Everything about Comedy Central totally explained
Comedy Central is an
American cable television and
satellite television channel that carries predominantly
comedy programming, both original and
syndicated. Since late 2006, local versions of Comedy Central (which don't have identical schedules to their U.S. counterpart) have launched in European markets such as
Poland,
Germany, the
Netherlands, and
Italy.
Programming
History
Creation
In November 1989,
Time Warner, owners of
HBO, launched
The Comedy Channel as the first cable channel devoted exclusively to comedy-based programming. In April 1990,
Viacom (who owned
MTV,
VH1, and
Nickelodeon) launched an edgier rival channel called
Ha! After two years of limited distribution, the two channels merged into one, relaunching on
April Fools' Day 1991 as
CTV: The Comedy Network. Viacom bought out Time Warner's half in April 2003 for $1.23 billion.
1991–1997
From the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, much of the programming on Comedy Central, and its predecessors, consisted of
comedy films,
sitcom reruns and half-hour specials and clip-shows featuring
stand up comedians. With the exception of the cult favorite
Mystery Science Theater 3000, the channel had a relatively small viewership. A notable early success was
Politically Incorrect with
Bill Maher, which after showing promise on Comedy Central was quickly snapped up by the
ABC network. Additionally,
The Daily Show had got its start with premiere host
Craig Kilborn, although it would take a few more years for the show to reach high popularity (with the introduction of
Jon Stewart).
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist was also a notable original program from this era.
South Park
The channel made a breakthrough when
South Park premiered in 1997. The first major cable show to carry the
TV-MA rating for mature audiences, the show was too controversial to be picked up by a mainstream network. As word-of-mouth spread, the number of people who requested that Comedy Central be added to their cable systems increased, and the channel became available in over 50% of American homes by 1998.
2002–2003
In 2002,
Comedy Central Records was formed as a means of releasing albums by comedians that have appeared on the network.
Since 2003, Comedy Central has created a tradition of "roasting" comedians in tradition of the New York
Friars Club roasts. During these roasts friends of the roastee, along with comedians, take turns making fun of the roastee, the other roasters and occasionally audience members. So far, the roastees have included
Drew Carey,
Jerry Stiller,
Rob Reiner,
Hugh Hefner,
Chevy Chase,
Denis Leary,
Jeff Foxworthy,
Pamela Anderson,
William Shatner, and
Flavor Flav.
The Secret Stash
The success of
South Park, despite its mature content, encouraged the network to continue to push the limits on adult language. Every Saturday and Sunday morning at 1 A.M., a movie, comedy special or animated program is shown unedited for language. This is called the
Secret Stash. It premiered on
July 4,
2003 (with the unedited cable television debut of the
South Park movie). Though no language is censored on the Secret Stash, most nudity in the programs is still edited out, with the exception of limited nudity allowed in animated programs (such as
Drawn Together) and the occasional
topless scene.
2004–2006
In late 2004, it was reported that the top four rated shows on Comedy Central, in order, were
South Park,
Chappelle's Show,
The Daily Show, and
Reno 911!. Shortly thereafter,
Dave Chappelle backed out of the much-anticipated third season of
Chappelle's Show. Meanwhile,
The Daily Show continued to climb in ratings. In October 2005, on the occasion of a new three-year contract for
South Park and the launch of
The Colbert Report, it was reported that
South Park and
The Daily Show were the two highest
rated shows on Comedy Central. Comedy Central chief
Doug Herzog was reported as saying that he hoped to continue to air new seasons of
South Park forever, and that
The Colbert Report fulfilled a long-held plan to extend the
Daily Show brand.
On
April 5,
2006, in a controversial two part episode arc titled "
Cartoon Wars Part I" and "
Cartoon Wars Part II",
South Park touched the issue of the
recent Muslim protest over the
Danish comic strips depicting the
Muslim prophet
Muhammad. The image of Muhammad didn't appear in the episode. On
April 13,
2006, Comedy Central issued a statement which appears to confirm that the network prohibited the show's creators from airing an image of Muhammad. The statement reads,
"In light of recent world events, we feel we made the right decision." An anonymous source close to the show indicated that
South Park creators
Trey Parker and
Matt Stone were informed of the policy several weeks earlier, and wrote this story arc in protest. This is a significant change of policy for Comedy Central, having allowed
South Park to portray an image of Muhammad in an earlier episode, "
Super Best Friends."
On
October 19,
2006, MTV Networks International launched Comedy Central in Poland. The channel contains 34 series and 3 shows from the U.S., Canada, and Europe (for example
Saturday Night Live,
Scrubs,
Drawn Together,
The King of Queens,
Desperate Housewives,
The Daily Show,
Eskimo Limon) and 4 programs from Poland (
Kookły,
Hu jak humor,
Było sobie porno,
Włatcy móch"). On Friday and Saturday the channel broadcasts films.
2007–2008
On Monday January 15, 2007, MTV Networks International launched Comedy Central in Germany. It is the first 24 hour German-speaking comedy channel in Germany which is available for free throughout Europe. The channel airs 33 shows either dubbed in German or subtitled while also airing locally produced shows. As of April 30, Dutch channel The Box has been transformed into the Dutch version of Comedy Central during the primetime and overnight hours timesharing with Nickelodeon. And on May 1, 2007 the channel has launched in Italy replacing Paramount Comedy.
As of June 27, 2007, CTVglobemedia-owned networks CTV and The Comedy Network have exclusive Canadian rights to the entire Comedy Central library of past and current programs on all electronic platforms, under a multi-year agreement with Viacom, expanding on past programming agreements between the two channels. Canadian users attempting to visit Comedy Central websites will also be redirected to The Comedy Network's website. The Canadian channel will keep its own brand name, but the agreement is otherwise very similar to the earlier CTV/Viacom deal for MTV in Canada.
On January 9, 2008, it was announced the Comedy Central and MTV would put programs online for free starting in February. On January 24, Scott Landsman became the Vice President of Original Programming and Development at the network.
On the 27th of March, 2008, the Swedish Radio and TV Authority approved an application from Comedy Central regarding being allowed to air television programs in Sweden. The grant allows Comedy Central to broadcast on the terrestrial television network between January 1, 2009, and March 31, 2014, after which a new request must be submitted in order to continue broadcasting. The main Comedy Central network in the United States picked up a remake of The Gong Show hosted by Dave Attell, star of his former self-titled Comedy Central series Insomniac for premiere in July 2008.
Criticism
Comedy Central has been a frequent target of criticism from the conservative media watchdog group Parents Television Council, which accuses them of bigotry and blasphemy, especially within the programs South Park, The Sarah Silverman Program, Halfway Home, and the annual "Roast" special. In fact, the PTC has used their criticisms against Comedy Central for their support of the Family and Consumer Choice Act of 2007, which would allow American cable TV subscribers to choose which channels they subscribe to, and to persuade advertisers to stop advertising on the channel. PTC founder and former president L. Brent Bozell III has called the channel unfunny, claiming the channel has managed "to reach the top of its field in spite of – or, better put, because of – the network's sheer lack of comedic talent" due to the channel's extensive reliance on shocking or disgusting humor. The channel has also received criticism from certain parents and feminists for airing advertisements for "Girls Gone Wild". The channel also airs the least cut version of the popular film Not Another Teen Movie, as well as uncut versions of films such as Coming to America and Dogma.
On November 5, 2007, an open letter was written by VideoSift to publicly protest the blocking of Comedy Central's embedded video content for non U.S. based viewers.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Comedy Central'.
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