Zombies, Vampires And Freaks Invade Comedy Central

Take the Big Apple, add every horrifying beast, science-fiction freak and fantasy faerie, shake thoroughly and you’ve got “Ugly Americans,” a new animated horror-comedy series premiering on Comedy Central on March 17 at 10:30 p.m.

The series follows Mark Lilly, 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?

In addition to Mark Lilly, the “Ugly Americans” cast features Randall Skeffington, Mark’s zombie roommate (voiced by Kurt Metzger), Callie Maggotbone, Mark’s demon boss and office fling (voiced by Natasha Leggero), Leonard Powers, an aging drunken wizard (voiced by Randy Pearlstein), Twayne, a terrorizing demonic bureaucrat (voiced by Michael-Leon Wooley) and Lt. Grimes (voiced by Larry Murphy), a law-enforcement officer who despises non-humans. Additional characters are voiced by Mike Britt, Devin Clark, Pete Holmes and Julie Klausner.

The debut episode introduces lead character and “Department of Integration” (D.O.I.) agent Mark Lilly dealing with aggressive sexual advances from his demon boss Callie, while trying to do his work finding jobs for the city’s newest citizens. Lilly is also developing a reluctant friendship with his zombie roommate Randall, who he found on Craig’s List, as well as battling rival Grimes and his thug squad, who are apprehending “illegals” to fill a quota. Future episodes feature Mark counseling a young woman who wants to become a vampire and Callie going baby-crazy after Mark starts fostering a demon orphan.

Online, the “Ugly Americans” Web site will feature episode previews and highlights, an interactive map of Manhattan with video clips from the series, a Twitter module featuring tweets from the show’s cast, characters and creators, and a downloadable Department of Integration handbook, with important information for surviving life in the Big Apple. Additionally, fans of the series can play an “Ugly Americans” Web game, where users control Mark and interact with various characters from the series as he helps them to do the right (or wrong) thing, with hilarious results. There will also be a Facebook Personality Quiz, “What Kind of Creature Are You?”, where fans can take a D.O.I. survey to figure out which one of the many different creatures from the show they would be, and then share the results with their friends.