The CW has announced a premiere date and a new cast for MADtv.
The popular series which lasted for a decade on FOX will be back with new episodes airing Tuesdays on the network. Here’s the press release with more details:
“MADtv” RETURNS WITH AN ALL NEW PRIMETIME SERIES
ON THE CW ON TUESDAY, JULY 26
New Cast Features Eclectic Mix of Stand-Up Comedians, Impressionists, Sketch Performers and Rising Stars in the Comedy World
BURBANK, Calif. (June 15, 2016) – With its signature pop-culture parodies and politically incorrect humor, MADtv returns to television with an all-new series, making its debut on The CW Network on Tuesday, July 26 (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT). The Emmy Award-winning sketch comedy series stars eight new cutting-edge comedic performers. In addition, the new series will also feature cast members of the original late-night series appearing as special guest stars in each episode reprising some of MADtv’s most popular characters.
The new cast of MADtv includes:
Carlie Craig is an actress, comic, singer, improviser and impressionist whose impressive credits include producer/performer on “Todrick,” the MTV docu-series from YouTube star Todrick Hall, as well as USA Network’s “First Impressions with Dana Carvey,” where she went viral with her video “Celebrity Impressions by Carlie Craig.”
Chelsea Davison is a sketch comedy writer and performer based in Los Angeles, known for her work on MTV, UCB and YouTube. She is currently a writer on the hit Comedy Central show @Midnight and was named a “New Face” at the prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. She also co-starred with Amy Poehler in “These Girls.”
Jeremy D. Howard is known for his larger-than-life characters and impeccable comedic timing. A master of improvisation, he has been in several independent films and played the lead in the movie “Hollywood Street.” In 2016, he participated in the CBS Diversity Showcase. This athlete and former choir director has a 3-octave range and has been a principal actor in numerous commercials.
Amir K is well known for his stand-up comedy appearances around the world. Born Amir Kamyab, heis an Iranian-American performer whose work is a combination of storytelling, character work and improvisation shaped by an uncanny range of accents and dialects. He has appeared on “Last Comic Standing” and “Jerks with Cameras.” He has also had roles in the Academy Award-winning film “Argo” and recently starred in the film “The Pyramid.”
Lyric Lewis is a member of The Groundlings Main Company and was featured in the 2015 New Faces: Characters showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival. She was a cast member in the 2015 CBS Diversity Showcase. Her past acting credits include “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “Drunk History.” She will be lending her voice in the upcoming animated series “SuperMansion” with Bryan Cranston.
Piotr Michael is a versatile impressionist, improviser and actor. He’s a regular contributor to “The Howard Stern Show,” known for his impersonations of celebrities such as Simon Cowell, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Charlie Sheen and Donald Trump. He’s a popular voiceover artist whose credits include Disney’s “Wander Over Yonder,” “Conan” and “Real Time with Bill Maher,” as well as video games “Final Fantasy,” “Call of Duty” and “Warcraft.” His podcast, “The Mixed Nut Show,” features his impressions and characters.
Michelle Ortiz is known for her brazen and bold humor. She studied at the prestigious Moscow Art Theatre School in Russia and trained as a classical opera singer in Germany. Ortiz participated in the 2014 ABC Diversity Showcase and the 2016 CBS Diversity Showcase. Her television credits include “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D,” “Life in Pieces,” and “Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn.”
Adam Ray is a comedian/actor best known for his roles in “The Heat” and “Spy,” both starring Melissa McCarthy and directed by Paul Feig. He is also featured in the upcoming reboot of “Ghostbusters” as the voice of the iconic character “Slimer.” He currently co-hosts the new TBS comedy game show “Separation Anxiety,” as well as the popular podcast “About Last Night,” which has featured guests including Melissa McCarthy, Bob Saget and Whitney Cummings. His comedy sketches have garnered over 30 million views on YouTube and Funny or Die.
Executive producer/showrunner David E. Salzman said: “MADtv is all about the cast and their characters. We have double-barreled strength — an amazing new cast of eight, plus fan favorites from our original 14 seasons who will also appear on our new series for The CW.”
Classic episodes from fourteen seasons of the show’s original run are currently available for streaming on CW Seed, the CW’s digital network. The CW also recently aired MADtv 20th Anniversary Reunion special, featuring classic moments from the original series and new material with 19 returning cast members
MADtv is produced by Telepictures, with executive producers David E. Salzman, Mark Teitelbaum and John Montgomery.
About MADtv
Airing more than 300 episodes in 14 seasons, the long-running series noted for its signature characters, celebrity impersonations and on-the-edge pop-culture sendups also featured hundreds of guest stars and musical acts, which will continue with the new series. Stars appearing on the original MADtv included Pamela Anderson, Kathy Bates, Warren Beatty, Halle Berry, Beyoncé, Jack Black, George Carlin, Jackie Chan, Don Cheadle, Kelly Clarkson, Rob Corddry, Seth Green, Green Day, Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Hopper, Jay Z, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the Kardashians, Mila Kunis, LL Cool J, Avril Lavigne, Adam Levine, Ludacris, Marilyn Manson, Alanis Morissette, Nelly, No Doubt, Shaquille O’Neal, Queen Latifah, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Michael Rapaport, Leah Remini, Ryan Reynolds, Tim Robbins, Ray Romano, Susan Sarandon, Ryan Seacrest, Martin Short, Jessica Simpson, Gwen Stefani, Usher, Kate Walsh, Fred Willard — and the list goes on.
Originally produced by QDE — Quincy Jones & David Salzman Entertainment — the Emmy® Award-winning landmark sketch parody, inspired by the iconic MAD Magazine, stars eight new cutting-edge comedic performers. The original series gave comedy starts to some of today’s most well-known faces, including Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele (“Key & Peele”), Orlando Jones (“Sleepy Hollow”), Simon Helberg (“The Big Bang Theory”), Ike Barinholtz (“The Mindy Project”), Alex Borstein (“Family Guy”) and many more.
You can see a photo of the cast below.
