Smart Comedy Is About to Get Some Swagger With the World Television Premiere Stand-Up Special 'The Awkward Comedy Show' Premiering Friday, April 9 At Midnight*

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COMEDY CENTRAL Corporate Communications

Mar 22, 2010, 12:11 ET

NEW YORK, March 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Talking about race just got a little more awkward! COMEDY CENTRAL is bringing a unique category of black comedy to the stage: the awkward nerd variety! The World Television Premiere of "The Awkward Comedy Show" debuts Friday, April 9 at Midnight.

Black comedy takes a different turn as five distinctive comedians take to the stage to challenge stereotypes about smoking weed, confront rumors about black albinos and take a stand for every black person ever caught listening to Simon and Garfunkel too loud. Join Hannibal Buress, Eric Andre, Baron Vaughn, Marina Franklin and Victor Varnado for a hilarious night of comedy that might just get a little awkward.

The digital album, "The Awkward Comedy Show" to be released April 6 on COMEDY CENTRAL Records, contains the unedited and uncensored performances from all of the artists.

The team of "Awkward Comedians" features five quirky and eclectic comedians who uncover humor in a world full of stereotypes. Chicago-based Hannibal Buress is an outsider, observational comic who writes for "Saturday Night Live" and has appeared on "John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show" and "Live at Gotham." Buress was also named Time Out Chicago's "Funniest Person in Chicago" in 2008. Skate punk Eric Andre is best known for his exuberant, wild ride monologues and appeared on "Live at Gotham" only a few years into his stand-up career. Baron Vaughn is a writer, actor and comedian who has appeared in a multitude of comedy festivals. His film credits include the box office hit "Cloverfield" and his television credits include appearances on "Law & Order," "Rescue Me" and the recently announced co-starring role in USA's "Facing Kate." Marina Franklin is an up-and-coming comedian who has appeared on "Chappelle's Show," "Last Comic Standing," "Girls Behaving Badly," "Premium Blend" and "Comics Unleashed." She most recently served as a correspondent on "The Jay Leno Show." As director, producer and creator of "The Awkward Comedy Show," Victor Varnado is not only busy behind the camera, but is also one of the featured comedians on the show. Varnado has appeared in such films as "The Adventures of Pluto Nash" and "End of Days," and also appeared on the small screen in NBC's "My Name is Earl." He has won several awards for his comedy, including Most Valuable Performer at the 2001 Montreal Just For Laughs improv championship.

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.

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