The Chris Gethard Show graduating from MNN cable access to Fusion cable channel in April

The final episode of The Chris Gethard Show on MNN — Manhattan Neighborhood Network’s municipal access channel — opened tonight with the big announcement: When TCGS returns from its next hiatus in April, it’ll do so as a weekly series on Fusion.

“Yes, we’re still going to book cool musical guests,” Gethard said. “Yes you can still watch live. Yes, you can interact with us.”

Gethard had announced back in December that his long-running cult favorite talk show had found a new cable home, and now the news is out. It’s FUSION.

Can't wait to cause some trouble with @ThisIsFusion!

— TCGS (@gethard_show) January 29, 2015

@ThisIsFusion with the pick up of @gethard_show, I will now watch every show and buy from every advertiser you have.

— Colt Cabana (@ColtCabana) January 29, 2015

…Pretty sure this is going to be a pretty great fit. @ThisIsFusion pic.twitter.com/cGEzVbuRge

— TCGS (@gethard_show) January 29, 2015

What began as a live monthly variety show in 2009 at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City — where Gethard was backed by longtime improv pals such as Shannon O’Neill (who now is the UCB’s NYC Artistic Director) — became a weekly TV talk show with interactive comedy chaos in June 2011, airing locally on MNN and also broadcasting everywhere online via livestream.

The public-access television show was written and produced by Noah Forman, Dru Johnston, J.D. Amato and Gethard, and directed by Amato. Regulars included Bethany Hall, Murf, The Human Fish, Vacation Jason, “presidential candidate” Connor Ratliff, poet Phil Jackson, head writers Dru Johnston and Duke Ponzetti, Dan Klein, Patrick Cotnoir and hundreds of comedians and viewers like you who became a part of the show by joining the festivities on set, or the thousands who watched online.

Tonight’s live finale episode of TCGS on MNN was titled “When Next You See Us We Will Be Standing Atop the Rubble Of The Entertainment Industry, Victorious Conquerers In A Strange Land That’s Never Welcomed Us. We Are The Outsiders. We Are The Renegades. We Are The Surrogates For The Silent Masses Who Are Not Willing To Be Treated As A Number, Who Are Smart Enough To Know That Their Value Is Rooted In More Than What Demographic Some White Male In A Suit Categorizes Them In. In April We Take To New Airwaves To Shout Furiously On Behalf Of The Sad, Creative, Sexually Confused, Generally Forgotten Kids Who Have Long Found It Unpleasant To Shout For Themselves. We Are A Voice For The Voiceless. We Take To The Grid So That We May Speak On Behalf Of Those Who Opt To Live Off Of It. We Are The Nervous System, And Our Viewers Are The Heart And The Brain. We Aim To Obey The Commands Of The Meekest Voices Amongst The Din. We Are Selling Out, But We Will Never Back Down. We Thank The Powers That Be For Our Seat At The Table But We Refuse To Ever Be Cool And We Insist On Making A Mess. Some People Get Invited In The Front Door. Some People Sneak Through The Back Door. We Are Sleeping In A Tent In The Vacant Lot Next Door And Throwing Eggs At The Metaphorical House. This Is Not Goodbye, It’s Only See Ya Later. This Is Not The End, It Is The Beginning. MNN Was Where The Forces Gathered, And Now The Army Marches. And You, The Viewers Who Have Supported Us, Are The Generals In That Army, The Admirals On The Ships, You Tell Us When It’s Time To Push The Button And Go Nuclear On The Whole Venture. The Mainstream Entertainment Industry Murdered Andy Kaufman And It Is The Duty Of This Show To Get Revenge On His Behalf.”

More to come!