Anthony Jeselnik Inks Development Deal With COMEDY CENTRAL®

NEW YORK, Aug. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Acclaimed comedian Anthony Jeselnik is bringing his sharp sense of humor and dark, twisted point-of-view to the all-comedy channel, it was announced today by Kent Alterman, head of original programming and development, COMEDY CENTRAL.  Jeselnik will star in and executive produce the project that he is set to develop and shoot in early 2012.  Christie Smith will also serve as an executive producer.

"We are trying to reconcile how someone with such a dark world view can also be such a nice guy," said Alterman.  "We figured the best way to find out would be to develop a show with him."

"At this point in my career, I feel like this is the best thing that could happen for COMEDY CENTRAL," said Jeselnik.

Jeselnik, one of Variety's 2008 "Top Ten Comics To Watch," is a staple in the alternative comedy community.  He has a long history with COMEDY CENTRAL, most recently making a memorable appearance in this year's "COMEDY CENTRAL's Roast of Donald Trump."  Jeselnik was featured on COMEDY CENTRAL's 2009 Hotlist as one of "The Hottest Comedians of the Year" and has been featured on the network's stand-up series, "Premium Blend," as well as in his own half-hour, stand-up special, "COMEDY CENTRAL Presents Anthony Jeselnik."

Jeselnik has also performed stand-up on several shows including "Jimmy Kimmel Live," "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" and "Last Call with Carson Daly" and has written for "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," the MTV "Movie Awards," MTV "Video Music Awards" and COMEDY CENTRAL's "Night of Too Many Stars."

Jeselnik's first comedy album, "Shakespeare," released on COMEDY CENTRAL Records, was named Punchline Magazine's Best Comedy Album of 2010 and The Onion AV Club noted that "Jeselnik's freshman album radiates the confidence of an experienced veteran."  He has performed at the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival, the Bumbershoot Music and Comedy Festival in Seattle and HBO's U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen.

Jeselnik is represented by Christie Smith at Mosaic Media Group and Dan Shear at William Morris Endeavor.

Available in 99 million homes nationwide, COMEDY CENTRAL (www.comedycentral.com), the only all-comedy network, is owned by, and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) MTV Networks.  For up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs visit Press Central, COMEDY CENTRAL's press web site at www.comedycentral.com/press and follow us on Twitter @ComedyCentralPR for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products.  The company's portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 400 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Nick Jr., TeenNick, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, SPIKE, TV Land, Atom, GameTrailers and Xfire.

SOURCE COMEDY CENTRAL Corporate Communications