Can the universal power of comedy change the global conversation about poverty? KCETLink, the national independent public media organization, and Pivot, Participant Media's TV network targeting Millennials, today announced the upcoming joint premiere of an original two-part documentary special, STAND UP PLANET that showcases an uprising of fresh and fearless comics changing the WORLD one joke at a time. Link TV and Pivot will premiere the documentary block simultaneously on May 14, 2014 starting at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT. The KCET (Southern California) broadcast airs at 9 p.m. PT on May 14, 2014.
Watch the STAND UP PLANET trailer below:
Hosted by comic, Hasan Minhaj (Arrested Development, MTV's Failosophy), STAND UP PLANET is equal parts reality TV, documentary journey and travelogue that brings viewers on a quest to find some of the best humor coming from far corners of the developing world. The two comedy documentary specials and transmedia shorts showcase Minhaj's epic journey of discovery to find the freshest comic voices in the most unlikely places: Mumbai, India and Johannesburg, South Africa. Along the way, Minhaj follows the jokes and personal experiences of these international comics deep into the hard truths of some of the toughest global poverty issues of our time. Along with a posse of comedian friends, including Nate Bargatze, James Adomian and Michelle Buteau, Minhaj invites comedians from India and South Africa to take part in the biggest night of their lives - performing in an international comedy showcase and television show in Hollywood - after a stop to meet three of comedy's legends: Bill Cosby, Carl Reiner and producer Norman Lear.
"Stand Up Planet is the quintessential program for
Pivot as it sheds light on truly important, timely and global issues but speaks to those topics in a way that brings us all together," said Kent Rees, EVP Marketing and Scheduling at Pivot. "No matter where you live or what your beliefs are, our love of laughter is something we all have in common. Our hope is that this documentary will spark conversation and inspire viewers to take action around this issue."
More than a TV event, STAND UP PLANET's digital campaign - hosted on www.StandUpPlanet.org - provides viewers with behind-the-scenes content and ways to learn, share information and take action on global poverty in India and South Africa. The two-part documentary - STAND UP PLANET and STAND UP PLANET: Comedy Showcase - will also be streamed on www.StandUpPlanet.org following the television premiere.
"Laughter opens our ears and our hearts-and once people are listening, who knows what they might be inspired to do?" said Wendy Hanamura, Chief Digital Officer and an executive producer on STAND UP PLANET. "With the project's unique ability to blend levity, reality and education on multiple platforms, our hope is that all Stand Up Planet audiences will find some of the world's toughest problems a little more accessible, understandable and become agents of social change."
STAND UP PLANET is also distributed internationally, premiering on NDTV Prime in India in May.
STAND UP PLANET is funded by a grant from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and produced by independent broadcaster KCETLink in association with Kontent Films. The television elements were directed by
David Munro, and the project's executive producers are Wendy Hanamura,
Caty Borum Chattoo, Paul S. Mason, Craig Minassian,
David Munro,
Xandra Castleton, Mark Decena and Teri Heyman. Munro and Castleton are the TV program's creators. The project's transmedia executive producers and directors are Caty Borum Chattoo and Wendy Hanamura.
Follow STAND UP PLANET on Twitter at @standupplanettv and on Facebook at facebook.com/StandUpPlanet. Follow the conversations at #StandUpPlanet. To learn more, please visit www.standupplanet.org.
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