by While I remain pre-occupied on a "secret" assignment — what could it be? Am I really just sick? Am I really just tired? Am I really just sick and tired of blogging? Maybe, maybe, and no. But I am pre-occupied with other projects right now, so I should take a moment now and be diligent enough to keep you in the loop on these comedians and comedy events making headlines this week.
- MTV announced that in addition to having Whitney Cummings host the Jersey Shore cast for its New Year's Eve broadcast from Times Square, Cummings will have comedic backup from Nick Kroll and Bobby Moynihan. And yes, Moynihan will dress up as Snooki to face off with "Snooki." We already have the photographic evidence!
- Showtime already had announced it renewed The Green Room with Paul Provenza, but only now divulged a bit more concrete information about the second season. It'll be six episodes, film in January and premiere later in 2011. Among the guests: Ray Romano, Kathy Griffin, Margaret Cho, Tommy Chong, Lewis Black, Ron White, Joe Rogan and Judd Apatow.
- Comedy Central also gave a second-season order to Ugly Americans, with 14 episodes premiering in June 2011. Among your favorite comedians providing voices for the animated series are Kurt Metzger, Natasha Leggero, Larry Murphy, Pete Holmes and Julie Klausner.
- Comedy Central and The Onion have launched OnionSportsNetwork.com in advance of the upcoming series “Onion SportsDome,” which debuts on Jan. 11, 2011.
- NBC Universal got Russell Peters to host its seventh annual Stand-Up for Diversity grand finale last week at The Comedy Store. The winner will be announced in early January and featured in an ad in The Hollywood Reporter. Finalists this year are JJ Williamson (who won the audience choice award at last week's showcase), Samuel J. Comroe, Amir K, Ron Funches, Sheng Wang, Thomas Dale, Phoebe Robinson, Tony Baker and Mike Britt.
- ABC extended its contract with Jimmy Kimmel for two more years to keep Jimmy Kimmel Live on the air through its 10th season.
- FOX, meanwhile, has pulled all five remaining episodes plus the one-hour finale of Running Wilde from its December schedule. No word yet on if or when the episodes will air.
