the opportunity to select the woman he wants to date.

CBS Television Distribution is the preeminent company in television syndication. CTD produces or distributes 12 first-run series and holds the largest distributed television library at 70,000 hours strong. Among CTD's critically-acclaimed programs are the #1 syndicated series Wheel of Fortune; the #2 rated game show Jeopardy!; the top two talk shows The Oprah Winfrey Show and Dr. Phil; the Emmy Award-winning talk show Rachael Ray; the Emmy Award-winning Dr. Phil spinoff The Doctors; the #1 entertainment newsmagazine Entertainment Tonight and its sister show The Insider; the #1 newsmagazine Inside Edition; the top two court shows Judge Judy and Judge Joe Brown; the new Swift Justice With Nancy Grace; and popular off-network product, including the CSI and Star Trek franchises, Everybody Loves Raymond, NCIS, Criminal Minds, NCIS: Los Angeles, The Good Wife and Hawaii Five-0. In addition, CTD handles the domestic television distribution of CBS News, CBS Films and Showtime. CTD is a unit of CBS Corp.





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· BLIND DATE (SYNDICATION)
· EXCUSED (SYNDICATION)
· LAST COMIC STANDING (NBC)





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