Tonight on SPIKE
MATT WALSH AND IAN ROBERTS STAR IN NEW
SPIKE TV COMEDY “PLAYERS”
Series Follows The Hilarious Antics Of Two Completely Opposite Brothers
Who Run A Sports Bar
10 Episode Series Premieres Tuesday, March 2 at 10:30 PM
New York, NY, February 4, 2010 – Spike TV expands its comedic slate with “Players,” a series created by and starring one of the founders of the acclaimed improvisational comedy troupe, the Upright Citizens Brigade, Matt Walsh. “Players” follows two brothers (Walsh and Ian Roberts) with conflicting personalities trying to run a successful sports bar. Spike TV’s new original half-hour comedy premieres Tuesday, March 2 at 10:30 PM, ET/PT.
“Players” stars Walsh as Bruce Fitzgerald, a free-spirited, fun-loving, guy’s guy who is living out his fantasy of owning a sports bar that allows him to bet on games, drink for free and date the cocktail waitresses. His older, uptight brother, Ken (Ian Roberts), tries to keep the focus on turning a profit while avoiding lawsuits and health code violations. The series also features Krista (Danielle Schneider), the promiscuous waitress who has an affinity for B-list athletes and married men, Barb (June Diane Raphael), the insecure and neurotic waitress who falls in love with Bruce, Hickey (Jack McGee), a retired cop who got Bruce out of a gambling debt and was rewarded with a job where, instead of actually working, he spends most of his time bidding on sports memorabilia on eBay, and Calvin (James Pumphrey), the young, simple-minded bartender who lives in the store room and is an aspiring fitness model who idolizes Bruce.
Spike.com will feature original video content and editorial from the off-beat comedic minds of the show’s stars Walsh and Roberts. The players.spike.com site will also include exclusive outtakes, cast bios and photos for each of the main characters. After the series premiere, fans will be able to catch sneak peek scenes leading into each week’s new episode and other episodic content.
Matt Walsh, Ian Roberts, Jay Martel, as well as Peter Principato, Paul Young, Tucker Voorhees and John Lynch of Devlin Entertainment serve as executive producers. Jason Woliner (“Human Giant,” “Parks and Recreation”), who directed the presentation and multiple episodes, serves as a co-executive producer. Walsh, a Chicago native, is a former “Daily Show” correspondent who was a founding member of the successful improv comedy troupe, Upright Citizens Brigade. Walsh has appeared in such popular comedy films as “The Hangover,” “Old School,” “Semi-Pro” and “Bad Santa.”
Spike TV is available in 98.6 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV's press site at http://www.spike.com/press.
Press Contacts:
Shana Tepper Spike TV/NY 212-767-4275 shana.tepper@spiketv.com
Jenni Runyan Spike TV/LA 310-407-4771 jenni.runyan@spiketv.com
SPIKE.COM PRESENTS "COMMERCIAL BOWL" 2010
Football Fans Will Get The Chance To Experience All Of The Commercials From Sunday’s “Big Game” Almost Immediately After They Air On CBS At Spike.com
Fans Can Log Onto www.spike.com/superbowl
To Re-Live Nine Years Worth of Advertisements from the “Big Game”
New York, NY – February 3, 2010 – SPIKE.com is proud to announce “Commercial Bowl” 2010 – the premier destination for fans to get their fix of advertisements from Sunday’s “Big Game.” For the ninth consecutive year, Spike.com will offer viewers all of the commercials almost immediately after they air on television, as well as the complete catalog of ads spanning the last eight years.
Fans are encouraged to peruse Spike.com’s vast library of ads, which date back to 2002. Eight years worth of some of the best all-time commercials via hundreds of advertisements, will be at the fingertips of users to view and share with their friends. After the game is finished, Spike.com’s “Commercial Bowl” 2010 editors will select their top 10 favorite ads for this year, and allow users to voice their selection for the best advertisements.
Spike TV is available in 98.6 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV's press site at http://www.spike.com/press.
Contacts:
Eugene Oh eugene.oh@mtvn.com 310-907-2379
Aileen Budow aileen.budow@spiketv.com 212-767-3952
SPIKE TV PARTNERS WITH THOM BEERS’ ORIGINAL PRODUCTIONS
TO DEVELOP NETWORK’S FIRST LATE NIGHT SERIES
Half-Hour Show To Feature Talk, Comedy And “Manformation”
Network Also Orders Third Season Of Original’s Hit Series, “1000 Ways To Die”
New York, NY, January 29, 2010 – With the late-night wars in full swing, it only makes sense that Spike TV, a network for guys, would jump into the ring. Spike TV is partnering with Thom Beers, Philip Segal and Original Productions, a FremantleMedia Company (“1000 Ways to Die,” “Deadliest Catch,” “Ice Road Truckers), to develop a weekly half-hour series that will be a combination of talk and comedy with a focus on “manformation” for the true guys’ guy, it was jointly announced today by Sharon Levy, senior vice president, original programming for Spike TV, and Thom Beers, CEO of Original Productions.
