by Ready for another entrant into the late-night talk show wars? TBS announced today that George Lopez would launch his own 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday comedy chat show in November on the "Very Funny" cable network.
Lopez will air against the late local newscasts, Comedy Central's Daily Show and Colbert Report, and Chelsea Handler's half-hour on E!, as well as a half-hour ahead of David Letterman and Conan O'Brien (of course, he'll also air after Jay Leno's new NBC timeslot this fall).
Details from the press release: Lopez will executive produce his new talker with Jim Paratore (The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Bonnie Hunt Show) in a deal with 2.2 Productions, paraMedia Inc., Telepictures Productions and Warner Horizon Television. It's as of yet untitled. The show allegedly wil allow guests to interact with the live studio audience and offer the crowd a chance to ask questions during the show. Lopez previously starred in his own sitcom for six seasons on ABC. In August, he'll film his second stand-up comedy special for HBO, Tall, Dark and Chicano.
Canned quotes:
“George Lopez is a special talent, with an everyman appeal that makes him uniquely positioned to be the next great late-night host,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TBS, TNT and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “George and TBS are going to change the late-night television landscape and bring a brand-new energy to the talk-show genre by giving it a street-party atmosphere. We’re excited to see this show come to life.”
“If change can come to the White House, then change can come to late night,” said Lopez. “Yes I can!”
“George Lopez is one of the most talented, popular and successful comedic performers today, and we are thrilled to partner with him and with TBS on a nightly talk-variety show,” said Hilary Estey McLoughlin, president of Telepictures Productions. “He has an extraordinary ability to authentically connect with a diverse audience and will bring a really different point of view that will be a game-changer in late night.”
Executive producer Jim Paratore said, “George will bring a fresh voice to late-night talk. He’s done it all, from standup to television to movies. He’s a proven writer, producer and performer with the kind of broad appeal that will have real impact and speak to an audience largely underserved in late night.”
