Bounce TV to Add Second Original Series: Uptown Comic to Debut Monday, June 18 Immediately After Series Premiere of New Sitcom Family Time

ATLANTA, May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Bounce TV (http://bouncetv.com), the nation's first-ever over-the-air broadcast television network for African Americans, will launch a second new original comedy series Uptown Comic on June 18 immediately after the series premiere of the just-announced sitcom Family Time, it was announced today by Bounce TV Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Katz.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120510/CL04983 )

Uptown Comic will be a half-hour series featuring stage and skit performances by some of the hottest up-and-coming comics in the country. The show is currently in production in front of a live studio audience at the longest-running African American comedy club in the U.S. - Uptown Comedy Corner in Atlanta.  Actor and comedian Joe Torry (Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam) hosts.

Bounce TV just announced its first-ever original series Family Time - a half hour situation comedy created by Bentley Kyle Evans (The Jamie Foxx Show, Martin, Love That Girl) and produced by Evans and partner Trenten Gumbs.  Family Time is set to launch Monday, June 18 at 8:00 p.m.  The series premiere of Uptown Comic will follow and be seen weekly at 8:30 p.m. (All Times Eastern.)

"Uptown Comic is a fresh new showcase for the next generation of break-out stars, perfectly pairing with Family Time to build Monday nights as an original programming destination for Bounce TV," commented Katz.  "The speed of Bounce TV's historic growth is only accelerated by the addition of more demo-specific original programming that entertains our viewers while driving value for our affiliates and advertising partners."

The series is being produced by Rainforest Films, producers of the current hit theatrical "Think Like a Man" one of the top-grossing films of 2012 to date.  Rainforest co-founders Rob Hardy and Will Packer are executive producers of Uptown Comic and both men are among the executive leadership team of Bounce TV.

Ryan Glover, President of Bounce TV said, "Will and Rob have been intimately involved with Bounce TV since the beginning. Our network's meteoric rise and growth allows us to unleash their unmatched creativity in developing compelling and fresh new original content sooner than we planned."

"We envision Uptown Comic combining the best elements of Def Comedy Jam and In Living Color," said Packer, producer with Hardy of "Stomp The Yard," "Obsessed," "Takers," "Think Like A Man" and more. "We think the series is a great jumping off point as we develop and produce more content for Bounce TV."

"Uptown Comic is just the beginning; we have many ideas in development for Bounce TV's original programming," commented Hardy who, in addition to his impressive movie credits, has also directed episodes of such hit shows as E.R., The Vampire Diaries, Bones and Criminal Minds. "The network's programming is very quickly growing into appointment viewing for the African American community. Will and I are truly excited to have a national television outlet for our creative vision and ideas."

Uptown Comic host Torry has hosted Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam and starred in hit comedies House Party and Strictly Business. Along with a multitude of TV appearances, he has also had significant movie roles in Poetic Justice, Sprung and Tales from the Hood.  He is currently producing his first feature film Pawn Shop starring legendary actor/comedian Garrett Morris.

Family Time centers around the life and times of The Stallworths, a working class African American family who scratches off a lottery ticket and jumps to middle class overnight. They're an authentic picture of an African American family working to live the dream.  This family-next-door consists of two loving parents: Anthony (Omar Gooding) and Lisa (Angell Conwell) Stallworth and their children Ebony (Jayla Calhoun) and Devin (Bentley Kyle Evans, Jr.)  The Stallworths move to a middle class community in sunny southern California and both Anthony and Lisa bring baggage and other family members into their relationship that makes for great comedy – and occasional drama.

Bounce TV launched September 26, 2011 and is already available in 75% of African American households and 60 million homes nationally. Bounce TV airs twenty four hours a day, seven days a week on the digital signals of local television stations.  Martin Luther King III and Ambassador Andrew Young are among the Founding Group and Board of Directors of Bounce TV.  Bounce TV is majority African American-owned. Toyota USA is the signature sponsor of the network.

Bounce TV targets African Americans primarily between the ages of 25-54 with a programming mix of theatrical motion pictures, live sports, documentaries, specials, inspirational faith-based programs, off-net series and now original series. Live sports and events are part of the Bounce TV schedule, including both football and basketball games from the nation's largest African American athletic conference, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA.)

Contact:  Jim Weiss  770-722-2142  [email protected]

SOURCE Bounce TV