Instead of a typical movie star plugging an upcoming project, this Spike TV series will showcase interesting guests from all walks of life who find themselves in extraordinary situations, such as a convenience store clerk who defended himself against would-be criminals, or a former stock broker who quit his job to join the Green Berets in Afghanistan. The show will have two hosts and various correspondents and the network is currently scouring the country to cast the series pilot with the right fresh face and regular guy-image. Additional details will be announced at a later date.
George “Maddox” Ouzounian, author of the #2 NY Times Best-Seller The Alphabet of Manliness and I Am Better Than Your Kids (announced, Simon & Schuster in 2009), and Dax Herrera (a/k/a Dick Masterson), author of Man Points and Men Are Better Than Women (Simon & Schuster) are attached to the project. Ouzounian and Herrera were introduced to Original Productions by Justin Killion, vice president of development for Original Productions.
“This won’t be your typical late night series with typical celebrity chit-chat,” said Levy. “This show will come with that distinctive and irreverent Spike voice and point-of-view our viewers have come to expect from us. We are looking to provide our young male audience with water cooler chatter for the next day.”
“Guys crave to be informed and entertained in an authentic voice,” said Beers. “There are lots of options in late night right now, but none directly tailor-made to the hard-to-reach young male audience as our show will be.”
Spike TV has also ordered a third season of Original’s “1,000 Ways to Die,” the second highest-rated original series in the history of the network. Season-to-date, the current second season of “1000 Ways To Die” (airing at 10:00pm ET/PT on Wednesdays) is averaging 1.6 million viewers with a 1.3 rating in Men 18-24.
Digitally, “1000 Ways to Die” ranked as a top 5 original show on Spike.com in December 2009. The show’s average weekly online audience has increased 84% year-to-year. Also in December, the series was the most-watched show on Spike TV’s Video-on-Demand.
“1000 Ways to Die” showcases some of the most outrageously true stories about those who succumbed to the grim reaper in the most unorthodox of styles. Each case takes viewers through a fast-paced full reenactment, interlaced with dramatic witness testimonials, fun historical tidbits, scientific expert explanations and vibrant CGI effects reminiscent of classic comic books. Playing off the commonly misconceived notion, “that could never happen to me,” “1000 Ways to Die” works to dispel that myth in a tongue-in-cheek fashion, highlighting the comedic irony in all the crazy ways people can get themselves killed.
Acclaimed producers Thom Beers and Philip Segal of Original Productions serve as executive producers for “1000 Ways to Die.” Tom McMahon serves as co-executive producer. Levy is Spike TV’s senior vice president of original series and Tim Duffy is vice president of original programming for Spike TV
Spike TV is available in 98.6 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV's press site at http://www.spike.com/press.
Original Productions, a FremantleMedia Company
Founded by Thom Beers, Original Productions produces authentic non-fiction programming featuring everyday heroes in extraordinary situations. Beers’ steadfast focus on top-notch storytelling with engaging personalities in high risk circumstances has produced more than 1,000 hours of original programming since the company’s inception. In February 2009, a majority stake in the 12 year-old-company was purchased by FremantleMedia, one of the leading creators and producers of worldwide entertainment brands. www.originalproductions.com/ www.fremantlemedia.com.
Press Contacts:
David Schwarz Spike TV 212-767-8639
Maggie Nye/Elizabeth Vendely Original Productions 818-783-3707
SPIKE TV PRESENTS AWARD-WINNING FILM "FACING ALI"
Muhammad Ali's Top Opponents Share Personal Stories Of How Facing
"The Champ" Left An Indelible Mark On Their Lives
Pasadena, CA, January 15, 2010 - Spike TV presents the world television premiere of the award-winning documentary, "Facing Ali," Monday, February 15 (9:00-11:00pm ET/PT). Produced by Derik Murray (Legends of Hockey), Network Entertainment and Lionsgate in association with Spike TV, the film is directed by Pete McCormack (Uganda Rising) and delves into the fascinating life of boxing legend Muhammad Ali in and out of the ring through the eyes of those who fought him.
...
13 Episode Series Premieres Tuesday, January 12, 2010
With Two Back-To-Back Episodes
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Most-Watched “The Ultimate Fighter” Finale In Franchise History
And Biggest Audience For A Live UFC Fight In 2009
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Academy Award™-Nominated Actor Jake Gyllenhaal, Green Day, Snoop Dogg,
Olivia Wilde And Zachary Quinto Kick-Off All-Star Line Up
Spike TV’s 7th Annual “Video Game Awards 2009” Premiere LIVE On
Saturday, December 12 At 8:00 PM ET
New York, NY, December 5, 2009 – The 11th season of Spike TV’s most popular original series ever, “The Ultimate Fighter,” will feature two coaches who need no introduction to mixed martial arts fans. UFC legends Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell and Tito “The Huntington Beach Badboy” Ortiz will continue their storied rivalry with a return to the reality show that helped launch them into the American mainstream.
...
Hulk Hogan’s First Live Appearance On Spike TV’s “TNA iMPACT” Will Be In A Special
3-Hour Live Episode Monday, January 4 At 8:00 PM ET/PT
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