truTV Ready to Turn Up the Heat this Winter After Scoring Best Third Quarter Ever in Key Demos

Winter Slate Includes New Series Killer Karaoke and Hardcore Pawn: Chicago, Plus Returning Favorites Impractical Jokers, Hardcore Pawn, Black Gold, Full Throttle Saloon and Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura

truTV is riding high after scoring its most-watched third quarter ever among key demos. But the year isn't over yet. This winter, truTV is setting out to build on its remarkable success with a slate that includes three all-new original series, along with six returning favorites.

On Friday, Nov. 23, the eagerly anticipated Killer Karaoke premieres. Hosted by Jackass star Steve-O, Killer Karaoke is a wild singing competition in which the contestants try to sing a hit song while enduring hilarious and unexpected physical challenges.

As the temperature falls in December, truTV is going to heat up with an all-new series in the network's popular Hardcore Pawn franchise: Hardcore Pawn: Chicago. Premiering Tuesday, Dec. 18, this series goes behind the counter at the Royal Pawn Shop, owned by over-the-top brothers Randy and Wayne Cohen.

Before Hardcore Pawn: Chicago expands the franchise, however, the one-and-only original Hardcore Pawn is set to return Tuesday, Nov. 6, for the second half of its sixth season. One of truTV's biggest hits, Hardcore Pawn takes place at Detroit's American Jewelry & Loan, owned and run by Les Gold and his bickering adult children.

November also marks the long-awaited return of Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura. In the third season, which is slated to begin Wednesday, Nov. 7, Jesse and team member June Sarpong will be joined in their investigations by two new conspiracy busters: Tyrel Ventura, Jesse's son, and Sean Stone, the son of filmmaker Oliver Stone (JFK).

truTV's wildly popular hidden-camera comedy Impractical Jokers is set to launch its second season on Thursday, Dec. 13, with a whole new set of crazy dares from lifelong pals Brian "Q" Quinn, James "Murr" Murray, Joe Gatto and Sal Vulcano.

And on Wednesday, Dec. 19, truTV will launch new seasons of two returning favorites. First up will be the fourth season premiere of Full Throttle Saloon, which takes viewers to the "World's Largest Biker Bar" during the legendary Sturgis Bike Rally. Then, it's the fifth season premiere of Black Gold, a no-holds-barred look at roughneck crews drilling for oil in Texas.

truTV's slate of winter originals also includes the third season of Vegas Strip, beginning Monday, Oct. 22, and the new series Caught Red Handed, set to launch Tuesday, Nov. 6.

A complete roster of truTV's new and returning original series slated for this winter is included below. Hi-res photos are available for download from truTV's online pressroom at http://news.turner.com/trutv-photo-gallery/.

truTV's Q3 2012 Ratings Success

truTV has just served up its biggest third quarter ever in primetime delivery of adults 18-34, adults 18-49 and men 18-34. truTV also scored well on the competitive front, ranking as one of cable's Top 10 entertainment networks with men 18-34 for the quarter. The network's Q3 success came on the heels of its best summer ever with adults 18-49 and men 18-34 and ended with its best September ever among men 18-34. Earlier this year, truTV charted its best quarter ever in primetime with young men.

truTV Winter 2012 Highlights

New Series

Caught Red Handed - New series premiere with back-to-back episodes Tuesday, Nov. 6, at 9:30 p.m. & 10 p.m. (ET/PT)

When big stores experience severe shoplifting problems, a team of undercover investigators known as Loss Prevention Agents is dispatched to handle the situation. truTV's brand new series Caught Red Handed follows one such team as it travels to stores in New York, New Jersey, Florida and California with a single-minded mission to outwit some of the boldest and most cunning shoplifting suspects in the country. Each case is a tense game of cat and mouse as brazen shoppers try to outsmart store security and undercover agents work to bring would-be thieves to justice. Covert surveillance, big takedowns and lots of crazy excuses: it's all in a day's work for these investigators. Caught Red Handed comes to truTV from Nash Entertainment.

NEW DATE! Killer Karaoke - New series premiering Friday, Nov. 23, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)

truTV is about to take singing competitions to an extreme level with this all-new series hosted by Jackass star Steve-O. Inspired in part by the popular Zodiak Media international television hit Sing If You Can, truTV's Killer Karaoke challenges contestants to sing a hit song while Steve-O puts them through the most hilarious and unexpected physical challenges imaginable. It's the game show that hits all the wrong notes in the best possible way. The wild new competition series comes to truTV from Zodiak USA.

· Show Page: http://www.trutv.com/shows/killer-karaoke-singing-competition/

· Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/truTVKillerKaraoke/

Hardcore Pawn: Chicago - New series premieres Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 9:30 p.m. (ET/PT)

Hardcore Pawn: Chicago takes viewers behind the scenes at "the baddest pawn shop in Chicago." One of the city's largest and oldest establishments in the pawn and gold-buying business, Royal Pawn Shop is owned by Randy and Wayne Cohen, two brothers who don't always see eye to eye, except when it comes to finding the best deals for the business. These over-the-top siblings will wheel and deal with just about anyone, from a sweet kindergarten teacher to an intimidating mob boss. Hardcore Pawn: Chicago comes to truTV from Bischoff-Hervey Entertainment.

Returning Series

Vegas Strip - Season 3 premiere with back-to-back episodes Monday, Oct. 22, at 10 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. (ET/PT)

This exciting new series takes viewers along for the ride as the officers of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) try to keep Sin City's reputation for wild nights from getting out of hand. The series follows two of the city's most important law-enforcement units: the Homeland Security Saturation Team (HSST) and the Convention Center Area Command (CCAC). The officers traverse the approximately 4.2-mile-long Las Vegas Strip, where some of the most luxurious hotels and casinos in the world welcome gamblers and partiers galore. Vegas Strip comes to truTV from Langley Productions.

