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IFC ANNOUNCES 2011/2012 ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING SLATE
"SLIGHTLY OFF" LINE-UP INCLUDES SEASON TWO RENEWAL OF "ONION NEWS NETWORK," FOUR NEW ORIGINAL SERIES
AND TWO SHOWS IN DEVELOPMENT
NEW YORK, NY, March 22, 2011 - IFC (www.ifc.com) today unveiled a robust original series slate for the 2011/2012 season. The line-up includes a second season renewal of the network's popular news show, Onion News Network, which received strong viewer response and critical acclaim throughout season one, currently airing.
In addition, IFC has green lit four new original series: Commercial Kings from Reveille, Young, Broke & Beautiful produced by 44 Pictures, Whisker Wars produced by Thom Beers' Original Productions, and Bullet in the Face, created and written by Alan Spencer. IFC also announced two original series currently in development: an untitled variety show hosted by Comedy Death-Ray's Scott Aukerman and Pointless created by Ethan Berlin and Eric Bryant, which came to IFC through the New York Television Festival.
The announcements were made by IFC's General Manager and Executive Vice President, Jennifer Caserta, at a press event in NYC.
"Over the past year, IFC has been laser focused on creating and presenting original series that reflect IFC's brand position, 'Always On, Slightly Off.' The positioning defines our indie perspective on what's worth watching, and doing, in alternative culture. It speaks to people looking for smart, clever and authentic programming," said Caserta. "Our disciplined focus has paid off. Our originals are resonating across all platforms and have elevated the network, making it a favorite destination for the viewers we target."
IFC's 2011/2012 Original Series include:
Onion News Network (16 x 30)
Premieres October 2011
Onion News Network (www.onionnewsnetwork.com) brings The Onion's unparalleled brand of hard-hitting, merciless journalism to television-watching masses. As the nation's number-one source for breaking news, screaming political arguments and vital information on missing teenage Caucasian girls, Onion News Network is a sound effect-laden news explosion with hyperactive graphics and the world's most respected news-reader, Brooke Alvarez. Throughout season one, Brooke and her co-hosts tackled important stories like "Troubled Democrats To Undergo Party Counseling" and "Incomprehensible Shouting Names Official U.S. Language."
Onion News Network is executive produced by Will Graham and Julie Smith. Executive producers for IFC are: Debbie DeMontreux, Christine Lubrano, Jennifer Caserta and Evan Shapiro.
Commercial Kings (10 x 30)
Premieres Friday, June 24 @ 10 pm
Starring filmmakers and comedy duo Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, this docu-comedy series follows the pair as they travel across America, developing and producing commercials for local businesses. The show's concept is based on Rhett and Link's popular website, www.ilovelocalcommercials.com, which has helped make the duo an internet sensation with over 80 million views on YouTube. Throughout the season, Rhett and Link create commercials that showcase local residents and businesses including Ole Man Heavy Hill's Garbage Service, a one-man weekly trash removal company, and Bury Me Naturally, a green burial service which touts natural decomposition in only four months as the businesses major perk.
Produced by Reveille. Executive Producers for Reveille are Howard T. Owens, Todd Cohen, Heather Schuster, Rhett McLaughlin, Link Neal, Joke Fincoen and Biagio Messina. Paul Cockerill is a producer for the series. Executive producers for IFC are: Debbie DeMontreux, Christine Lubrano, Jennifer Caserta and Evan Shapiro.
Young, Broke & Beautiful (6 x 30)
Premieres Friday, June 24 @ 10:30 pm
Hosted by writer/blogger Stuart Schuffman, aka Broke-Ass Stuart, this non-fiction series is a travel show for a generation of alternative culture enthusiasts. Stuart travels the country and infiltrates the underground of American cities to find the hidden, cheap and carefully guarded secrets that aren't in any guidebook. This is a travel show for explorers and wanderers with a desire to celebrate everything weird and unique. This season, Broke-Ass will travel to Baltimore, Boston, Detroit, Memphis, New Orleans and San Diego.
