Comedy Central Gets Animated at Comic-Con

COMEDY CENTRAL will have a presence at San Diego Comic-Con again this year. The schedule includes: an “Ugly Americans” panel on Friday, July 23 from 10:00-11:00 a.m., a “Futurama” panel on Saturday, July 24 from 12:45-1:30 p.m. and, capping it all off on Saturday, July 24 from 7:00-9:00 p.m., the network will present, COMEDY CENTRAL Live @ Comic-Con, a free comedy event as part of COMEDY CENTRAL’s House of Comedy Live from House of Blues series, hosted by Pete Holmes (“Ugly Americans”) and featuring talent from COMEDY CENTRAL’s newest shows.

— Friday, July 23: “Ugly Americans” panel (Room 25ABC)

10:00-11:00 a.m. Join David M. Stern (Showrunner and Executive Producer), Dan Powell (Executive Producer), Jeff Poliquin (Supervising Producer), Devin Clark (Producer and Series Creator), Aaron Augenblick (Director of Animation), Matt Oberg (voice of Mark Lilly), Kurt Metzger (voice of Randall Skeffington) and Randy Pearlstein (voice of Leonard) for a behind-the-scenes look, a sneak peek into the return of new episodes in October, Q&A and more of COMEDY CENTRAL’s new original animated series. One audience member will be selected to be drawn into an upcoming episode.

— Saturday, July 24: “Futurama” panel (ballroom 20)

12:45-1:30 p.m. Join the cast and crew in celebrating “Futurama’s” triumphant re-return to the airwaves! World-premiere footage will offer an exciting and informative glimpse of Comic-Con in the year 3010. Panelists include Executive Producers Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, cast members Billy West, John DiMaggio, Katey Sagal, and Maurice LaMarche, writers Ken Keeler and Patric M. Verrone, and director Crystal Chesney-Thompson and animation Producer Claudia Katz.

  --  Saturday, July 24: COMEDY CENTRAL Live @ Comic-Con from the House of
      Blues

7:00-9:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:00 p.m.) Comedian Pete Holmes (“Ugly Americans”) will host a special evening of free comedy including exclusive sneak peeks from COMEDY CENTRAL’s new shows and more with performances by “Ugly Americans” cast members Maria Bamford, Kurt Metzger, Matt Oberg and Randy Pearlstein; Chris Gethard and Horatio Sanz, stars of the new series “Big Lake,” premiering Tuesday, August 17; Nick Swardson, whose new series “Pretend Time with Nick Swardson” premieres Tuesday, October 12; and Adam DeVine from the forthcoming series “Workaholics” (1Q 2011). The House of Blues is located at 1055 5th Avenue and attendees must be 18 to enter and 21 to drink.

“Ugly Americans,” a new original animated comedy series, with two million total viewers, returns with new episodes on October 6 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. The series follows Mark Lilly (voiced by Matt Oberg), a social worker at the “Department of Integration,” as he helps new citizens, both human and “other,” adapt to hectic life in New York City. There are easier tasks than weaning vampires off blood, socializing land-whales and housebreaking werewolves, but Mark is up to the challenge. Between his stressful job, a zombie roommate and a demon girlfriend, Mark’s lucky if he can sneak in a few minutes of sleep. But who can sleep when there’s a drop-dead gorgeous mermaid sitting at the bar?

David M. Stern, Series Developer and Executive Producer, began his career writing for “The Wonder Years” during its first three seasons. He went on to serve as a producer on “The Simpsons” during the first four seasons where he wrote many memorable episodes. He has served as a co-executive producer on the premiere season of the USA hit series ‘Monk,” as well as a co-executive producer on the Fox series “Oliver Beene.”

Series-creator Devin Clark has been involved with a broad range of television projects including work with HBO, MTV, Nickelodeon, TCM and The Cartoon Network, applying his design and narrative skills to everything from network graphics to traditional cartoons. His films and animation have been featured in Stash magazine, Animation Block Party, Rooftop Films, Ottawa Film Festival, Platform and Atom Films.

Stern and Daniel Powell are the Executive Producers of “Ugly Americans.” Aaron Augenblick serves as Animation Director, with animation by Augenblick Studios and Cuppa Coffee. Lisa Leingang is the executive in charge of production for COMEDY CENTRAL.

Currently, new episodes of “Futurama” air on Thursdays at 10:00 p.m. ET/T on COMEDY CENTRAL. The Emmy® Award-winning animated sci-fi comedy series made an out-of-this-world return on Thursday, June 24, 2010 with 2.9 million total viewers, becoming the highest-rated and most-watched season premiere for an animated series on cable with the exception of “South Park.”