CMT Celebrates Comedy all Week Long When 'Big New Comedy Week' Begins Monday, March 8

CMT To Premiere Comedy Specials From Melissa Peterman, Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Larry The Cable Guy, Ron White, Brian Regan and Jim Gaffigan

Nashville (Vocus) February 10, 2010

CMT presents a week filled with laughter and comedy-inspired programming when BIG NEW COMEDY WEEK kicks-off Monday, March 8. During the weeklong celebration, CMT will debut original programming and stand-up performances by some of the country’s hottest comedians.

BIG NEW COMEDY WEEK features new comedy every night, including the television premiere of THE SINGING BEE host Melissa Peterman in her stand-up debut, MELISSA PETERMAN: AM I THE ONLY ONE; and two all-new specials dedicated to the 10-year anniversary of BLUE COLLAR COMEDY - TRUE BLUE: TEN YEARS OF BLUE COLLAR COMEDY, a one hour in-depth look at the Blue Collar juggernaut, and the second, BLUE COLLAR COMEDY: TEN YEARS OF FUNNY, a hilarious reunion special featuring Jeff Foxworthy, Larry The Cable Guy and Bill Engvall, live on stage together. The week also features the CMT premieres of the BLUE COLLAR COMEDY TOUR, BLUE COLLAR COMEDY TOUR RIDES AGAIN, and stand-up specials from Ron White, Brian Regan and Jim Gaffigan.

The BIG NEW COMEDY WEEK line-up includes:

BLUE COLLAR COMEDY TOUR – Monday, March 8 at 9:00 – 10:00 p.m., ET/PT
Recorded during the summer of 2002, BLUE COLLAR COMEDY TOUR was filmed as a concert movie with live performances at Phoenix’s Dodge Theater. Featuring comedians Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Larry the Cable Guy, and Ron White, the film also includes behind-the-scenes sequences highlighting all four performers.

RON WHITE: YOU CAN’T FIX STUPID – Tuesday, March 9 at 9:00 – 10:00 p.m., ET/PT
Straight-shooter Ron White delivers his signature brand of humor in this one-hour stand-up special where he introduces the unforgettable character “Squirrel Man,” and aims his sights at those little things in life that tick him off, including picking a spouse and the pitfalls of marriage.

BRIAN REGAN: THE EPITOME OF HYPERBOLE – Tuesday, March 9 at 10:00 – 11:00 p.m., ET/PT
With his over-the-top expressions and goofy mugs, physical comedian Brian Regan is best known for taking everyday experiences and turning them into exaggerated situations. In this one-hour special, Regan exposes the truth behind psychics, discusses the stupidest crimes and offers his suggestions on how to improve the opera.

JIM GAFFIGAN: BEYOND THE PALE – Wednesday, March 10 at 9:00 – 10:00 p.m., ET/PT
Recorded at the historic Vic Theater in Chicago, Jim Gaffigan (SuperTroopers, “Sex and the City”, “My Boys”) delivers the stand-up performance of a lifetime as he takes the mic and rules the stage with his deadpan stand-up style in this one-hour special. Known for his routines and skits relating to laziness and food, BEYOND THE PALE takes a look at American eating habits, religion, holiday traditions and Hot Pockets.

BLUE COLLAR COMEDY TOUR RIDES AGAIN – Thursday, March 11 at 9:00 – 10:00 p.m., ET/PT
The Blue Collar Comedy gang of Bill Engvall, Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Ron White return with another dose of Blue Collar Comedy and laughs in BLUE COLLAR COMEDY TOUR RIDES AGAIN.

MELISSA PETERMAN: AM I THE ONLY ONE? – Friday, March 12 at 10:00 – 11:00 p.m., ET/PT (CMT Original Premiere)
Filmed in Nashville, funnygal and host of CMT’s hit show THE SINGING BEE, Melissa Peterman performs her one-woman stand-up comedy show.

TRUE BLUE: TEN YEARS OF BLUE COLLAR COMEDY – Saturday, March 13 at 8:00 – 9:00 p.m., ET/PT (CMT Original Premiere)
This all-new, one-hour special chronicles the Blue Collar sensation – its origin, personalities, behind-the-scenes players, successes, set-backs, conflicts and triumphs – and reveals why Blue Collar Comedy has become so popular.

BLUE COLLAR COMEDY: TEN YEARS OF FUNNY – Saturday, March 13 at 9:00 – 10:00 p.m., ET/PT (CMT Original Premiere)
An original reunion special featuring Bill Engvall, Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy together onstage before a live audience, reflecting on their Blue Collar journey and experiences. Taped in Nashville and hosted by Jaime Pressly (“My Name is Earl”), the guys recall their favorite moments from the Blue Collar juggernaut, introduce and joke about their most memorable film clips from the historic Blue Collar tours, and recreate their signature finale where they improvise together onstage.

Visit CMT's press-only Web site http://www.cmtpress.com for more information and downloadable photos on all of CMT's programming.

CMT, a unit of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and entertainment, reaching more than 90 million homes in the U.S. CMT and its website, CMT.com, offer an unparalleled mix of music, news, live concerts and series and is the top resource for country music on demand. The network’s digital platforms include the 24-hour music channel, CMT Pure Country, CMT Mobile and CMT VOD.

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