Viacom's Comedy Central (DStv 122) has launched a new Comedy Central Originals YouTube channel as a new digital channel for its own original content that will roll out new content separately of its existing, and primary YouTube channel.
Comedy Central Originals will be a new channel that will feature digital-only content and on-screen talent and announced a big digital content development slate that features new and returning series, pilot orders, stand-up and social content.
On 8 March Comedy Central will premiere Emily Heller: Ice Thickeners as its first, original one-hour special to premiere exclusively on a digital platform.
Content for the Comedy Central Originals YouTube channel is produced by Viacom Digital Studios, as well as "social-first" video franchises created by Comedy Central's in-house digital team.
"In addition to significantly growing our audience, a clear success this past year has been the establishment of Comedy Central's digital in-house creators team and the implementation of our digital-first production capabilities," says Jen Danielson, senior vice president for digital at Comedy Central, in a statement.
"The launch of the Comedy Central Originals channel on YouTube further expands our reach and provides our fans a one-stop destination to engage with best in class original content that is made for the platform, culturally relevant, personally relatable and most importantly - makes you laugh."
In addition to premiering on the Comedy Central Originals channel, the content will also roll out across the brand's social platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, cc.com as well as the Comedy Central Stand Up channel on YouTube.
Comedy Central's digital content development slate includes:
Premieres
Emily Heller: Ice Thickeners is a bone-dry hour of comedy, recorded in Seattle and releasing on International Women's Day. Heller serves up laconic takes on rudeness, fitness goals, and being her therapist's favourite patient.
wellRED Comedy is a sketch series from the perspective of the real-life millennials and progressives who grew up in the South of the United States. The show parodies small-town America.
Comedians Solve World Problems: The world is in crisis. Do comedians have the answers? No. But watch 4 comics throw a couple of ideas out there and see what sticks. The weekly series will make debut on 11 March. In addition to the United States version, 9 additional versions will roll out across Comedy Central International social and digital platforms in South Africa, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Asia, GSA (Germany, Switzerland, Austria), France, Spain, Benelux (The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg), Mexico and Brazil.
Shane Torres Conquers Your Fears sees Shane Torres, through a series of absurd, yet very real immersion therapy steps, slowly tests phobias and insecurities as he builds to an ultimate challenge that puts his guests' bravery to the test. The series debuts on 15 March.
UNSEND: UNSEND celebrates celebrates the best and worst of the web - Twitter moments, viral meltdowns, thirst traps, clapbacks, comment trolls, and more, with presenters Joel Kim-Booster and Patti Harrison who cover everything from entertainment to sports, spotting trends and interviewing celebrities about their own cringe-worthy internet moments. The series will debut on 19 March.
My Least Favorite Thing: Zach Bornstein travels to meet a celebrity as they prepare to do the one thing they that hate doing more than all other things. It will start from 5 April.
Returning Series
After Hours with Josh Horowitz: Josh Horowitz takes celebrities to places you never dreamed of. Featured celebs include Liam Hemsworth, Tiffany Haddish, James McAvoy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anna Kendrick, Alexandra Daddario and more.
As Seen on CC: The products you didn't know you needed and some you might want to avoid. As Seen On CC offers you a first look at the future of consumer goods.
Comedy Central Stand Up Featuring (Season 2): This series spotlights a new up-and-coming comedian each Tuesday and Thursday weekly. The series features short sets from some of the comedy landscape's best young voices in America.
Dollar Store Therapist: A low-budget therapist (Connor Ratliff) works out of the back of a discount store, and his advice is about as useful as the merchandise piled around him.
Mini-Mocks: In the style of 60 Second Docs, Comedy Central takes a look at the lives of unique individuals.
Thank You, Goodnight: It's not uncommon for a New York City comic to perform multiple shows per night and what happens on the way from one gig to the next might be even more ridiculous than what happens onstage. Thank You, Goodnight follows New York's most exciting comics as they hustle from spot to spot throughout New York City. The second season starts 11 March.
That's An App?: Parody commercials for the latest technological solutions for all our first world problems.
The Foley Artist: This mini-doc series features lovable everyman Tim Duffy hard at work creating every sound effect on television. From the sensual kisses of The Bachelor to the sneaker squeaks of college basketball, his artistic mastery knows no bounds.
You Didn't Wanna Know: It ain't pretty, but it's true. Comedians explain things you "didn't want to know" about common aspects of life.
