No Joke: The Comedy Network Returns to Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival
Welcome Blank! MATCH GAME Returns for Star-Studded Second Season, Sept. 2 on Comedy
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TORONTO (August 16, 2013) – The Comedy Network declares “game on” this Labour Day when original series MATCH GAME returns for a second season of outrageous fun, Monday to Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT, beginning Sept. 2. One of Comedy’s most-watched original series ever, MATCH GAME reached an average of nearly two million viewers each week, averaging nearly 70,000 viewers every weeknight. Shot in Toronto, the retro-classic game show returns with 60 brand-new episodes of star-studded hilarity. Darrin Rose returns as host, giving contestants the chance to fill in the blanks and match wits and witticisms with the celebrity panel. The loquacious Seán Cullen and the delicious Debra DiGiovanni return to anchor the panel for the entire season.
Superstar Russell Peters joins the panel for an entire week, beginning Sept. 2
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Russell Peters helps kick off Season 2 of MATCH GAME as Brampton, Ontario’s own stand-up superstar joins the celebrity panel for an entire week. The entire sophomore season boasts an impressive roster of Canadian and international funny persons including Canadian comedy legend Catherine O’Hara, KIDS IN THE HALL vet Dave Foley (SPUN OUT), rapper and actor Ice-T (LAW AND ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT), DAILY SHOW correspondents John Hodgman and Kristen Schaal, actor Tom Cavanagh (ROYAL PAINS), actor and comedian Norm MacDonald (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE) and more. MATCH GAME fills in the blanks weeknights at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.
“I’m excited to host another round of blank-filling on MATCH GAME,” said host Darrin Rose. “Between the highly-intoxicating Seán and Deb, and the hilarious celebrity panel, I’m sure fans will find this season totally addictive.”
MATCH GAME is based on FremantleMedia’s international format, with local versions having been shown across the U.K., Canada, Australia, Germany, France, and Mexico.
MATCH GAME is produced by Zone3 in association with Bell Media. Executive producers are Isabelle Bourduas and Michael Kronish. Martha Kehoe is producer. Sarah Fowlie is Director, Independent Production, Comedy. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Catherine MacLeod is Vice-President, Specialty Channels, Bell Media. Rick Brace is President, Specialty Channels and CTV Production. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports.
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About Zone3
MATCH GAME Canada is produced by Montreal-based Zone3, Quebec’s top production house. The company focuses in three main areas: television production, film production, and live entertainment production. Zone3 was founded in 2000 by André Larin, Michel Bissonnette and Vincent Leduc, all of whom have held key positions in the Québec television and broadcasting industry. Michael Kronish and Isabelle Bourduas are the executives in charge of English language production. Zone3 is owned by Telesystem Ltd. and CDP TélécomMédias.
About FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia is one of the leading creators, producers and distributors of television entertainment brands in the world. FremantleMedia is part of RTL Group, the leading European entertainment network, which is in turn majority-owned by the international media company Bertelsmann. FremantleMedia is responsible for many of the world’s highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama, factual entertainment and kids & family programming, with market leading capabilities that extend from content creation to licensing, digital and branded entertainment, gaming and home entertainment. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes FremantleMedia North America, UFA, FremantleMedia UK, FremantleMedia Australia, Ludia, @radical.media and Original Productions, among others) has one of the most comprehensive global networks with operations in 22 countries, creating over 9,200 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 300 individual titles. The company also distributes more than 20,000 hours of content in over 150 countries. FremantleMedia has some of the world’s most sought after and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally produces such programmes as: Idols, Hole In The Wall, Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), Take Me Out, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife, Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten, and Neighbours.
About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada’s most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, while working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit CTV series include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, THE LISTENER, and MOTIVE, the #1 new Canadian series of the 2012/13 season. Airing this summer are relationship comedy SATISFACTION and THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, a record-breaking Canadian-produced, complementary version of the hit international series. To premiere in the 2013/14 season are the drama series PLAYED, multi-cam office comedy SPUN OUT, and hit international format MASTERCHEF CANADA. Among the scripted series on Bell Media pay and specialty channels are the two-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, the recently renewed ORPHAN BLACK, CSA-winning CALL ME FITZ, and upcoming dramas BITTEN and 19-2. Bell Media specialty channels are also home to reality series PANIC BUTTON and BRAVE NEW GIRL, game shows MATCH GAME and POP QUIZ, and factual series HIGHWAY THRU HELL, and CANADA’S WORST DRIVER, among others. So far in 2013, Bell Media has ordered 23 original Canadian series and put 52 projects into development.
About The Comedy Network
Canada’s first specialty comedy service, The Comedy Network airs comedy of all kinds, 24-hours-a-day, across multiple platforms, including a revolutionary broadband service at thecomedynetwork.ca. Launched in October 1997, The Comedy Network broadcasts, uncut and uncensored, an eclectic mix of scripted, stand-up, sketch, improv, and animated comedy – as well as topical comedy talk shows, game shows and classic situation comedies. Offering an unrivalled slate of original Canadian programming, The Comedy Network reinvests nearly 50 per cent of its revenues into home-grown productions. The Comedy Network is a division of Bell Media, which is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company, and is available in nearly six million households across the country.
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Source: BBM Canada, 10/15/12-2/3/13
For more information, please contact:
Andrea Allen, The Comedy Network, 416.384.5375 or andrea.allen@bellmedia.ca
Mary Costa, The Comedy Network, 416.384.7702 or mary.costa@bellmedia.caGet the latest announcements from Bell Media
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