Dylan Stableford reports:
A live sex show, a J.B. Smoove-hosted stand-up series, “SNL” alums and “JC” -- an animated show about Jesus -- are on a wildly diverse 2010-2011 development slate at Comedy Central that the network plans to announce Thursday.
Among the notable unscheduled projects in development: "Highdeas," a comedy reality show based on the Web site highdeas.com, in which co-hosts “explore the kind of mind-blowing questions that can only be posed by stoners”; "Live Sex Show," a live, fully interactive panel show that “takes a comedic look at all things sex”; "Patrice Oneal's Guide to White People” (exactly what it sounds like); "Steel Panther," a “loosely scripted docu-reality show follows the outrageous and popular 1980s-style hairband as they attempt to bring back heavy metal; and “JC,” a half-hour animated show about Jesus Christ “wanting to escape his father's enormous shadow and to live life in NYC as a regular guy.”
According to Kent Alterman, the network’s head of original programming, the diversity was intended. “I’m not really good at formulas,” Alterman said. “We try to make shows that people want to watch – in comedy there’s an elusive alchemy. And if you start to overthink it, it becomes unfunny, and people can smell it.”
(Read also: Comedy Central's Head of Programming: Grilled)
Comedy Central also set premiere dates for previously announced series including the return of "Futurama" (June 24), the Adam McKay-/Will Ferrell-produced "Big Lake" starring Chris Parnell and Horatio Sanz (August), "Nick Swardson's Pretend Time" (October), "The Onion Sports Network" (January 2011), "Workaholics" (February 2011) and "Russell Simmons Presents: Stand-Up at the El Rey" (July 11).
The network already announced the pick-up of additional episodes of "Ugly Americans" and a third season renewal for "Tosh.0."
One thing not in development at Comedy Central: anything from “The State” alums Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter or Thomas Lennon. The network canceled “Reno 9/11” last year and “Michael & Michael Have Issues” earlier this year.
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COMEDY CENTRAL 2010-2011 DEVELOPMENT SLATE
SERIES IN PRODUCTION
"Futurama" – premieres Thursday, June 24
The Emmy Award-winning "Futurama" is back! Everybody's favorite zany group from the future has returned with 12 brand-new episodes, premiering right here on COMEDY CENTRAL. Twentieth century pizza delivery boy Philip J. Fry (Billy West) is still jetting around the universe with his favorite drunken robot Bender (John DiMaggio) and tough, but lovely, one-eyed alien Leela (Katey Sagal). Created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen, "Futurama" is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television, with Rough Draft Studios, Inc. contributing the animation.
"Russell Simmons Presents: Stand-Up at the El Rey" – premieres Sunday, July 11
Executive produced by Russell Simmons and Stan Lathan, the unique stand-up show with a hip hop vibe, hosted by JB Smoove ("Curb Your Enthusiasm") will reflect the urban culture of today's youth through stand-up comedy. Each episode will consist of three up-and-coming comics and will feature music created by DJ Cassidy.
"Big Lake" – premieres August TBD
From executive producers Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy, "Big Lake" stars Chris Gethard as Josh Franklin, a young man who won't let anything get in the way of his big dreams, even losing his job and having to live on his parents' couch.
