
EXCLUSIVE: Comedy Central has ordered new series starring comedians Anthony Jeselnik, Amy Schumer and Ben Hoffman for a 2013 launch. Jeselnik’s show is a weekly, topical series reflecting his dark and twisted point-of-view, Schumer will topline a sketch series, and Hoffman will star in a sketch/man-on-the-street hybrid. “These three shows have one thing in common, and I dare viewers to watch every single episode to find out what it is,” said Kent Alterman, Comedy Central’s Head of Original Programming and Production.
The untitled Anthony Jeselnik series is written and executive produced by Jeselnik and head writer Tom Johnson. Showrunner Krysia Plonka and Mosaic’s Christie Smith are also executive producers. Jeselnik is probably best known for his appearances on Comedy Central’s roasts of Charlie Sheen and Donald Trump. Jeselnik, who recently taped a one-hour stand-up special for Comedy Central, Anthony Jeselnik: Caligula, had this response to the news of his pilot getting picked up to series: “Money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money.” Jeselnik, repped by UTA, Mosaic and attorney Lev Ginsburg, has written for and appeared on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and received a writing Emmy nomination last year for the Comedy Central special A Night of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Concert For Autism Education.
The untitled Amy Schumer sketch series will feature single-camera vignettes centered around a theme with Schumer playing heightened versions of herself. The vignettes will be linked together with stand-up footage. Schumer and Daniel Powell are executive producing, and Levity Entertainment’s Itay Reiss, Derek Van Pelt and Judi Brown Marmel are producing. “I am ecstatic to have a home at Comedy Central,” said Schumer. “I feel like that network raised me. I love everyone there…though it may just be Stockholm syndrome.” Rising comedian Schumer, former finalist on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, was a standout at last year’s Sheen roast. She also has appeared on Comedy Central’s John Oliver’s New York Stand-up Show, Live At Gotham and Comedy Central Presents, as well as HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and NBC’s 30 Rock. She is with UTA and Levity.
Each week on The Ben Show, Hoffman will take a different life journey which could include him forming a band, finding religion, auditioning for a reality show or trying out volunteer work. Hoffman seeks advice from people in his life both past and present including his dad, ex-girlfriends, and therapist and tries to figure out how to keep it all from going wrong. These guests also act as co-hosts, helping Hoffman introduce the sketches and keep the show moving. “I am very excited to be doing this show for Comedy Central,” said Hoffman. “And to all the girls I’ve met throughout my life who wouldn’t have sex with me… it’s not too late.” The Ben Show is executive produced by Hoffman, Mike Gibbons, Itay Reiss and Derek Van Pelt and produced by Levity Entertainment. Hoffman, repped by CAA, Levity and attorney Lev Ginsburg, was a writer/correspondent for Comedy Central’s Sports Show with Norm Macdonald and a writer for the MTV Movie Awards. In addition, he has appeared on Arrested Development, The New Girl, and Drunk History. Hoffman recently pranked the Twittersphere with fake details about President Obama’s Hollywood fundraising event with George Clooney, tweeting as if he was present at the event.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.


Is it me or is Comedy Central stooping very low right now? Is there a lack of comedic talent? Where are the Jon Stewart’s, Colbert’s, Chappalle’s? Just seems like trivial stuff. Only one worthy is Jeselnik. He’s a talent.
Dude you are an idiot ! Amy is very very funny. Probably the only funny female comic working right now. She is dirty and quick witted and can match any guy. Listen to her on Opie and Anthony and your opinion of her will change trust me.
Hoffman is great! And he’s in very good hands.
I agree with Kim.
Amy Schumer is the best. So funny.
loved u on com cen…..cant wait to catch u again
So Colbert, Stewart, and Chappelle were big before comedy central? Or were they just about as famous as the 3 “new” guys. Schumer’s hilarious. Just give people a chance instead of jumping to conclusions.
Mmmmm, Mike’s hands. Hubba hubba.
You’d likely never heard of Chappelle, Colbert or Stewart before Comedy Central got a hold of them, and you still can’t spell and pluralize their names properly, Kim. Then you toss in a caveat for a third of the comedians listed. Your argument is invalid.
But Ben’s response is better
Oh please… Jon Stewart had a big career before The Daily Show. You cannot pretend no one had heard of him in the way that the general public has never heard of these 3 people. And Colbert had a 2 shows on Comedy Central before he was even on The Daily Show, and one of them (Strangers with Candy) ran for 3 seasons. And he was a major correspondent on Stewart’s Daily Show for a few years before he was able to do Colbert Report. So let’s please have a reality check.
I don’t think, however, that Comedy Central is worried about the newness of these people. They are successful comedians and young, and the network clearly wants to tap into that. Who knew about the guys in Workaholics before that show? Still very few people do, but they have a hit show that’s in it’s 2nd season. And I bet Daniel Tosh wasn’t THAT well known (I’d never seen his stuff before) when he did Tosh.0, and that is a monster hit for the network.
Now, whether or not they are setting the bar low lately is another issue…
Jeselnik and Schumer have top-shelf talent bubbling out of them. Jeselnik, particularly. So glad these comics are getting their moments to shine.
Boneyard!
Right on.
Right on was @ Carl. Not Kim.
Calling it right now, all three of these shows will be canceled, either before, or after season 1 is finished. CC has a tendency to do stuff like this.
OMG Ben Hoffman! I’ve missed you since I stopped bothering with Current! So excited about Schumer and Jeselnrbrdrbr, too. So much funny ahead!
Amy schumer is the funniest chick I’ve seen since Betty white u suckaz sayn otherwise r just jealous of her success
Amy and Anthony are extremely funny, anybody who’s a fan of comedy(stand up) and roasts will know them. Also the burn with Jeff Ross is hysterical outside of those who follow the roasts most PPL didn’t know who he was and his show is being renewed for a second season
Oh yeah and if anybody cares it was a great comedian by the name of JIM NORTON who has really brought both Amy and Anthony onto the main stream comedy scene. Amy has been Jim Norton’s opening act for about 2 years now I think. He also brought Anthony onto his HBO show. If you want to see a great comic see Jim Norton. Can’t act very well at all but one of the best stand ups out there.
I just want to get a chance to meet her. Her Amy Schumer Fan Club site (www.amy-schumer.com) says they’re going to have contests to meet her and even have dinner with her.