Norm Macdonald Returns to Series TV as COMEDY CENTRAL® Greenlights 'Sports Show With Norm Macdonald'

NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- He made a name for himself as the anchor of "SNL's" Weekend Update, and now Norm Macdonald is taking the same approach, but with his sights set on the sports world.  COMEDY CENTRAL has picked up "Sports Show with Norm Macdonald" and placed an 8-episode order for the show, it was announced today by Kent Alterman, head of original programming and production, COMEDY CENTRAL.  The new series is slated to begin production this month and is scheduled to premiere in April.

"Sports Show with Norm Macdonald" will feature Macdonald's unique and comedic take on the most topical and controversial stories from the sports world.  Taped in front of a live studio audience, the fast-paced and informative show will cover all sports -- from the popular to the obscure -- delivered with Macdonald's unforgettable style, reminiscent of his hugely popular run as "SNL's" Weekend Update anchor.  The series will be executive produced by Macdonald, Marc Gurvitz, Lori Jo Hoekstra and Jackhole Productions' Daniel Kellison.  Jim Sharp and Gary Mann are the executives in charge of production for COMEDY CENTRAL.

"Norm has the uncanny ability to say what I didn't even realize I was thinking," said Alterman.

"I'm excited and look forward to doing this series," said Macdonald.  "On this show, we plan to put the central back in COMEDY CENTRAL."

A staple in the comedy world, Macdonald is best known for his offbeat delivery of the news as a Weekend Update anchor on "Saturday Night Live."  Macdonald joined the cast of "SNL" in 1993 and remained on the show for five seasons where his impressions of Larry King, Burt Reynolds, David Letterman and Bob Dole, among others, are still talked about today.

A native of Quebec City, Canada, Macdonald began his career as a stand-up comic and made his way to Los Angeles, where he became a writer on the ABC hit series "Roseanne" and then starred in ABC's "The Norm Show" from 1999 - 2001.  Macdonald's film credits include co-writing and starring in "Dirty Work," voicing Lucky the dog in all three of the Eddie Murphy remakes of "Doctor Dolittle," as well as appearing in "Billy Madison," "The People vs. Larry Flynt," and "Man on the Moon," among others.  Macdonald has a history with COMEDY CENTRAL, which released his comedy album, "Ridiculous," in 2006 and, in 2008, Macdonald made an epic and unforgettable appearance on the COMEDY CENTRAL "Roast of Bob Saget."  In addition, his upcoming original one-hour special, "Norm Macdonald: Me Doing Stand-Up" premieres on Saturday, March 12 at 11 p.m.

COMEDY CENTRAL, the only all-comedy network, currently is seen in more than 98 million homes nationwide.  COMEDY CENTRAL 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.  COMEDY CENTRAL's Internet address is www.comedycentral.com.  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.

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