Nellie Andreeva

After moving away from its core animation fare into live-action series over the past year, Cartoon Network is adding more new genres. At its upfront presentation today, the cable network announced its first awards show franchise and quarter-hour animated comedies as well as a new Looney Toons series. The network’s Hall of Game awards show honoring athletes, which will premiere in early 2011, is created and produced by IMG. Cartoon’s new quarter-hour comedy programming block will include new series MAD and Secret Mountain Fort Awesome as well as previously announced  Regular Show and Robotomy.

Mad: Inspired by DC Comics’ iconic MAD Magazine and produced by Warner Bros. Animation, the animated sketch-comedy series is exec produced by Sam Register (Teen Titans)

Secret Mountain Fort Awesome: About monsters unleashed on the world. Created by Chowder writer and artist Pete Browngardt and produced by Cartoon Network Studios.

On the live-action side, the network has ordered pilot KROG, a half-hour scripted comedy about monsters sent to conquer mankind Mark Rivers (TV Funhouse) is the creator for Cartoon Network Studios. Cartoon’s first hourlong live-action scripted series   Unnatural History will premiere June 13, with another hourlong scripted show, Tower Prep launching later this year.

And back by popular demand: The Looney Tunes Show — a new half-hour animated comedy series starring Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.  Other new animated Cartoon series include Young Justice, about a teen superheros based on DC Comics characters.

TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.