Young, Broke & Beautiful is produced by 44 Pictures and executive produced by Sam Erickson. Executive producers for IFC are: Debbie DeMontreux, Christine Lubrano and Jennifer Caserta.
Whisker Wars (7 x 30)
Premieres Friday, August 5 @ 10 pm
A docu-comedy set in the world of competitive facial hair growing profiles a group of men as they travel the country in search of top honors in a host of competitions, from the National Beard and Mustache Championship in Bend, OR to the World Competition in Norway. With Germany the reigning champion, over 80 local U.S. chapters attempt to come together to form Beard Team USA. Series personalities include Jack Passion (Calif.), a world beard champion and author of "Facial Hair Handbook;" Myk O'Connor (Brooklyn, NY), a member of the Gotham City Beardsmen Alliance; and Bryan Nelson and Allen Demling, of the Austin Facial Hair Club.
Produced by Original Productions, a FremantleMedia Company; executive produced by Thom Beers and Philip D. Segal, co-executive produced by Jeff Conroy and series produced by Jay Bennett and Diane Kay Zilliox. Executive producers for IFC are: Debbie DeMontreux, Dan Pasternack and Jennifer Caserta.
Bullet in the Face (6 x 30)
Premieres in 2012
Created, written and produced by Alan Spencer, Bullet in the Face is a scripted comedy series about a psychotic criminal turned cop after a jewelry heist goes terribly wrong. Gunter Vogler is taken into police custody, given a new identity, then forced to infiltrate his former gang... embarking on a mission of revenge against not only old allies, but his new bosses and anyone else that looks at him the wrong way.
Bullet in the Face is a co-production with Canada's Just For Laughs Muse Comedy Productions, executive produced by Spencer, Michael Prupas and Bruce Hills. Produced by Jesse Prupas and Evi Regev. Executive producers for IFC are: Debbie DeMontreux, Dan Pasternack, Jennifer Caserta and Evan Shapiro.
IFC's Original Series in Development include:
Untitled Scott Aukerman Variety Project
Created and hosted by Comedy Death-Ray's Scott Aukerman, the show will be based on the brand's popular podcast presented through a reinvigorated TV variety format for alt comedy fans.
Pointless
Created by Ethan T. Berlin and Eric Bryant and hosted by Kurt Braunohler, Pointless is an improvisational comedy series featuring a rotating panel of three comedians who give their most creative, on-the-spot answers to a random selection of questions and win an assortment of crappy prizes. The show's format satirizes classic game shows in what some might call an "anti game show" format.
Today's line-up of alternative comedies join IFC's previously announced season two renewals of Portlandia, created by and starring Fred Armisen (SNL) and Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney), and The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, created, written by and starring David Cross. IFC has ordered 10 episodes of Portlandia, up from season one's six episodes. Production begins this summer with the debut scheduled for January 2012. IFC has ordered six episodes of Todd Margaret, with production set to begin in April and the series slated to premiere in October 2011. In addition to David Cross, Will Arnett (Arrested Development) will reprise his role as Todd Margaret's blow-hard boss, Brent Wilts.
About IFC
IFC creates and champions authentic, original content that is "Always On. Slightly Off." Since 1994, IFC has cultivated television programming that challenges the conventions of storytelling. Today, IFC continues to embrace content with an indie perspective. Original series - headlined by brand-defining scripted and sketch comedy - air alongside an extraordinary collection of films and cult TV shows. Long and short-form original content inspired by music, web, gaming, animation, news, and culture is available on multiple platforms. IFC provides viewers access to must-see festivals and events around the country, like the Film Independent's Spirit Awards and SXSW. IFC.com features exclusive video, podcasts, blogs, news and reviews cultivated and written by industry experts. The network's On Demand offering, IFC Free, gives fans the opportunity to watch select content from IFC whenever they want. IFC is owned and operated by Rainbow Media Holdings LLC.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media owns and operates some of the world's most popular and award-winning entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv, Wedding Central and IFC Entertainment (IFC Center, IFC Films, IFC In Theaters, IFC Midnight and IFC Productions). Additional information about Rainbow Media's multiplatform brands is available at www.rainbow-media.com.
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