HBO Canada gets funny in February with an all-new comedy line-up featuring
Bill Maher, Ricky Gervais and Will Ferrell

    
    -   Friday night laugh-fest debuts with Less Than Kind, The Ricky Gervais
        Show, The Life and Times of Tim, Real Time With Bill Maher and Funny
        or Die Presents

    -   February schedule includes a solo comedy special from Bill Maher and
        the premiere of How To Make It In America
    

TORONTO , Jan. 12 /CNW/ - This February, HBO Canada , a multiplex channel of Corus Entertainment's Movie Central (Western Canada ) and Astral Media's The Movie Network (Eastern Canada ), brings subscribers a full slate of edgy, engaging and hilarious programming that includes new and returning HBO series and specials, and the anticipated second season of a critically-acclaimed homegrown half-hour comedy.

On Sunday, February 14 at 10 p.m. ET /MT, HBO Canada introduces How To Make It In America, the new half-hour comedy from executive producer Mark Wahlberg that follows two young, enterprising Brooklyn natives as they hustle their way through New York City determined to achieve the American Dream.

Beginning Friday, February 19 , HBO Canada presents a new Friday night comedy line-up that begins with a brand new season of the Canadian original series Less Than Kind at 8:30 p.m. ET /MT, followed at 9 p.m. ET /MT by the premiere of The Ricky Gervais Show, a new animated series based on the comedian's wildly popular podcasts. At 9:30 p.m. ET /MT season 2 of The Life and Times of Tim will debut, followed at 10 p.m. ET /MT with the premiere of a new season of Real Time With Bill Maher . Rounding out the Friday night schedule at midnight is the new late-night, half-hour sketch-comedy series Funny or Die Presents from comedic masterminds Will Ferrell , Adam McKay and Chris Henchy.

Also in February, a week before kicking off the eighth season of his Emmy(R)-nominated late-night series Real Time with Bill Maher , the comedian/author/pundit stars in an all-new stand-up comedy special, Bill Maher ... But I'm Not Wrong on Saturday, February 13 at 10 p.m. ET /MT.

All HBO programming will premiere day-and-date with HBO in the U.S. New episodes of all series will continue to air throughout the winter and will also be simulcast on HBO Canada HD and will be available on demand following their network premieres. Additional information for HBO Canada's February programming line-up is outlined below:

BILL MAHER...BUT I'M NOT WRONG

(WORLD PREMIERE; HBO COMEDY SPECIAL)

Saturday, February 13 at 10 p.m. ET /MT

Airing live from Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh , North Carolina, this original comedy special features a stand-up performance from Bill Maher highlighting the comedian's acerbic take on a wide range of social and political issues.

HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA

(WORLD PREMIERE; HBO ORIGINAL SERIES)

Sunday, February 14 at 10 p.m. ET /MT

This half-hour comedy series follows two enterprising Brooklyn twenty-somethings as they hustle their way through New York City , determined to achieve the American Dream. Trying to make a name for themselves in New York's competitive fashion scene, Ben Epstein and his friend and business partner Cam Calderon use their street knowledge and connections to bring their ambitions to fruition. With the help of Cam's cousin Rene, who is trying to market his own high-energy drink, and their well-connected friend Domingo the burgeoning entrepreneurs set out to make it big, encountering obstacles along the way that will require all their ingenuity to overcome. Executive produced by Mark Wahlberg , Rob Weiss and Steve Levinson , the series stars Bryan Greenberg , Victor Rasuk, Lake Bell, Louis Guzman and Kid Cudi.