In Development
Agree to Disagree: Comedians debate hot button issues like: "which is better - tots or onion rings?"
Mad Memes: Social Security is bankrupt, so if millennials want to retire, they must invest in memes. This high-energy show will tell you which memes are excellent investment opportunities, and which are merely worthless digital content.
Sex Fails: Sex is funny. Sex gone wrong? The funniest. Comedians reveal their lowest sexual moments, while animators bring their stories to hideous, cringe-inducing life.
Tales From the Trip: Comedians share their wildest psychedelic drug stories, as animators bring them to life with brain-melting visuals.
Comedy Central's digital content development slate includes:
Premieres
Emily Heller: Ice Thickeners is a bone-dry hour of comedy, recorded in Seattle and releasing on International Women's Day. Heller serves up laconic takes on rudeness, fitness goals, and being her therapist's favourite patient.
wellRED Comedy is a sketch series from the perspective of the real-life millennials and progressives who grew up in the South of the United States. The show parodies small-town America.
Comedians Solve World Problems: The world is in crisis. Do comedians have the answers? No. But watch 4 comics throw a couple of ideas out there and see what sticks. The weekly series will make debut on 11 March. In addition to the United States version, 9 additional versions will roll out across Comedy Central International social and digital platforms in South Africa, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Asia, GSA (Germany, Switzerland, Austria), France, Spain, Benelux (The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg), Mexico and Brazil.
Shane Torres Conquers Your Fears sees Shane Torres, through a series of absurd, yet very real immersion therapy steps, slowly tests phobias and insecurities as he builds to an ultimate challenge that puts his guests' bravery to the test. The series debuts on 15 March.
UNSEND: UNSEND celebrates celebrates the best and worst of the web - Twitter moments, viral meltdowns, thirst traps, clapbacks, comment trolls, and more, with presenters Joel Kim-Booster and Patti Harrison who cover everything from entertainment to sports, spotting trends and interviewing celebrities about their own cringe-worthy internet moments. The series will debut on 19 March.
My Least Favorite Thing: Zach Bornstein travels to meet a celebrity as they prepare to do the one thing they that hate doing more than all other things. It will start from 5 April.
Returning Series
After Hours with Josh Horowitz: Josh Horowitz takes celebrities to places you never dreamed of. Featured celebs include Liam Hemsworth, Tiffany Haddish, James McAvoy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anna Kendrick, Alexandra Daddario and more.
As Seen on CC: The products you didn't know you needed and some you might want to avoid. As Seen On CC offers you a first look at the future of consumer goods.
Comedy Central Stand Up Featuring (Season 2): This series spotlights a new up-and-coming comedian each Tuesday and Thursday weekly. The series features short sets from some of the comedy landscape's best young voices in America.
Dollar Store Therapist: A low-budget therapist (Connor Ratliff) works out of the back of a discount store, and his advice is about as useful as the merchandise piled around him.
Mini-Mocks: In the style of 60 Second Docs, Comedy Central takes a look at the lives of unique individuals.
Thank You, Goodnight: It's not uncommon for a New York City comic to perform multiple shows per night and what happens on the way from one gig to the next might be even more ridiculous than what happens onstage. Thank You, Goodnight follows New York's most exciting comics as they hustle from spot to spot throughout New York City. The second season starts 11 March.
That's An App?: Parody commercials for the latest technological solutions for all our first world problems.
The Foley Artist: This mini-doc series features lovable everyman Tim Duffy hard at work creating every sound effect on television. From the sensual kisses of The Bachelor to the sneaker squeaks of college basketball, his artistic mastery knows no bounds.
You Didn't Wanna Know: It ain't pretty, but it's true. Comedians explain things you "didn't want to know" about common aspects of life.
In Development
Agree to Disagree: Comedians debate hot button issues like: "which is better - tots or onion rings?"
Mad Memes: Social Security is bankrupt, so if millennials want to retire, they must invest in memes. This high-energy show will tell you which memes are excellent investment opportunities, and which are merely worthless digital content.
Sex Fails: Sex is funny. Sex gone wrong? The funniest. Comedians reveal their lowest sexual moments, while animators bring their stories to hideous, cringe-inducing life.
Tales From the Trip: Comedians share their wildest psychedelic drug stories, as animators bring them to life with brain-melting visuals.