Hardcore Pawn - Season 6.2 premieres Tuesday, Nov. 6, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)

Now in its sixth season as one of truTV's biggest hits, Hardcore Pawn takes viewers behind the scenes at one of the country's largest pawnshops, American Jewelry & Loan, owned by the appropriately named Les Gold. Working for - and sometimes clashing with - Les are his son, Seth; his daughter, Ashley; and his trusted manager, Rich. In the show's mid-season finale Seth and Ashley were busted trying to sell the second American Jewelry & Loan location without Les' knowledge. Hardcore Pawn is produced by Zodiak USA.

· Show Page: http://www.trutv.com/shows/hardcore-pawn/

· Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hcpawn/

Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura - Season 3 premieres Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)

If there's a conspiracy theory out there, Jesse Ventura is determined to get to the bottom of it. The former Navy SEAL, wrestler, governor, and best-selling author returns to investigate the facts and expose the truth behind today's most pervasive - and persuasive - conspiracy theories. This season Jesse and veteran team member June Sarpong are joined by a "new generation" of conspiracy busters: Jesse's own son, Tyrel Ventura, and Sean Stone, son of controversial Oscar(R)-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone (JFK). The team will take on the rumored secret of time travel, alleged government mind-control programs using microwave towers, the possible creation of an actual death ray that can vaporize its target from miles away and more. Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura comes to truTV from A. Smith & Co. Productions.

· Show Page: http://www.trutv.com/shows/conspiracy_theory/

Impractical Jokers - Season 2 premiere with back-to-back episodes Thursday, Dec. 13, at 10 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. (ET/PT)

Four lifelong friends take dares to an outrageous level in truTV's hilarious hidden-camera series Impractical Jokers. Since they were kids, Brian "Q" Quinn, James "Murr" Murray, Joe Gatto and Sal Vulcano have challenged one another to do the most ridiculous public dares imaginable. Now, to find out who's best under pressure, they'll compete in unbelievably awkward and outrageous hidden-camera hijinks. Then, at the end of each episode, the loser must attempt the most mortifying challenge ever. Impractical Jokers comes to truTV from NorthSouth Productions.

· Show Page: http://www.trutv.com/shows/impractical-jokers/

· Twitter: http://twitter.com/truTVjokers/

Full Throttle Saloon - Season 4 premieres Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)

Full Throttle Saloon looks at the behind-the-scenes havoc at the "World's Largest Biker Bar," Michael Ballard's enormous, 30-acre indoor/outdoor watering hole during one of the biggest biker rallies in the world. Each year, "The Throttle" has nine days to generate enough cash to cover its 300 employees, 100 of which are voluptuous go-go dancing bartenders. The expansive venue features large and small performance stages, a burn-out pit, a tattoo parlor, a wrestling ring, restaurants, dozens of stores, hundreds of cabins for rent and parking for the thousands of bikers who come to town for the annual motorcycle fest. Full Throttle Saloon comes to truTV from A. Smith & Co. Productions.

· Show Page: http://www.trutv.com/shows/full_throttle_saloon/

Black Gold - Season 5 premieres Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)

Black Gold follows roughneck crews in the oil fields of Texas as they struggle against the elements, equipment and each other to bring in the next big gusher. When it comes to drilling for oil, there is no room for error as crews must work through conflicts, handle dangerous equipment and balance the sometimes-overwhelming demands of their jobs and their families. Black Gold is executive-produced by Original Productions

· Show Page: http://www.trutv.com/shows/black_gold/

Ongoing Series

South Beach Tow - Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. (ET/PT) - Moves to 9 p.m. (ET/PT), starting Nov. 7

From executive producer Jennifer Lopez comes this sizzling series about Tremont Towing, run by affable-but-tough boss Robert Ashenoff, With 8 million people coming to South Beach to party each year, it seems every day is spring break. The problem? There aren't nearly enough parking spaces to handle all the cars. Working with his son, Robert Jr., and daughter, Christie, plus a team of tough-minded drivers, Robert is determined to impound every illegally parked car or vehicle with reported delinquent payments he can find. The Tremont team may be a family, but the dollar reigns supreme, making for hilarious confrontations and unpredictable situations, all taking place under the hot Miami sun. South Beach Tow comes to truTV from Lopez's Nuyorican Productions (DanceLife) and Bodega Pictures.

· Show Page: http://www.trutv.com/shows/south-beach-tow/

· Twitter: http://twitter.com/SouthBeachTow/

Operation Repo - Wednesdays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT) - Moves to 9:30 p.m. (ET/PT), starting Nov. 7

This enormously popular series follows outrageous encounters in the high-pressure world of car repossession. Lou and his team are back on the job, hitching up cars, trucks and other big-ticket items after the property owners reportedly fail to make payments.

· Show Page: http://www.trutv.com/shows/operation_repo/

About truTV

truTV, one of cable's fastest growing brands, offers a wildly entertaining look at the real world through outrageous characters, unpredictable situations and irreverent storytelling. Currently seen in 92 million U.S. households, truTV features such popular original series as Hardcore Pawn, Full Throttle Saloon, Lizard Lick Towing, Storage Hunters, Impractical Jokers, Operation Repo, South Beach Tow, Black Gold and World's Dumbest..., as well as the acquired hit Wipeout. In addition, truTV is a partner in airing the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. During the daytime, the channel features expert trial coverage under the name In Session.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.