In terms of original programming, you could say that Spike TV — which announced a major original-programming expansion on Thursdday — has a little momentum going for it.
For starters, season two of the young-male-targeted MTV channel's signature original comedy series, "Blue Mountain State," debuted 34 percent ahead of the show's season one average.
The college-football-based comedy also got an added publicity boost when new cast member Denise Richards — in New York to do press for Spike — suddenly saw her call sheet quadruple with inquiries about her troubled ex-husband, Charlie Sheen.
"There's no end to the amount of free publicity we got from Charlie's antics," noted Spike president Kevin Kay, while on the phone with TheWrap to announce the addition of six new original comedies and a drama about domestic terrorism.
Included in that bounty is an untitled scripted comedy about air traffic controllers from reality men-of-danger maven Thom Beers, and "Thunderballs," a sitcom about a bunch of guys in a bowling league from Jim and Steve Armogida ("Grounded for Life").
Also on the slate: a comedy about a sportswriter from former "30 Rock" and "SNL" director Beth McCarthy Miller; "Powerball," which follows the travails of a young nerdowell who wins the lottery from former "Mad TV" writers Ike Barinholtz, David Stassen and Steven Cragg; "At Ease," a sitcom about Army drill sergeants; and a family comedy from former "Married with Children" scribe Russell Marcus.
Meanwhile, drama FTW focuses on an Atlanta police officer who gets recruited to work for the Department of Homeland Security.
According to Kay, Spike is looking to expand its audience beyond its core 18-34 male demo, and reach men who are a little older.
"We're trying to grow a little older," he said. "And putting a lot of workplace comedies on our schedule will help us do that."
