Time for a Rematch! The Comedy Network Orders Second Season of MATCH GAME

- Darrin Rose returns as host; Seán Cullen and Debra DiGiovanni are back as regular panellists -

- Montreal's Zone3 to shoot another 60 episodes in Toronto this summer -

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TORONTO, April 3, 2013 /CNW/ - This year, no blanks shall remain unfilled as The Comedy Network orders a second season of the retro-classic comedy game show MATCH GAME from FremantleMedia. Set to shoot for the first time in Toronto this summer, another 60 episodes of the half-hour comedy series have been ordered. Produced in association with Montreal's Zone3, Season 2 of MATCH GAME premieres exclusively on Comedy this fall. Oshawa-born stand-up Darrin Rose is back for another round as host, and is again joined by wisecracking regular panellists Canadian comedy legend Seán Cullen, and beloved stand-up Debra DiGiovanni.

Season 1 of MATCH GAME featured an extraordinary roster of comedy all-stars including Samantha Bee, Scott Thompson, Tom Green, Caroline Rhea, Andy Kindler, Yvette Nicole Brown, Janeane Garofalo, Jeremy Hotz, and Greg Grunberg, among others. Since the series premiere on Oct. 15, 2012, more than nine million viewers have watched the original Canadian series, while approximately two million Canadians continue to watch MATCH GAME each week. Viewers can relive the first round of shenanigans Monday - Friday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy.

**Media Note** - Download photography for MATCH GAME at BellMediaPR.ca/Comedy

"It's exciting to see MATCH GAME, yet another homegrown Bell Media-commissioned series, catch fire with viewers across the country," said Catherine MacLeod, Vice-President, Specialty Channels, Bell Media. "We look forward to delivering 60 more episodes of the hijinks and hilarity that have become the hallmark of this retro-comedy classic."

"We are looking forward to taping with Darrin, Seán, and Debra, as well as many familiar and new faces this summer in Toronto," said Michel Bissonnette, President of Montreal-headquartered Zone3. "We plan to take the laughs to the next level."

MATCH GAME is based on FremantleMedia's international format, with local versions having been shown across the U.K., Canada, Australia, Germany, France, and Mexico.

MATCH GAME is produced by Zone3 in association with Bell Media. Executive producers are Isabelle Bourduas and Michael Kronish. Martha Kehoe is producer. Sarah Fowlie is Director, Independent Production, Comedy. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Catherine MacLeod is Vice-President, Specialty Channels, Bell Media. Rick Brace is President, Specialty Channels and CTV Production. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
The Comedy Network on Twitter
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Darrin Rose on Twitter
Darrin Rose on Facebook
Debra DiGiovanni on Twitter
Seán Cullen on Twitter

About Zone3 
MATCH GAME Canada is produced by Montreal-based Zone3, Quebec's top production house. The company focuses in three main areas: television production, film production, and live entertainment production. Zone3 was founded in 2000 by André Larin, Michel Bissonnette and Vincent Leduc, all of whom have held key positions in the Québec television and broadcasting industry. Michael Kronish and Isabelle Bourduas are the executives in charge of English language production. Zone3 is owned by Telesystem Ltd. and CDP TélécomMédias.

About FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia is one of the leading creators, producers and distributors of television entertainment brands in the world. FremantleMedia is part of RTL Group, the leading European entertainment network, which is in turn 92 percent owned by the international media company Bertelsmann. FremantleMedia is responsible for many of the world's highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama, factual entertainment and kids & family programming, with market leading capabilities that extend from content creation to licensing, digital and branded entertainment, gaming and home entertainment. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes FremantleMedia North America, UFA, FremantleMedia UK, FremantleMedia Australia, Ludia, @radical.media and Original Productions, among others) has one of the most comprehensive global networks with operations in 22 countries, creating over 9,200 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 300 individual titles. The company also distributes more than 20,000 hours of content in over 150 countries.  FremantleMedia has some of the world's most sought after and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally produces such programmes as: Idols (co-produced with 19 Productions in the US), Hole In The Wall, Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), Take Me Out, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife, Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten, and Neighbours. www.fremantlemedia.com

About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has commissioned and co-produced some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, while working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit CTV series include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE and THE LISTENER, and the recently concluded game changer FLASHPOINT. New for 2013 on CTV are the drama series MOTIVE and PLAYED (working title), relationship comedy SATISFACTION, multi-cam office comedy SPUN OUT, and THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, a Canadian-produced, complementary version of the hit international series. Among the scripted series on Bell Media specialty channels are the two-time Emmy^®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, ORPHAN BLACK, and upcoming drama BITTEN. In total, Bell Media ordered 26 new original Canadian series in 2012, and put 35 scripted projects into development.

About The Comedy Network
Canada's first specialty comedy service, The Comedy Network airs comedy of all kinds, 24-hours-a-day, across multiple platforms, including a revolutionary broadband service at thecomedynetwork.ca. Launched in October 1997, The Comedy Network broadcasts, uncut and uncensored, an eclectic mix of scripted, stand-up, sketch, improv, and animated comedy - as well as topical comedy talk shows, game shows and classic situation comedies. Offering an unrivalled slate of original Canadian programming, The Comedy Network reinvests nearly 50 per cent of its revenues into home-grown productions. The Comedy Network is a division of Bell Media, which is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company, and is available in nearly six million households across the country.

Source: BBM Canada, 10/15/12 - 3/17/13

SOURCE: Comedy Network

Andrea Allen, The Comedy Network, 416.384.5375 or [email protected]
Christy Sullivan, The Comedy Network, 416.384.3624 or [email protected]