THE COLBERT REPORT Honored With Second Peabody Award

THE COLBERT REPORT has been honored with another George Foster Peabody Award in the 71st Annual Peabody Awards competition, it was announced today. THE COLBERT REPORT was previously honored with a Peabody Award in 2008.

"What an honor! I am truly speechless. Luckily, thanks to Citizens United, my money can speak for me," said Stephen Colbert.

In announcing the winning programs, the Peabody committee said of the series, "Comedy Central's 'The Colbert Report' won its second Peabody for its deadpan anchor's 'Super PAC' segments lampooning the rise of megabucks politics."

In an effort to bring attention to campaign finance laws, Colbert applied for his own political action committee. At a hearing in June 2011, Colbert was granted permission by the Federal Election Commission to form his own Super PAC, "Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow." After receiving approval, fans signed up sent along financial support to help the Colbert Super PAC continue to bring attention to campaign finance abuse. In a New York Times article on the Colbert Super PAC, Sheila Krumholz, Executive Director of the Center for Responsive Politics states, "He is taking on a serious subject that many Americans find deadly dull and is educating the broader public on why it matters and what is at stake."

The Peabody Awards were announced today by the University of Georgia's Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, which has administered the Peabody Award program since its inception in 1940. The awards will be presented at a luncheon ceremony to be held at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City on Monday, May 21, 2012, to be hosted by Sir Patrick Stewart.

In addition to "The Colbert Report," other COMEDY CENTRAL series that have received Peabody Awards include "South Park" in 2006 and "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" which was honored in 2000 and 2004 for the series' "Indecision" election-year coverage. The network's first Peabody recipients were "Mystery Science Theater 3000" in 1994 and "Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist" in 1999.

"The Colbert Report" airs Monday-Thursday at 11:30 p.m. and repeats at 1:30 a.m. the same night and at 10:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. the following day (all times ET/PT). Full episodes, as well as clips, are posted for viewing the following day at www.ColbertNation.com with URL and embed links.

"The Colbert Report" is produced by Jon Stewart's Busboy Productions, Inc. in association with Colbert's Spartina Productions, Inc. Stewart, Colbert and Tom Purcell are the Executive Producers with MerEdith Bennett and Richard Dahm as Co-Executive Producers. Jim Hoskinson is the Director.

Available in 99 million homes nationwide, COMEDY CENTRAL (www.comedycentral.com), the only all-comedy network, is owned by, and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA and VIAB).

Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB) is home to the world's premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms in more than 160 countries and territories. With approximately 170 media networks reaching more than 600 million global subscribers, Viacom's leading brands include MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, BET, CENTRIC, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., TeenNick, Nicktoons, Nick at Nite, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV Land, Spike TV and Tr3s. Paramount Pictures, America's oldest film studio and creator of many of the most beloved motion pictures, continues today as a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. Viacom operates a large portfolio of branded digital media experiences, including many of the world's most popular properties for entertainment, community and casual online gaming. 

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