CTV Comedy Channel Delivers Nationwide Freeview Packed with Jousts, Roasts, and Stand Up Galore, Beginning June 18

Tags: @CTV_PR, @TheLede_ca, @CTVComedy

  TORONTO (June 11, 2020) – CTV Comedy Channel ushers in summer with a nationwide free preview beginning June 18, jam-packed with new seasons, series, and stand-up specials to crack-up Canadians in need of a laugh. Available until July 23, CTV Comedy’s freeview features an all-new season of the CTV Comedy Original, THE STAND UP SHOW WITH JON DORE, premiering Tuesday, June 30 at 10 pm. ET/PT. Filmed at the 2019 Just For Laughs festival in Montréal, renowned Canadian comic Jon Dore steps up to the mic to thrill audiences and spotlight some of the biggest and up-and-coming names in comedy, including Sasheer Zamata, Kyle Brownrigg, LETTERKENNY’s Mark Forward, and  Jackie Pirico. Also debuting during the free preview is the edgy new animated series CROSSING SWORDS (June 18); the outrageous gameshow YOUR FACE OR MINE (June 28), hosted by legendary British comic Jimmy Carr and Canada’s own Katherine Ryan; a look back at old stand up sets with special premiere of THE THROWBACK STARRING WANDA SYKES (June 28); the special documentary premiere of THIS IS STAND UP (June 28); imported burns courtesy of a new season of ROAST BATTLE UK (June 29); and a host of marathons including the revival of MAD ABOUT YOU (June 21). For the most searing takes in late night, viewers can catch new episodes of THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH (Monday – Thursday at 11 p.m. ET/PT), and FULL FRONTAL WITH SAMANTHA BEE (Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT) throughout the freeview. CTV Comedy’s freeview is available through participating television service providers across the country, including but not limited to Bell, Bell Aliant, BellMTS, Cogeco, Eastlink, Rogers, SaskTel, Shaw, Shaw Direct, Telus, and participating members of the CCSA. Subscribers and non-subscribers alike can sample select CTV Comedy Channel programming during the freeview at ctvcomedy.ca and on demand via set-top box with participating TV providers. See below for premiere dates and descriptions for new and returning CTV Comedy series, specials, and marathon programming available during CTV Comedy’s free preview. All dates are subject to change.   New and Returning Series CROSSING SWORDS *New Series* Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT beginning June 18 From the team behind the Emmy^®-winning animated series ROBOT CHICKEN, the 10-episode, half-hour stop-motion comedy follows good hearted peasant Patrick (Nicholas Hoult, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD), whose dream job of being a knight turns out to be more of a knight–mare as he discovers that his beloved kingdom is being run amuck by a group of dysfunctional royals, jesters, and crooks. CROSSING SWORDS is packed with unruly subjects, medieval torture, and even a royal sex dungeon. Joining Holt to bring life to the court of brightly coloured, sometimes nude, peg people is an all-star cast of voices that includes Adam Ray (AMERICAN VANDAL), Tara Strong (TEEN TITANS GO!), Tony Hale (VEEP), Luke Evans (THE ALIENIST), Seth Green (FAMILY GUY), Alanna Ubach (EUPHORIA), Adam Pally (THE MINDY PROJECT), Yvette Nicole Brown (COMMUNITY), Maya Erskine (PEN15), Breckin Meyer (ROBOT CHICKEN), and Wendi McLendon-Covey (THE GOLDBERGS).   YOUR FACE OR MINE *New Series* Sunday, June 28 at 3 p.m. ET/PT Hosted by Jimmy Carr and Katherine Ryan, YOUR FACE OR MINE is a hilarious gameshow that challenges contestants to predict how attractive, or unattractive, people really think they are. Competing in pairs, contestants must measure their perceived attractiveness against another person over the course of four rounds, whether it is an audience member, a celebrity, a person from their past, and even their partners. If their assessment matches with the studio audience, they’ll bank prize money each round. Premiering Sunday, June 28, viewers can catch the entire 10-episode first season beginning at 3 p.m. ET.   ROAST BATTLE UK *New Season* Monday – Thursday at 11 p.m. ET/PT beginning June 29 Season 2 finale airs Thursday, July 2 at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT British comedy icon Jimmy Carr and Katherine Ryan return for the second season of ROAST BATTLE UK along with brand new judge Jonathan Ross. Packed with more outrageous roasts, season two spotlights some of the finest comedians around the UK, including Chris Ramsey, Rosie Jones, and Daniel Sloss.   THE STAND UP SHOW WITH JON DORE *New Season* Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT beginning June 30 Canadian comedy legend Jon Dore takes the helm of an all-new season of THE STAND UP SHOW. With his well-honed offbeat humour, Jon presents some of the biggest names on the international comedy scene working today, including Canadian comic Sophie Buddle as well as Nathan Macintosh, Jim Norton, Big Jay Oakerson, Dan Soder, and many more.   Special Premieres THE THROWBACK STARRING WANDA SYKES *Special Premiere* Sunday, June 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT Hosted by comedy icon Wanda Sykes, the hour-long special takes a look back at the early stand up sets from some of today’s most established comics. Featuring Jon Dore, Cristela Alonzo, and Andy Kindler, the comics join Sykes on stage to screen and critique some of their early stand-up set, sharing stories about their first gigs and cringing at some of their outdated jokes and wardrobe choices.   THIS IS STAND UP *Special Premiere* Sunday, June 28 at 10 p.m. ET/PT This two-hour documentary explores the cherished but little understood art-form of stand-up comedy. Featuring intimate interviews with some of the biggest names in comedy, including Judd Apatow, Tiffany Haddish, Chris Rock, Sarah Silverman, and Bob Saget, THIS IS STAND UP delves into the experiences of comics, from the struggle for stage time to relentless touring schedules, and everything in-between the jokes, bits, and stage personas.   Marathon Programming MAD ABOUT YOU Revival Marathon Sunday, June 21 beginning at 4 p.m. ET/PT Viewers can spend Sunday with the Buchmans as CTV Comedy delivers all 12 episodes of the MAD ABOUT YOU revival. JEFF DUNHAM MARATHON Sunday, July 5 beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET/PT Jeff Dunham and his puppets take over the day with a marathon of some of his biggest specials, including JEFF DUNHAM: ARGUING WITH MYSELF, JEFF DUNHAM: SPARK OF INSANITY, and JEFF DUNHAM @ JFL. COMEDY CENTRAL ROAST MARATHON Sunday, July 19 beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET/PT CTV Comedy turns up the heat with a marathon of roasts, including THE ROAST OF JUSTIN BIEBER, THE ROAST OF BOB SAGET, and THE ROAST OF BRUCE WILLIS.