COMEDY CENTRAL® GREENLIGHTS "SECRET GIRLFRIEND" SERIES
FROM “AMERICAN IDOL” PRODUCERS FREMANTLEMEDIA NORTH AMERICA
Hit Web Series Migrates From Online To On-Air Via FremantleMedia’s
Digital Comedy Channel “Atomicwedgietv.com”
NEW YORK, December 17, 2008 -- COMEDY CENTRAL has ordered six episodes of "Secret Girlfriend," a unique comedy series from FremantleMedia North America, it was announced today by Lauren Corrao, president, original programming and development, COMEDY CENTRAL.
Based on Atomicwedgietv.com's ground-breaking comedy series, "Secret Girlfriend" breaks the fourth wall with a first person format that makes the audience a central character in the irreverent life of a single guy, his best friends and the multiple girlfriends he juggles to try and keep secret from one another. Eric Weinberg ("Scrubs," "Californication") will serve as executive producer and showrunner, with Jay Rondot and Ross Novie, who created the original Webisodes and television pilot, also serving as executive producers. Each episode of "Secret Girlfriend," which is scheduled to premiere in the second half of 2009, will consist of six episodes, each containing two back-to-back 11-minute scripted mini-sodes.
"The 'Secret Girlfriend' clips on Atomic Wedgie were a great inspiration for an untraditional series with an authentic look at guys being guys in their mid 20's," said Corrao. "And, the first person camera POV allows our audience to place themselves at the center of all the action."
"We're extremely excited about this project," said Maureen FitzPatrick, senior vice president, digital content and development for FremantleMedia Enterprises. "It shows how engaging content can evolve from a digital to a broadcast platform as the worlds of both new and established media continue to converge."
Originally incubated on a mobile video platform before it became the highest-rated series on Atomicwedgietv.com - where it typically garners one-third of the Top 10 most-viewed clips monthly - "Secret Girlfriend" was nominated for a 2007 MIPCOM Mobile Award for Best Mobile Series and has received more than three million views on MySpace and YouTube since its debut.
"Secret Girlfriend" is produced by FremantleMedia North America. Eric Weinberg is executive producer and showrunner. Jay Rondot and Ross Novie are also executive producers. Scott Landsman and Monika Zielinska are the executives in charge of production for COMEDY CENTRAL.
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.
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.
ABOUT FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES
FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment. It is a division of FremantleMedia, one of the largest international creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment programming in over 40 countries worldwide. FremantleMedia is a subsidiary of RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company, which is 90% owned by Bertelsmann AG, an integrated media and entertainment company that commands leading positions in the world's media markets.
ABOUT FREMANTLEMEDIA NORTH AMERICA
FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. production division of global media giant FremantleMedia. Based in Burbank, California, FMNA produces entertaining and innovative television programs for network, cable and syndicated platforms, including the Emmy-nominated musical/reality phenomenon "American Idol" (FOX), "American Idol Rewind" (syndicated), "America's Got Talent" (NBC), "The Osbournes: Reloaded," "Celebrity Family Feud" (NBC), "Hole In The Wall" (FOX), "Farmer Wants A Wife" (The CW), "The Phone" (MTV), "Rock The Cradle" (MTV), "Can You Duet" (CMT), "The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency" (Oxygen), "Match Game" (TBS), "Family Feud" (syndicated), "Million Dollar Password" (CBS), and the longest-running game show in television history, "The Price Is Right" (CBS).
