Five New Comedy Projects Join Bell Media’s Original Development Slate

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TORONTO (November 15, 2013) – BellMedia announced today from the Canadian International Television Festival theaddition of five new comedy projects to its original development slate, led byseasoned writers and producers Mark McKinney (LESS THAN KIND, KIDS IN THE HALL),Rob Sheridan (NEXT CALLER, 18 TO LIFE, LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE), JaredKeeso (19-2), Paul Mather (CORNER GAS, DAN FOR MAYOR, THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW),and Ilana Frank (SAVING HOPE, ROOKIE BLUE). The new projects join a robustslate of at least 15 other original Bell Media comedies already in developmentfor potential new pilots and/or series. Drama and Factual development projectswill be announced at a later date.

“We have a longtradition of working with the best comedic talent in thecountry and we’re continuing on that path,” said CorrieCoe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. “Producinghomegrown, original comedy is very important to us and we look forward todeveloping these projects even further.”

The five new comedies are (working titles):

WE’RE ADULTS NOW

From comedic genius Mark McKinney, a half-hour scripted series aboutyoung 20-somethings. 
Attached:

• Mark McKinney
• Breakthrough Entertainment (Ira Levy and Diane Boehme, LESS THAN KIND)

THE TEAM

A multi-cam sitcom about a rag tag group of friends.

Attached:

• Rob Sheridan

LETTERKENNY

A comedy series based on the YouTube sensation LETTERKENNY PROBLEMS.

Attached:

• Jared Keeso
• New Metric Media (Mark Montefiore and Patrick O’Sullivan), Ben Nemtin (THE BURIED LIFE)

THE UNTITLED PAUL MATHERPROJECT

A scripted workplacecomedy about lifelong frenemies.  
Attached

• Paul Mather

METHOD

A comedy series loosely based on a BravoFACT short of the same name.
Attached

• ICF Films (Ilana Frank), Peter Mooney (ROOKIE BLUE), Gregory Smith (ROOKIE BLUE), and David Wellington, Peter Wellington, and Sonia Hosko (SAVING HOPE, ROOKIE BLUE) 

The five new comedies join BellMedia’s current development slate featuring 15 other projects (working titles):

AGAINST THE LAW

An unscripted half-hourcourtroom format.
Attached:

• Jeremy Hotz
• Lone Eagle Entertainment (Rachel Horvath, YOU GOTTA EAT HERE)
  
  

BESTIES

An ensemble comedy aboutfamily and friendship.
Attached:

• Force Four Entertainment (Rob Hardy and John Ritchie, SEED)
• James Phillips (LAST RIDE)
  .

BREAKING

A workplace comedy set inthe world of new media.

Attached:

• Amaze Film + Television’s Michael Souther and Teza Lawrence (CALL ME FITZ)
• Author Zoe Whittall (Bottle Rocket Hearts)

CHASING MANHOOD

A scripted ensemble comedyinspired by Darrin Rose’s stand-up material.
Attached:

• Darrin Rose
  
  

DIVORCEPARTY

A scripted comedy aboutthree women experiencing life after divorce.
Attached:

• New Metric Media (Mark Montefiore and Patrick O’Sullivan)
• Jessie Gabe (BEING ERICA, MR. D)
• Linsey Stewart (BEING ERICA)

FRIDAY
An edgy, urban ensemble comedy.
Attached:

• Six Eleven Media’s Charles Bishop
• Carolyn Taylor (CORNER GAS) 
  
  

GOODBEHAVIOUR

A scripted half-hourcomedy about parenthood.
Attached:

• Entertainment One’s Mackenzie Lush and Rachel Fulford
• Allana Harkin (The Atomic Fireballs)
• Jennifer Whalen (INSECURITY) 

THELAINEY GOSSIP PROJECT

A half-hour dramedyinspired by LaineyGossip.com.
Attached:

• Amaze Film + Television’s Michael Souther and Teza Lawrence (CALL ME FITZ)
• Elaine Lui (THE SOCIAL, ETALK)

MATT & JEFF

A half-hour bromancecomedy.
Attached:

• Vérité Films’ Virginia Thompson (CORNER GAS)
• Mike McPhaden (SEED, INSECURITY)
  
  

THEANGELO SHOW

A multi-cam sitcom inspiredby the comedy of Angelo Tsarouchas (SULLIVAN & SON, MAD MEN).
Attached:

• Wild West Productions’ Vince Vaughn (SULLIVAN & SON), Howard Busgang, and Tom Nursall
  
  

UNGROWNUP

A scripted half-hour hybridcomedy about family.
Attached:

• Just For Laughs’ Evi Regev (JUST FOR LAUGHS: ALL ACCESS)
• Adam Brodie (FUNNY AS HELL, SCARE TACTICS)
• David Derewlany (FREAK ENCOUNTERS, THE JON DORE TELEVISION SHOW)
  
  

THE UNTITLEDVERA SANTAMARIA PROJECT

A blind pilot deal withacclaimed writer/producer Vera Santamaria (COMMUNITY).       
Attached:

• Vera Santamaria
  
  

THE VIRGIN CHRONICLES

A scripted, half-hour,“fish-out-of-water” comedy.
Attached:

• Mark Sawers (ALIENATED)
  
  

WHO NEEDSENEMIES

A scripted, half-hourrelationship comedy.
Attached:

• Farpoint Films’ Kyle Bornais (HOUSE PARTY)
• Collin Friesen (THE BIG WHITE)

WITH ORWITHOUT YOU

A female-centric scriptedcomedy about friendship.
Attached:

• Sphere Media’s Carolyn Newman(19-2)
• Barbara Haynes (SPUN OUT)

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About Bell MediaIndependent Production
Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada’s most-watched and most-acclaimedoriginal programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers inthe country. Hit CTV series include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, THELISTENER, MOTIVE, the #1 new Canadian scripted series of the 2012/13 season,and THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, the record-breaking, Canadian-producedcomplementary version of the hit international series. CTV is also home todrama series PLAYED, and premiering in the 2013/14 season, multi-cam officecomedy SPUN OUT, and hit international format MASTERCHEF CANADA. Among thescripted series on Bell Media pay and specialty channels are the two-timeEmmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, the recently renewed ORPHAN BLACK, CSA-winningCALL ME FITZ, and upcoming dramas BITTEN, SENSITIVE SKIN, 19-2, and KILLJOYS.Bell Media specialty channels are also home to reality series such as BRAVE NEWGIRLS, game shows MATCH GAME and POP QUIZ, and factual series HIGHWAY THRU HELLand CANADA’S WORST DRIVER, among others. So far in 2013, Bell Media has ordered24 original Canadian series and put 74 projects into development.

About CTV
CTV is Canada’s #1 private broadcaster.Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainmentprogramming, CTV has been Canada’s most-watched television network for the past12 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimediacompany with leading assets in television, radio and digital. Bell Media ispart of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company.More information about CTV can be found on the network’s website at ctv.ca.

– CTV –

For more information,please contact:

JimQuan, CTV, 416.384.5311 or jim.quan@bellmedia.ca