Comedy Central takes live plunge

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on October 16th, 2008

The lengthy press release announces Comedy Central’s new venture into producing live comedy shows and names the guy who will spearhead the operation, Mitch Fried. It contains this money graf:

In addition to increasing COMEDY CENTRAL’s presence on the stand-up circuit and, through strategic partnerships, its visibility on the comedy festival circuit, Fried will also spearhead the network’s efforts to maximize live performance exposure and revenue across already established business lines. Serving as a liaison among talent, their management and other COMEDY CENTRAL divisions including the Grammy® Award-winning COMEDY CENTRAL Records® label, COMEDY CENTRAL Home Entertainment® DVDs and on-air COMEDY CENTRAL Original Stand-up Specials, Fried will seek to expand the business partnerships between the network and the talent community through overall package deals with top comedians that could encompass any combination of a nationwide tour, a one-hour, on-air special, a DVD release and a CD release.

Sounds like the beginnings of a horizontal monopoly. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

What’s that you say? Comedy Central is already into the live standup biz? Yes, they are. It was called Comedy Central Live! But this is a new beast. A “division,” called Live Entertainment, “that will focus on building upon its leadership position in the live comedy industry.”

The former was CC’s “standup comedy business.” This is a DIVISION! We’re not clear on the subtle differences. Rest assured, however, that the new entity “has been steadily growing and expanding out of our viewers’ living rooms and into their everyday lives!” That’s an actual quote from CC’s president, Michele Ganeless. Sounds ominous. How long before the brand totally engulfs the local diner? Where’s Steve McQueen when you need him?

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