Ricky Gervasis' AN IDIOT ABROAD is Science Channel's Highest-Rated Series Ever

-- Science Channel to Air April Fools' Day 12-Hour Marathon of AN IDIOT ABROAD, Beginning at 2:30PM EST on Friday, April 1 --

-- Join the #AnIdiotAbroad Foolishness by Participating in Science Channel's First Live, On-Air Twitter Stream --

(Silver Spring, Md. ) Science Channel today announced that the Ricky Gervais project, AN IDIOT ABROAD, is the highest-rated series in network history. To celebrate the milestone, Science Channel is airing the series in its entirety - eight one-hour episodes plus a 30-minute preview special - for twelve hours beginning at 2:30 PM ET on April Fools' Day, Friday, April 1.

Since premiering on January 22, more than 20 million unique viewers have tuned into AN IDIOT ABROAD. Premieres of AN IDIOT ABROAD averaged triple-digit delivery gains compared to the network's year-ago Prime average: P25-54 up 166 percent, M25-54 up 133 percent, P18-49 up 191 percent, and P18-34 up 289 percent. Premieres of the "Egypt" and "India" episodes scored a 0.6 rating among M25-54, up 200 percent verses Science Channel's year-ago prime average.

"AN IDIOT ABROAD is empirical proof that Science truly does have a sense of humor," said Debbie Adler Myers, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Science Channel. "Ricky, Stephen and Karl brought new viewers to our network for IDIOT, and once this audience checked us out, they came back for our core science programming like HOW IT'S MADE and MUTANT PLANET. AN IDIOT ABROAD has been �the gift that keeps on giving' for Science Channel - a complete game-changer for us."

In addition to record viewership, AN IDIOT ABROAD especially captured the attention of the Twitterverse, generating hilarious buzz through thousands of fan Tweets each week. Responding to the enthusiastic online commentary accompanying each episode, Science Channel will debut its first-ever Twitter-fueled TV event. From 8:00 to 11:00 PM ET on April 1, Tweets from viewers will be streamed live in conjunction with the marathon. To participate in the social media fun, viewers should follow @ScienceChannel for updates and add #AnIdiotAbroad to their Karl-inspired comments. Never ones to miss out on fun at Pilkington's expense, Gervais and Merchant will be providing guest Tweets via @ScienceChannel during the marathon.

AN IDIOT ABROAD is the grandest practical-joke-turned-social-experiment in television history. In the series, Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the award-winning minds behind "The Office" and "Extras," send their close friend, Karl Pilkington, on a forced journey to experience each of the Seven Wonders of the World. As Pilkington endures ridiculous misadventures and repeated culture shock, viewers are left to assess the impact that international exposure has on the confessed curmudgeon, whom Gervais calls "a round-headed, chimp-like creature."

AN IDIOT ABROAD is produced for Science Channel by Mentorn International. For Science Channel, Brian Lavin is network producer, and for Mentorn International, Dan Goldsack is executive producer.

About Science Channel:

Science Channel, a division of Discovery Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), is home for the thought provocateur, the individual who is unafraid to ask the killer questions of "how" and "why not." The network is a playgroun0d for those with audacious intellects and features programming willing to go beyond imagination to explore the unknown. Guided by curiosity, Science Channel looks for innovation in mysterious new worlds as well as in its own backyard. Science Channel and the Science Channel HD simulcast reach more than 68 million U.S. households. The network also features high-traffic online and social media destinations, including ScienceChannel.com, facebook.com/ScienceChannel and twitter.com/ScienceChannel.

About Mentorn:

Mentorn's output has a breadth and quality that ranks it as one of the UK's foremost producers. Established in 1985, Mentorn Media is one of the UK's longest established independent television production companies, making thousands of hours for broadcasters in the UK and worldwide. With offices across the UK they produce programs across a range of genres. Question Time and Underage and Pregnant are recognized brands in the BBC's output, placing Mentorn as the sixth biggest supplier in terms of hours to the BBC in 2009. Over the last couple years Mentorn has produced two series of The School Musical and, in 2010, An Idiot Abroad with Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington for Sky 1HD. Mentorn USA has been established for 10 years in Los Angeles and has produced award-winning Bravo US series, Work Out; Paradise Hotel which ran on FOX, Fox Reality and MyNetwork; Chef Academy for Bravo US and American's Worst Driver for the Travel Channel. Mentorn International is the distribution arm of Mentorn and Mentorn USA, leading independent producers in the UK and North America, with successful International formats, and, award-winning programming for the UK and worldwide. Mentorn International sells formats and licensed programmes including reality, entertainment, factual entertainment and factual genres.