Television Event to Honor the Best Comedy Films, Actors, Television Series and Digital Shorts

The preeminent brand in comedy has joined forces with the preeminent producer of awards shows to reboot and rebrand the "American Comedy Awards," a new, annual event that will honor and celebrate the world of comedy, it was announced today by Elizabeth Porter, SVP, specials and talent, COMEDY CENTRAL. The "American Comedy Awards," a partnership between COMEDY CENTRAL and the Emmy® Award-winning Don Mischer Productions, will celebrate and reward the year's best in film, television, digital shorts and performance. Scheduled to premiere in 2010, the "American Comedy Awards," will premiere simultaneously across all of MTV Networks Entertainment Group channels: COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV and TV Land.

An indelible part of the culture, comedy has never been as prevalent or accessible as it is now. Whether used to unite around a common theme, to diffuse tensions or simply to provide a memorable laugh, the power of comedy is as strong as ever and is being wielded uniquely and effectively in ways heretofore unseen in the comedy canon. Through means of distribution both traditional and modern, comedy is in the midst of a period of creative excellence and the "American Comedy Awards" will pay homage to the genre and honor the year's best comedy films, actors, television series and digital shorts. Category creations and nominations for the "American Comedy Awards" will be overseen by an esteemed group of board members featuring some of the industry's top tastemakers, talent and executives. Voting will also include the voice of the fans.

"The 'American Comedy Awards' are about celebrating and honoring the genius of the writers, performers, producers and directors who bring us the best in comedy every year and create what the rest of us quote and share with all our friends," said Porter. "What the Oscars are to movies and the Grammys are to music, the 'American Comedy Awards' will be to comedy. We are thrilled to be working with Don Mischer and know he will make this the biggest comedy event of the year."

"We are looking forward to developing a show that will recognize all those who keep us laughing in these stressful times," said Don Mischer. "We're very excited about working with COMEDY CENTRAL, a network which has broken new ground in television comedy and continuing the tradition started by George Schlatter, who has been an innovator in television comedy for his entire career."

The "American Comedy Awards" will take its place among the MTV Networks rich and proven history of launching successful tent-pole events such as MTV's "Video Music Awards" and Nickelodeon's "Kids' Choice Awards."

"I am proud of the 15 years we did the 'American Comedy Awards,' during which we chronicled a whole new wave of comedy and comedy performers," said Schlatter. "We honored everyone from our first Creative Achievement Award-winner Norman Lear to our first New Stand-up Comic recipients Jerry Seinfeld and Lily Tomlin to first Comedy Star In A Special Robin Williams ('Live at the Met') to the first Motion Picture Comedy Actor winner Woody Allen ('Hannah & Her Sisters') -- all of whom list the 'American Comedy Awards' in their achievements. It's gratifying to know that the tradition is carrying on with COMEDY CENTRAL and Don Mischer."

Don Mischer Productions' Don Mischer and Charlie Haykel are the executive producers and Juliane Hare will serve as producer for the "American Comedy Awards." Elizabeth Porter is the executive in charge for the network.

The "American Comedy Awards" had a successful television run from 1985 - 2001. Schlatter, who was the executive producer, will continue with the new event as an executive consultant to Don Mischer Productions.

About Don Mischer Productions

Don Mischer is an internationally acclaimed producer and director of television and live events. He has been honored with thirteen primetime Emmy Awards, a record nine Director's Guild of America Awards for Outstanding Directorial Achievement, three NAACP Image Awards, a Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting, and Europe's prestigious Golden Rose of Montreux.

Mischer has consistently chosen to produce programs which share the best of human experience, whether it be through the work of our most acclaimed artists or the celebration of our greatest monuments and national events. As a producer-director, his credits range from Super Bowl Halftime Shows (with Bruce Springsteen, Prince, The Rolling Stones, and Paul McCartney); Opening Ceremonies of both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games; and The Kennedy Center Honors; to Obama's Lincoln Memorial Inaugural Concert; Hong Kong's Handover to China 1997; and specials with James Taylor, Sting, Bono, Beyonce, Barishnikov, Fergie, Willie Nelson, and Barbra Streisand, among others.

Don's long and illustrious body of work ranks among the best and most watched in the world of entertainment.

About COMEDY CENTRAL

COMEDY CENTRAL, the only all-comedy network, currently is seen in more than 95 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.

Aileen Budow for COMEDY CENTRAL, +1-212-767-3952
aileen.budow@comedycentral.com