COMEDY CENTRAL and MTV Networks, both divisions of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), have tapped New York City to host "The Comedy Awards," the first-ever multi-network, multi-platform, annual event dedicated to honoring and celebrating the world of comedy, it was announced today by Doug Herzog, president, MTV Networks Entertainment Group. A night for comedy of all kinds, "The Comedy Awards" will be taped at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom on Saturday, March 26 and will premiere on Sunday, April 10, 2011, simultaneously across MTV Networks' COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, VH1 and Nick At Nite. The 2011 nominees include:
COMEDY SERIES
30 Rock
Eastbound & Down
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Modern Family
The Office
COMEDY ACTOR - TV
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Steve Carell, The Office
Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock
Danny McBride, Eastbound & Down
COMEDY ACTRESS - TV
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
Jane Lynch, Glee
Betty White, Hot in Cleveland
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
COMEDY ACTOR - FILM
Russell Brand, Get Him to the Greek
Will Ferrell, The Other Guys
Zach Galifianakis, Dinner for Schmucks
Paul Giamatti, Barney’s Version
Jonah Hill, Cyrus
COMEDY ACTRESS - FILM
Tina Fey, Date Night
Anne Hathaway, Love & Other Drugs
Helen Mirren, Red
Chloë Moretz, Kick-Ass
Emma Stone, Easy A
LATE NIGHT COMEDY SERIES
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Show with David Letterman
SKETCH COMEDY/ALTERNATIVE COMEDY SERIES
Childrens Hospital
Funny or Die Presents
Saturday Night Live
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
Tosh.0
STAND-UP SPECIAL
Aziz Ansari: Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening
Bill Maher…But I’m Not Wrong
Louis C.K.: Hilarious
Ricky Gervais: Out of England 2
Whitney Cummings: Money Shot
COMEDY FILM
Cyrus
Easy A
Get Him to the Greek
Kick-Ass
The Other Guys
ANIMATED COMEDY FILM
Despicable Me
Megamind
Shrek Forever After
Toy Story 3
ANIMATED COMEDY SERIES
American Dad!
Archer
Family Guy
The Simpsons
South Park
COMEDY WRITING - TV
30 Rock
Louie
Modern Family
The Office
The Simpsons
COMEDY SCREENPLAY
Cyrus
Easy A
Hot Tub Time Machine
Kick-Ass
Tiny Furniture
COMEDY DIRECTING - TV
30 Rock
Community
Modern Family
The Office
Saturday Night Live
COMEDY DIRECTOR - FILM
Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass, Cyrus
Will Gluck, Easy A
Adam McKay, The Other Guys
Matthew Vaughn, Kick-Ass
Edgar Wright, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Comedy elite including James Burrows, Billy Crystal, Will Ferrell, Whoopi Goldberg, Brad Grey, Seth MacFarlane, Adam McKay, Jimmy Miller, Jay Roach, Ray Romano, Rory Rosegarten, Phil Rosenthal and many more are among the first to join "The Comedy Awards" Board of Directors which will be responsible for selecting the nominees. The winners will be chosen by an invitation-only voting body comprised of 500-1000 members from the comedy community -- including writers, producers, performers and directors. The event will also feature several special awards that will include the voice of the fans through online voting at the event site thecomedyawards.com.
In conjunction with the launch of "The Comedy Awards," the MTVN Entertainment Group has joined forces with the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) to establish The American Comedy Fund. Without a union or other protection, many comedians face unique challenges to succeed and survive. The fund will provide much-needed financial assistance, health benefits and other resources for comedians across the country during times of need, crisis or transition. The American Comedy Fund will be administered by EIF in collaboration with the Motion Picture & Television Fund and The Actors Fund.
"The Comedy Awards" will pay homage to the genre and honor the year's best comedy actors, films, television series and digital content. The event will celebrate the talented writers, directors and performers who have literally changed the laugh track of our lives: the pioneering legends who pushed boundaries; the TV shows that we rushed home to watch;; the movies that are indelibly etched into our collective pop culture memory and the stand-up comedians that make us think while we laugh.
"The Comedy Awards" will take its place among MTV Networks' rich history of successful tent-pole events, such as MTV's "Video Music Awards," Nickelodeon's "Kids' Choice Awards" and the COMEDY CENTRAL Emmy-nominated Roast franchise.
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