EPIX On Board for Lewis Black Comedy Special

NEW YORK: EPIX is to present the original comedy event Stark Raving Black, featuring The Daily Show contributor Lewis Black.

The special will be filmed at the historic Fillmore Theater in Detroit, and will be taped in front of a sold-out, standing-room-only audience. Stark Raving Black will be available on EPIX in December. Following the premiere of this hour-long event, fans will be invited to join Black online in the EPIX Event Theater at epixHD.com to ask questions, trade quips and interact.

Stark Raving Black will also hit theaters in this fall throughout 20 U.S. markets, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, DC, Atlanta and Detroit, and will feature an introduction to EPIX. Additionally, the special will be theatrically released in 25 international markets.

“Lewis Black defines the kind of original, smart content EPIX is going to deliver,” said EPIX’ president, Mark Greenberg. “His comedy is right at the edge of social and political commentary and EPIX is at the forefront of an entirely new way to experience entertainment.”

EPIX is a joint venture between Viacom, its Paramount Pictures unit, MGM and Lionsgate. In the fourth quarter of 2009, EPIX will launch its next-generation premium entertainment channel, VOD and Internet service that combines new and classic feature films and original programming, including series, music and comedy specials.