COMEDY CENTRAL(R) Orders 'John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show' From Avalon Television

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Six One-Hour Episode Series Will Premiere January 8 At 11 P.M.

NEW YORK, Nov 18, 2009 -- COMEDY CENTRAL has ordered "John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show," a six episode stand-up series hosted by John Oliver ("The Daily Show with Jon Stewart") from Avalon Television, it was announced today by Elizabeth Porter, senior vice president, specials and talent, COMEDY CENTRAL. The series was shot in New York City and will premiere January 8 at 11:00 pm.

"When John Oliver said he wanted to host a stand-up series featuring his favorite comics, the only real question we had for him was 'How soon can we do it?'" said Porter. "He's a staple on 'The Daily Show' and is such an exceptional stand-up comic. It's awesome to know our audience is going to get more of him this way."

"It's the most worthwhile way you could spend an hour each week that doesn't involve getting Mount Rushmore gradually tattooed across your stomach," said Oliver.

Executive produced by Oliver and Avalon Television's Richard Allen-Turner, David Martin, James Taylor and Jon Thoday, "John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show" features stand-up from some of John Oliver's favorite comedians. Oliver opens each of the six episodes and introduces four stand-up guests over the hour. Paul F. Tompkins, Janeane Garofalo, Marc Maron, Brian Posehn, Kristen Schaal and Eugene Mirman close each of their episodes with super-sized sets. Other comics appearing on the series include Maria Bamford, Greg Fitzsimmons, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Nick Kroll, Matt Braunger, Hannibal Buress, Pete Holmes, Amy Schumer, Chris Hardwick, Matt McCarthy and Hari Kondabolu.

"It's a great pleasure to have the opportunity to produce Avalon's first series for COMEDY CENTRAL with such a brilliant comedian as John Oliver and so many other great stand-ups," said Jon Thoday, executive producer for Avalon Television and joint CEO of the Avalon Group.

John Oliver is a correspondent and an Emmy(R) Award-winning writer on the "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," which he joined in 2006. He recently appeared in three episodes of NBC's "Community" and he also appeared in his first COMEDY CENTRAL stand-up special, "John Oliver: Terrifying Times" in April 2008. Along with Andy Zaltzman, Oliver also writes and stars in a weekly podcast, "The Bugle: Audio Newspaper for a Visual World." Oliver has been nominated for both Emmy(R) and Writers Guild Awards and won the Breakout Award for his stand-up comedy performances at the Aspen Comedy Festival in 2007.

Avalon Television is a part of the Avalon Entertainment Group, Avalon Television has production operations in London and Los Angeles specializing in prime time entertainment programming. Recent shows include: four-time BAFTA Award-winning, Harry Hill's TV Burp (ITV1) which is currently attracting British television audiences of 12 million; British Comedy Award-winning, Al Murray's Happy Hour, Royal Television Society Award-winning and Rose d'Or Award-winning, Not Going Out (BBC ONE); Russell Howard's Good News BBC Three's highest ever rating entertainment show; Garth Marenghi's Darkplace (Channel 4, Adult Swim and Sci Fi); double Rose d'Or Award-winning Kombat Opera Presents... (BBC TWO); and Austin Film Festival Award winner and the Broadcast Award nominee, Dave Gorman in America Unchained (Channel 4). Avalon's internet address is

www.avalonuk.com

.

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 division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products. The company's portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 400 digital media properties worldwide, and includes

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CMT

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Logo

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Harmonix

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Nickelodeon

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Nick at Nite

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Nick Jr.

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TeenNick

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AddictingGames

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Neopets

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COMEDY CENTRAL

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SPIKE

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TV Land

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Atom

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GameTrailers

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Xfire

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