Country-flavored cable channel CMT has collared Blue Collar TV star Jeff Foxworthy for his own series.
The former WB Network comic has signed on for 12 half-hour episodes of Foxworthy's Big Night Out, a showcase for standup and sketch comedy as well as live country music performances. Night will premiere on the Viacom-owned channel in September.
"There's a real opportunity to deliver a variety show, a first for CMT, with a unique comedy sensibility," said Paul Villadolid, CMT vice president and general manager.
Night will begin production in June. The show will be taped in front of a studio audience in Atlanta's Alliance Theater.
Foxworthy is a proven draw on cable; his Blue Collar Comedy Tour notched the second- and third-highest-rated programs ever on Comedy Central, exceeding 6 million total viewers. Foxworthy also has been a boon to CMT as host of CMT Music Awards, which has been the network's highest-rated program the past two years he has served as host.
Comedy Tour also has been a big DVD seller, with nearly 8 million units sold of two editions.
Night, however, will not include Foxworthy's Blue mates, including Larry the Cable Guy; Foxworthy will be joined by a different ensemble cast. The deal is separate from the multiproject pact the Blue crew signed with Comedy Central last year.
I don't think this will be one I'll be watching - not for me :(
Nothing against Jeff, but I'm happy to see that "Blue Collar TV" has gone to that big trailer park in the sky.
How about Foxworthy as the host of a nightly series CMT? Sorta of a "Late Night with David Letterman" type of show. I think it might work.