Comedy Central has the perfect escape from the heat this summer. The coming months promise a sizzling lineup highlighted by the series premieres of “Another Period,” which follows the insanely ridiculous and debaucherous life of Newport, RI’s first family, and “Why? With Hannibal Buress,” featuring Buress’ hilariously brilliant off-beat perspective on every topic in the zeitgeist. The summer months also bring new episodes of “Key & Peele” and “Tosh.0,” new seasons of “Drunk History,” “Review” and “The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail,” and all-new Comedy Central Original Specials from Natasha Leggero, Jeff Ross, Bridget Everett and Nick Swardson.
Original Series (all times ET/PT)
Tuesday, June 23rd
“Another Period” (Series Premiere) – 10:30 p.m.
Before others claimed their fame, there was one American family that stood for all that was spoiled, shameless and stupid. Meet the Bellacourts – Newport, RI’s first family of the Gilded Age. They are The Original Ballers. They have tons of money, live in a big-ass mansion and employ a whole team of Fonzworth Bentleys. However, the Bellacourts’ servants have to do a lot more than hold umbrellas.
The original out of touch reality family is coming to Comedy Central in “Another Period,” a turn-of-the-century historical and satirical scripted series that follows the insanely ridiculous and debaucherous life of the Bellacourts, who have more servants than relatives and whose days are filled with money, sex, drugs and more money. “Another Period” centers on the Bellacourt sisters, Lillian (Natasha Leggero) and Beatrice (Riki Lindhome), who only care about being rich and becoming super famous (which is a lot harder in 1902).
Lauren Ash, Michael Ian Black, Paget Brewster, Beth Dover, Brett Gelman, Christina Hendricks, Brian Huskey, David Koechner, Jason Ritter, David Wain and Armen Weitzman will appear alongside Leggero and Lindhome. The series was created by, is written by, is executive produced by and stars Leggero and Lindhome, is executive produced and directed by Jeremy Konner (“Drunk History”) and is executive produced by Red Hour’s Ben Stiller, Debbie Liebling, Stuart Cornfeld and Mike Rosenstein.
Tuesday, June 30
“The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail” (Season Two Premiere) – 12:30 a.m.
The eight-episode, half-hour series returns for a second season with an all-access pass to Los Angeles’ hottest stand-up comedy show, drawing some of the biggest names in comedy as they experiment with new bits onstage and hang out backstage. The show is shot documentary style at the Nerdist Showroom in the back of Meltdown Comics, Los Angeles’ premiere comic book store. The second season features performances by Matt Braunger, Fred Armisen, Andy Daly, Nick Thune, Pete Holmes, Al Madrigal, Ron Funches, John Mulaney, Bridget Everett, Ken Marino, Hannibal Buress and many more comedy heavyweights and up-and-comers.
Wednesday, July 8
“Key & Peele” (New Episodes) – 10:00 p.m.
The Peabody® Award winning and five-time Emmy®-nominated sketch series returns with all-new episodes featuring Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele who are best known for their impressive ability for improv, celebrity impressions and conjuring up original characters including “Obama and Luther,” “The Valet Guys,” “Meegan and Andre,” “Wendell and Carlos,” “Mr. Garvey, the Substitute Teacher” and the players from the annual “East/West College Bowl.” The series has become a true multiplatform phenomenon and boasts over a billion lifetime streams across multiple digital platforms.
The show utilizes filmed sketches to examine life in a provocative and irreverent way, from two men used to being on the outside looking in. Whether it’s satirizing the President, spoofing musical acts, or taking on religion, “Key & Peele” showcases their chemistry, camaraderie and unique point of view, born from their shared background and experiences growing up biracial in a not quite post-racial world.
“Why? With Hannibal Buress” (Series Premiere) – 10:30 p.m.
“Why? With Hannibal Buress” celebrates Buress’ hilariously brilliant off-beat voice and point-of-view. If it’s in the zeitgeist, Buress will address it, providing his unique perspective on each week’s topic, answering the burning questions on his mind through stand-up, filmed segments, man-on-the-street interviews and special, in-studio guests. “Why? With Hannibal Buress” will be a weekly, half-hour series shot in front of a studio audience and each episode will tape the same week it airs. The series is executive produced by Buress, Jeff Stilson (“The Chris Rock Show,” “Da Ali G Show”) and Dave Becky of 3 Arts Entertainment.
Thursday, July 30
“Review” (Season Two Premiere) – 10:00 p.m.
“Review,” starring Andy Daly as life reviewer Forrest MacNeil, was a cult hit and a critical darling in its first season. Called “brilliant, edge-pushing television” by Michael Nadeau of The Boston Globe, the show was named to many year-end best lists, including TIME, The Hollywood Reporter, Paste Magazine, The Atlantic, The A.V. Club and The Huffington Post. Season two finds Forrest once again eschewing the boring subjects like film, food or art and heading straight for the tough subjects like bare-knuckle brawling, joining the mile high club, and even leading a cult. As always, he approaches these challenges with unwavering commitment, regardless of the personal consequences. “Review” is executive produced by Daly, Jeffrey Blitz (“The Office”), Andy Blitz (“Late Night with Conan O’Brien”) and Charlie Siskel (“Tosh.0”). The series is directed by Jeffrey Blitz.
Tuesday, August 25
“Tosh.0” (New Episodes) – 10:00 p.m.
“Tosh.0” is currently in its seventh season and returns with new episodes featuring the razor-sharp humor and biting commentary from comedian Daniel Tosh. The weekly, topical series delves into all aspects of the Internet from the absolutely absurd to the incredibly ingenious. Each episode includes a “CeWEBrity Profile” or Tosh giving subjects of notorious viral videos a second chance to redeem themselves from the embarrassment with which they have become synonymous with their very own “Web Redemption.”
Tuesday, September 1
“Drunk History” (Season Three Premiere) – 10:30 p.m.
“Drunk History” returns for a third season of pairing inebriated storytellers with A-list talent to reenact great moments in history with unforgettable results. Created for television by series host Derek Waters and director Jeremy Konner, “Drunk History” takes viewers on a tour of cities across America, providing a unique take on the familiar and less familiar people and events from our country’s great past. As told by narrators who stumble and slur their way through the re-telling, season two segments featured guest stars including Jack Black, Courteney Cox, David Cross, Charlie Day, Laura Dern, Emily Deschanel, Nathan Fielder, Johnny Knoxville, Nick Kroll, John Lithgow, Jordan Peele, Joe Lo Truglio, Jack McBrayer, Stephen Merchant, Patton Oswalt, Busy Philips, Jason Ritter, Winona Ryder, among many others. This season the show takes on stories about Cleveland, New Jersey, Miami, New Orleans, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, space, inventors, games, spies, and journalism, covering everything from the invention of motion pictures to the rise and fall of the Cocaine Godmother and the truth behind Roswell.
ORIGINAL STAND-UP AND SPECIALS (all times ET/PT)
- “Nick Swardson: Taste It” – Saturday, May 30 at 10:00 p.m.
- “Jeff Ross Roasts Criminals: Live at Brazos County Jail” – Saturday, June 13 at 11:00 p.m.
- Bridget Everett Original Stand-up Special (title and premiere date TBA)
- Natasha Leggero Original Stand-up Special (title and premiere date TBA)