LESS THAN KIND (Season 2)

(WORLD PREMIERE; CANADIAN ORIGINAL SERIES)

Friday, February 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET /MT

This half-hour Canadian comedy series follows overweight Winnipeg teenager Sheldon Blecher as he attempts to survive his awkward teenage years with a dysfunctional family that includes Sam Blecher, Sheldon's self-destructive driving-instructor father; Anne Blecher, his unstable pyromaniac mother; and Josh Blecker , his failed-actor brother. As season two begins, the abrasive Sam is at Death's door, Anne's anxiety reaches a breaking point while Josh is torn between obligations to his dying acting career, family and his girlfriend. As the turmoil at home escalates, Sheldon is dealing with seismic developments of his own as his best friend - braceface Miriam Goldstein - is becoming more than just a friend. Starring Maury Chaykin, Jesse Camacho , Wendel Meldrum, Benjamin Arthur , Brooke Palsson, Tyler Johnston , and Ross McMillan.

THE RICKY GERVAIS SHOW

(WORLD PREMIERE; HBO ORIGINAL SERIES)

Friday, February 19 at 9 p.m. ET /MT

This new 13-episode animated comedy series is based on podcasts from the popular UK comedy show hosted by Ricky Gervais , Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington . Earning a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most downloads, topics covered on the show include: the merits of 20th century inventions; Karl's suggestion for population control; philosophy through the ages; Karl's round head; and thoughts on charity. Regular features include a "Monkey News" segment and excerpts from Karl's journal, read by Stephen.

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF TIM (Season 2)

(WORLD PREMIERE; HBO ORIGINAL SERIES)

Friday, February 19 at 9:30 p.m. ET /MT

Conceived, written, produced and voiced by Steve Dildarian, The Life & Times of Tim returns for a second season with new animated episodes about an average guy who can't seem to catch a break. Each episode includes two short stories that find our hero Tim in a new and unenviable dilemma and the ill-advised choices he makes attempting to rectify his problems.

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER (Season 8)

(WORLD PREMIERE; HBO ORIGINAL SERIES)

Friday, February 19 at 10 p.m. ET /MT

HBO's irrepressible, politically incorrect muse, Bill Maher returns for an eighth season of his HBO original series that offers viewers a unique perspective on contemporary issues. Each live edition of the series includes an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with panelists, and interviews with in-studio and satellite guests.

FUNNY OR DIE PRESENTS

(WORLD PREMIERE; HBO ORIGINAL SERIES)

Friday, February 19 at midnight ET /MT

Executive produced by four of the celebrated masterminds behind the groundbreaking Funny or Die website - Will Ferrell , Adam McKay and Chris Henchy - this half-hour, late-night sketch comedy series provides a creative forum for dozens of America's most talented comedians, actors and writers. The series fuses off-the-wall scripted pieces with animated vignettes, music videos and faux commercials, with each episode introduced and wrapped by a decidedly unhip, white-haired spokesman named Ed Haligan.

HBO Canada is a multiplex channel offered by Astral Media's The Movie Network (Eastern Canada ) and Corus Entertainment's Movie Central (Western Canada ). HBO Canada brings Canadians the current slate of signature dramatic programs for which HBO is known, together with new and never-before-seen programming including comedy series, live specials, sporting events, behind-the-scenes content and titles from HBO's extensive library - all in an uncut and commercial-free environment. HBO Canada is offered in high definition on HBO Canada HD and programming is accessible on demand where available by service provider. For more information, please visit www.hbocanada.com.

The Movie Network is an Astral Media Television Network. Astral Media is a leading Canadian media company, active in specialty and pay television, radio, outdoor advertising and interactive media. Astral Media's solid and dynamic presence in the country's major markets rests on its commitment to offer a unique combination of high-quality, targeted media for all its audiences. For more information about Astral Media, please visit www.astralmedia.com.

Movie Central is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc. (CJR.B/CJR), a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, advertising services, television broadcasting, children's book publishing and children's animation.

For access to The Movie Network's media room or Movie Central's press site, please visit http://tv.astral.com or http://mediacentre.corusent.com.

For further information: Media contacts: The Movie Network (eastern Canada), Nicolle Balen, [phone], [email protected]; Movie Central (western Canada), Owen McCorquodale, [phone], [email protected]