Comedy Central Bulks Up Schedule

NEW YORK: Comedy Central has greenlit The Burn, set to premiere this summer, and two other new original series slated for 2013.

Review with Forrest MacNeil, starring Andrew Daly (Eastbound & Down), and Nathan For You, starring Canadian writer-comedian Nathan Fielder (Jon Benjamin Has a Van), have been greenlit by Comedy Central, in addition to The Burn, featuring "Roastmaster General" Jeff Ross.

In The Burn, Ross and fellow comics will roast public figures and current events. Ross has appeared in the last nine Comedy Central roasts and authored the 2009 book, I Only Roast the Ones I Love: Busting Balls Without Burning Bridges. It is executive produced by Ross, Mike Gibbons and Tagline Television’s Willie Mercer and Amy Zvi. Production is slated to begin this spring for a premiere this summer.

"Jeff embodies comedy past and comedy future simultaneously, and we are excited to be in the present with him," said Kent Alterman, the head of original programming and production.

The half-hour comedy Review with Forrest MacNeil features Daly’s character reviewing anything his TV audience throws at him from the adrenaline rush of stealing to the trauma of divorce, rating every adventure on a scale of zero to five stars. It is executive produced by Daly and Charlie Siskel (Tosh.0).

"This show will be a great service to society," commented Daly. "If you’re thinking about cheating on your spouse or murdering someone, please wait until we review it so you can avoid the pitfalls and enjoy the experience."

Nathan For You sees Fielder giving advice to real people and struggling businesses each week, usually doing more harm than good. It is executive produced by Fielder, Michael Koman (Important Things with Demetri Martin) and Dave Kneebone (Jon Benjamin Has a Van).

"I’m hoping the best advice Nathan ever gives me turns out to be that he advised me to pick up this show," Alterman added.
"Picking up my show is a great move for Comedy Central," Fielder noted. "I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a major uptick in Viacom stock today.”