Comedy Central to Preview its New Series Online

Posted on March 11, 1999

Comedy Central opens the doors for critics everywhere as the network begins previewing its new series on Comedy Central Online. The preview kicked off March 8th with several preview clips from Strangers with Candy, the first of four new series scheduled to debut on the network between April and June.

"This unique opportunity gives Comedy Central a chance to generate a following for a show before it even hits the air," said Larry Lieberman, vice president, strategic planning and new business development. "Users look to Comedy Central Online as their direct connection to the network for inside information, and these previews help make the site that much more valuable as an extension of the channel."

The Strangers with Candy preview, available to users with a Quicktime player, will set up the half-hour live-action, narrative series that follows the misadventures of Jerri Blank (played by Amy Sedaris), a 47-year old high school dropout, and self-described former "user, boozer and loser", whose only friends were "dealers, cons and 18-carat pimps". Back at home after 32 years as a teenage runaway, Jerri picks up her life exactly where she left it: living at home and starting her freshman year in high school.

Upcoming previews will highlight Vs. (debuting on-air May 31 at 5:00 p.m.), a new game show that pits two three-member teams with completely opposite backgrounds (hunters vs. PETA members, cowboys vs. Indians from India, S.W.A.T. teams vs. postal workers) and tests their knowledge of pop culture, the world and each other; Frank Leaves For the Orient, (debuting on-air June 14 at 10:00 p.m.) about a 30-something guy who attempts to wrap up his life, break up with his girlfriend, quit his job, etc. before moving to Japan to teach English; and The Man Show, (debuting on-air June 16 at 10:30 p.m.) hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla that takes an unapologetic look at things men like, do and think.