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COMEDY CENTRAL(R) Recreates a Classic and Greenlights 'The Gong Show with Dave Attell'

NEW YORK, May 8 PRNewswire — COMEDY CENTRAL and Sony Pictures Television are bringing back a classic series with a twist. Lauren Corrao, president, original programming and development, announced the network has greenlit, "The Gong Show with Dave Attell." The new series is scheduled to premiere on July 17.

Executive Produced by Happy Madison Productions and Andrew Golder ("Identity" and "Win Ben Stein's Money") in association with Sony Pictures Television, "The Gong Show with Dave Attell" will consist of eight to ten off-beat and hilarious acts that will be judged by a panel of three revolving celebrity judges. The search for talent has already begun and submissions are being accepted at gongshowcasting@aol.com. Zoe Friedman is the executive in charge of production for COMEDY CENTRAL.

"We are very excited to welcome Dave Attell back to the network and put the COMEDY CENTRAL touch on such a classic game/variety show," said Corrao. "Dave is the perfect guy to host this series. His dry, comedic wit paired with the outspoken personalities of our celebrity judges and the outrageous acts will create a fresh, new take on the famed series."

"Stars will be made, feelings will be hurt," said Attell.

"We are thrilled that COMEDY CENTRAL is going to introduce this iconic format from our library to a new generation of viewers and know that Happy Madison will bring their distinctive comedic filter to this beloved series," said Holly Jacobs, senior vice president syndication and reality, Sony Pictures Television.

Dave Attell is a COMEDY CENTRAL alum after hosting four seasons of the successful hit series, "Insomniac with Dave Attell," where he traveled city-to-city in search of late-night fun. Attell was most recently seen in his HBO one-hour stand-up special, "Captain Miserable," that aired in December 2007. Named one of the "25 Funniest People in America" by Entertainment Weekly, Attell shot several hour-long "Insomniac" specials overseas and hosted a two-hour special for COMEDY CENTRAL featuring Sean Rouse, Greg Geraldo and Dane Cook in Las Vegas. He also appeared in his own half-hour stand-up special on COMEDY CENTRAL, "Comedy Central Presents: Dave Attell," and has made numerous appearances on "The Late Show with David Letterman," "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," "The Howard Stern Show" and "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," among others.

Dave Attell is repped by 3Arts Entertainment and UTA.

Happy Madison Productions and Sony Pictures Television have also teamed up with COMEDY CENTRAL for the eleven-minute pilot presentation, "Gay Robot." Currently, Happy Madison, Sony Pictures Television and CBS/ Paramount are wrapping up their second season of the hit show, "Rules of Engagement."

On the feature side, Happy is producing "Bedtime Stories" with Gunn Films, Offspring Entertainment and Walt Disney Pictures, "Mall Cop" with Columbia Pictures and will release "You Don't Mess with The Zohan" in association with Relativity Media and Columbia Pictures on June 6 and "House Bunny" August 22.

Andrew Golder is a reality and game show producer who has also had a long history with COMEDY CENTRAL. His credits include six seasons on the Emmy(R)-winning game show, "Win Ben Stein's Money" as well as "Make Me Laugh," and "Don't Forget Your Toothbrush." He recently produced the NBC reality series, "Identity."

COMEDY CENTRAL, the only all-comedy network, currently is seen in more than 91 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 unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 150 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services — MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 300 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

SOURCE COMEDY CENTRAL Corporate Communications

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