Comedy legend and award-winning actress Andrea Martin headlines the cast of Global's new Canadian original series Working the Engels

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TORONTO, Aug. 27, 2013 /CNW/ - Shaw Media and Halfire-CORE Entertainment announced today that award-winning comedy legend Andrea Martin (Pippin, SCTV, My Big Fat Greek Wedding) will star in Global Television's new half-hour original comedy series Working the Engels. Commissioned by Shaw Media's original content team, produced by Halfire-CORE Entertainment and written by Katie Ford (Miss Congeniality, Desperate Housewives) and Jane Ford (Listen Missy, Material World), the 12-episode series begins production in Toronto this fall.

Andrea Martin portrays Ceil (short for Celia) Engel, the overly confident matriarch of the Engel clan, who mixes both momma bear motherly love and myopic self-involvement. Direct and blunt, Ceil has an unquenchable need for attention, often accompanied by a flair for the dramatic.  She's all about her family - except when she's all about herself.

"I am so looking forward to shooting another TV series in Canada and working with Katie and Jane Ford - I have been an admirer of theirs for years," said Andrea Martin.  "And to get to stay in Toronto for an extended period is icing on the cake. I couldn't feel luckier or more excited. It's going to be a great show and I'm thrilled to be a part of it."

A veteran of television, stage and film, Andrea Martin most recently won Tony^®, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Awards for her remarkable performance in the current Broadway revival of Pippin.  Her theatre credits include My Favorite Year at the Lincoln Center (Tony, Drama Desk and Theatre World Awards), Fiddler on the Roof, Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein and the legendary Toronto production of Godspell in which she co-starred with Gilda Radner and future collaborators and SCTV alumni Martin Short, Eugene Levy and Dave Thomas. On SCTV, Martin not only earned two Emmys^® for her writing, but also created some of television's most indelible sketch comedy characters including the hilarious leopard-skin clad Edith Prickley.  Martin has done extensive voice work in television and film (The Simpsons, Anastasia, The Rugrats Movie) and made memorable guest appearances on hit shows such as 30 Rock and Nurse Jackie. Her film appearances include The Producers, Wag the Dog, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

"With a comedic force like Andrea Martin on board for the series, we are well on our way to establishing another hit for Global," said Barb Williams, Senior Vice President, Content, Shaw Media.  "We are ecstatic that she has signed on and have no doubt she will flawlessly bring Kate and Jane's outrageously clever script to life."

"Andrea is a living legend, a consummate pro and, of course, a brilliant comedian," said Noreen Halpern, President, Halfire-CORE Entertainment.  "We're completely thrilled to pair her extraordinary talent with this wonderful world that Katie and Jane have created. Casting Andrea is a huge coup for us which only adds to the international appeal of this series."

In this laugh-out-loud comedy, a family of ne'er-do-wells must band together to keep their heads above water when their father and breadwinner passes away, leaving them a mountain of debt. They all go to work running Dad's storefront law firm, with one minor problem - daughter Jenna Engel is the only one who is actually a lawyer and qualified to practice. It's not pretty, but it's family.

The series is produced by Halfire-CORE Entertainment with Katie Ford, Jane Ford, Howard Busgang, Tom Nursall, and Noreen Halpern serving as Executive Producers.

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Global Television is a Shaw Media Network.

About Shaw Communications Inc.
Shaw is a diversified communications and media company, providing consumers with broadband cable television, High-Speed Internet, Home Phone, telecommunications services (through Shaw Business), satellite direct-to-home services (through Shaw Direct) and engaging programming content (through Shaw Media). Shaw serves 3.3 million customers, through a reliable and extensive fibre network. Shaw Media operates one of the largest conventional television networks in Canada, Global Television, and 19 specialty networks including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY® and Showcase. Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index (Symbol: TSX - SJR.B, NYSE - SJR). For more information about Shaw, please visit www.shaw.ca.

About Halfire-CORE Entertainment
Noreen Halpern founded Halfire Entertainment in 2012 to develop, produce, and finance television series and mini-series for the Canadian, U.S., and international marketplace.  Earlier this year, Halfire Entertainment launched a joint venture with CORE Media Group to co-finance new scripted programming, forming Halfire-CORE Entertainment. By investing in content and partnerships, Halfire-CORE Entertainment is producing exceptionally creative and commercial programming and employing non-traditional financing resulting in straight-to-series orders.  Prior to Halfire, Halpern oversaw all scripted programming for indie studio, Entertainment One, where she launched series including Rookie Blue (ABC, Global), Haven (Syfy, Global), Hung (HBO), Call Me Fitz (DirecTV), The Firm (NBC, Global) and Hell on Wheels (AMC). Most recently, Stephanie Fontana, Director of Development and Production, and Ben Murray, Director of Business Development, joined the team.  Halfire-CORE Entertainment has offices in Toronto and Los Angeles.

SOURCE: Global Television

Katia Houde
Publicist, Global Television
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Gabrielle Free (for Halfire-CORE Entertainment)
Free Publicity
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