COMEDY CENTRAL® AND THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY
AGREE TO MULTI-PICTURE, FIRST WINDOW FILM PACKAGE
Deal Includes "Superhero Movie," "Fanboys" And "The Promotion"
NEW YORK, May 7, 2008 -- COMEDY CENTRAL and The Weinstein Company today announced that they have reached an agreement for the first broadcast-window premiere rights to a multi-picture package of comedies, it was announced today by David Bernath, senior vice president, programming, COMEDY CENTRAL.
As part of the agreement COMEDY CENTRAL has acquired the first-window premiere rights to the full-length theatrical features "Superhero Movie," “Fanboys” and “The Promotion”. In “Superhero Movie” the creators of "Scary Movie and "The Naked Gun" take aim at some of the biggest blockbusters in movie history with an all-star cast headlined by Drake Bell, Sara Paxton, Christopher McDonald, Pamela Anderson, Tracy Morgan, Regina Hall and Leslie Nielsen. The upcoming release of "Fanboys," starring Jay Baruchel, Dan Fogler, Sam Huntington, Christopher Marquette, Kristen Bell and Jaime King, is set in 1998 and tells the story of a group of former high school friends who reunite and embark on an epic cross-country trip to visit their Mecca - George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch - to break in, steal “Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace” and stake their claim as the first fanboys in history to watch it. In "The Promotion," John C. Reilly and Seann William Scott star in the story of two mid-level Chicago supermarket employees who compete ruthlessly for a coveted managerial post at a new store location.
"We're excited to continue our relationship with The Weinstein Company and Bob and Harvey Weinstein, who have produced some of the most popular and long-lasting comedies over the past decade, and give our viewers the first opportunity to watch these three great films," said Bernath.
The agreement was negotiated on behalf of COMEDY CENTRAL by Susie Kricena, vice president, acquisitions, COMEDY CENTRAL.
Descriptions of the three films follow:
SUPERHERO MOVIE
How many superheroes does it take to save the world? The creators of "The Naked Gun" and "Scary Movie" answer this question in hysterical David Zucker-fashion with the uproarious comedy "Superhero Movie." Meet Rick Riker. He’s young, he’s cool and he’s got superpowers. Now, if he only knew how to use them…but the world is in danger and no one is safe when Zucker and the gang - headed by the hilarious cast of Drake Bell, Sara Paxton, Christopher McDonald, Pamela Anderson, Tracy Morgan, Regina Hall, Leslie Nielsen and many others - take aim at some of the biggest blockbusters of our time including Spider-Man, Batman, X-Men, and Fantastic Four, to name a few.
FANBOYS
It's 1998 and "Star Wars" fanboys across the globe eagerly await the release of "Episode I." But for Eric, Linus, Hutch and Windows the term "fanboy" is more than just a title, it's a badge of honor. Spurred by impatience and an undying loyalty to their cause, these former high school friends reunite to undertake the road trip of their fan-tasies. Traveling west across the country to visit their Mecca - George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch - the plan is to break in, steal the film and stake their claim as the first fanboys in history to watch it. But to secure their place in the fanboy hall of fame, they'll have to contend with bizarre bikers, a crazy pimp, a deranged group of trekkies and the quiet intensity of William Shatner. Starring Jay Baruchel, Dan Fogler, Sam Huntington, Christopher Marquette, Kristen Bell and Jaime King, with Billy Dee Williams, Carrie Fisher, and William Shatner.
THE PROMOTION
Oscar®-nominated actor, John C. Reilly ("Chicago," "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby") and Seann William Scott ("American Pie") lend their deft comedic touch to the story of two mid-level Chicago supermarket employees – Doug and Richard, a dubious new guy from Canada - who compete ruthlessly for a coveted managerial post at a new store location. Doug and Richard could not be more different, but going head-to-head in a contest of wits and will reveals how they have more in common than they once suspected. The duo battle toward a hilarious final showdown that will leave you guessing until the very end. The film is the directorial debut of Steve Conrad, the writer of the "The Pursuit of Happyness."
About The Weinstein Company
The Weinstein Company (TWC) was created by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films Corporation in 1979. TWC is a multi-media company that officially launched on October 1, 2005. Dimension Films, the genre label that was founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, is also included under the TWC banner.
During the Weinsteins' tenure at Miramax Films the company released some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful independent feature films which received 249 Academy Award® nominations and won 60 Oscars®, have generated billions of dollars in worldwide box office receipts and billions more in home video sales. In its history, Dimension Films has released some of the most successful franchises including "Scream," "Spy Kids" and "Scary Movie."
About COMEDY CENTRAL
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.
