High-Energy Show from Telepictures Productions and Warner Horizon Television To Break Late-Night Mold with Outdoor Street-Party Atmosphere, Live Musical and Comedy Performances and Celebrity Appearances

ATLANTA, March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The late-night landscape is about to shift when comedian and actor George Lopez headlines a new talk show for TBS. The program - from 2.2 Productions, paraMedia Inc. and Telepictures Productions, in association with Warner Horizon Television - will bring the excitement back to late night with an outdoor street-party atmosphere and a high-energy crowd. The fun will include visits from celebrity guests, live music and comedy acts and the benefit of George's own flair and personality. Lopez and Jim Paratore (The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Bonnie Hunt Show) serve as the executive producers for the not-yet-titled series, which will air on TBS Mondays through Thursdays at 11 p.m. (ET/PT), beginning in November 2009.

While high-energy, Lopez's new series will feature a casual environment that invites guests to engage fully with the crowd, giving audience members the chance to interact with the guests, ask questions and walk away feeling as though they've experienced something new.

"George Lopez is a special talent, with an everyman appeal that makes him uniquely positioned to be the next great late-night host," said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TBS, TNT and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). "George and TBS are going to change the late-night television landscape and bring a brand-new energy to the talk-show genre by giving it a street-party atmosphere. We're excited to see this show come to life."

"If change can come to the White House, then change can come to late night," said Lopez. "Yes I can!"

"George Lopez is one of the most talented, popular and successful comedic performers today, and we are thrilled to partner with him and with TBS on a nightly talk-variety show," said Hilary Estey McLoughlin, president of Telepictures Productions. "He has an extraordinary ability to authentically connect with a diverse audience and will bring a really different point of view that will be a game-changer in late night."

Executive producer Jim Paratore said, "George will bring a fresh voice to late-night talk. He's done it all, from standup to television to movies. He's a proven writer, producer and performer with the kind of broad appeal that will have real impact and speak to an audience largely underserved in late night."

The new talk show represents Lopez's return to series television after co-creating, writing, producing and starring in Warner Bros. Television's groundbreaking hit sitcom George Lopez, which ran for six seasons on ABC. George Lopez remains a hit with viewers in syndication on both broadcast stations and cable's Nick at Nite, ranking as one of the top-rated shows on the network and among the top five comedies and top 20 weekly programs in syndication. George Lopez is one of only four off-net comedies to post weekly ratings gains among households from the 2007-08 to 2008-09 season.

Lopez has risen to become one of the premier comedic talents in the entertainment industry. He has been praised by audiences and critics alike for his work in television, film and standup, as well as his extensive charity work with various foundations.

TBS