CMT CELEBRATES COMEDY ALL WEEK LONG WHEN 'BIG NEW COMEDY WEEK' BEGINS MONDAY, MARCH 7

CMT to Premiere Comedy Specials from Ron White, Kathleen Madigan, Jeff Dunham and More

Tom Arnold Presents the First MY BIG REDNECK INTERVENTION

NASHVILLE - February 28, 2011 - CMT presents a week filled with laughter and comedy-inspired programming when BIG NEW COMEDY WEEK kicks-off Monday, March 7. During the weeklong celebration, CMT will debut new specials and stand-up performances by some of the country's funniest comedians.

BIG NEW COMEDY WEEK features new comedy every night, including the television premiere of RON WHITE'S COMEDY SALUTE TO THE TROOPS featuring hilarious comic performances from Ron White, Lewis Black, Kathleen Madigan, Vic Henley, Tim Wilson, Robert Hawkins and Alex Reymundo filmed at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn. Also in this 90-minute special, White visits the troops and their families at Fort Campbell. The week also features the CMT premieres of stand-up specials from Jeff Dunham and Gabriel Iglesias and Kathleen Madigan, a MY BIG REDNECK INTERVENTION and all-new episodes of WORKING CLASS and MY BIG REDNECK WEDDING.

The BIG NEW COMEDY WEEK line-up includes:

KATHLEEN MADIGAN: GONE MADIGAN - CMT PREMIERE

In this hour-long special, shot at the Gramercy Theater in New York City, Kathleen Madigan takes on politics, American culture and her family who has given her full permission to sell them down them down the river. Kathleen has been called "the funniest woman in comedy" by her peers including comedian Lewis Black and talk show host Jay Leno. Premieres Monday, March 7 at 11:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m., ET/PT on CMT.

COMEDY CENTRAL PRESENTS: Jeff Dunham - CMT PREMIERE

Comedian and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham features his favorite puppets Melvin the Superhero Guy, Peanut, Jos� Jalape�o on a Stick and Walter in this half-hour stand-up show. Dunham has toured the world alongside his dummies and has been awarded ventriloquist of the year twice. Premieres Tuesday, March 8 at 11:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m., ET/PT on CMT.

COMEDY CENTRAL PRESENTS: Gabriel Iglesias - CMT PREMIERE

Latino funnyman and "Last Comic Standing" finalist, Gabriel Iglesias, performs his original comedy in this half-hour stand-up show. Iglesias shows off his many voices and relives his cruelest practical joke that he's ever played. PremieresWednesday, March 9at 11:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m., ET/PT.

MY BIG REDNECK INTERVENTION - CMT ORIGINAL PREMIERE

Bonnie Johnson started life out as a lil' country girl living in a single-wide trailer in Tennessee who watched soap operas and fantasized about being one of the beautiful people. Unfortunately for her "redneck and proud" family, Bonnie grew up and fell into a life of the finer things like expensive clothes, plastic surgery and a customized golf cart she uses just to get the mail. Bonnie's still-countrified family wants to get her back in touch with her muddin', huntin' and four- wheelin' roots, so with the help of Tom Arnold, they stage a redneck intervention. Premieres Thursday, March 10 at 9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., ET/PT on CMT.

WORKING CLASS - ALL-NEW EPISODE!

In this week's episode of CMT's hit sitcom WORKING CLASS starring Melissa Peterman as Carli Mitchell, her boss invites her to an educational wine expo which Carli is determined to turn into a first date. All-new episode premieres Friday, March 11at 8:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., ET/PT on CMT.

MY BIG REDNECK WEDDING - ALL-NEW EPISODE!

Sara is a D.I.Y. bride-to-be who is as handy with a hunting rifle as she is with a bow and arrow. Joe is a welder who first started chasing Sara in the eighth grade. These two camo-wearing lovebirds from Fredericktown, Mo. are about to get hitched in a truly wild wedding that starts with a chair on skis and goes out with a bang that includes horse manure skeeball, bubble wrap sumo wrestling and everything in between. All-new episode premieres Friday, March 11at 8:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., ET/PT on CMT.

RON WHITE'S COMEDY SALUTE TO THE TROOPS - CMT ORIGINAL PREMIERE

This all-new, 90-minute special features the comedy of Lewis Black, Kathleen Madigan, Vic Henley, Tim Wilson, Robert Hawkinsand Alex Reymundo with Blue Collar comedian and host, Ron White. Filmed in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry House, the comedians salute the troops of Fort Campbell with laughs and entertainment. The special also features footage of White's visit with the troops and families from Fort Campbell. White is best known for his role in Blue Collar Comedy, but has also been a huge supporter of the armed forces and traveled overseas on many USO tours.Premieres Saturday, March 12 at 9:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., ET/PT on CMT.

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