Production begins on new satire series, Punched Up Production news / Comedy Network Posted by RAD on Aug 01, 2006 - 10:02 AM The Comedy Network and Indivisual Productions announced today that principal photography is underway on Punched Up, a new 13-part half-hour series satirizing makeover programs and Reality TV. Punched Up takes your average Jane or Joe and perks up their lives with a healthy dose of comic relief. Meet comedians Lauren Ash, Matt Baram, Shannon Beckner, John Catucci, Scott Montgomery and Pat Thornton. Together, this crack team of comedy writers-turned-makeover-artists serve up a hilarious prescription for everyday, real-life situations. In each episode, the team follows folks at home, work and play, to observe, probe, comment on and coach them through their daily lives. Their missions range from "butching up" a wimpy vegan and turning a Naked News anchor into a serious interviewer to helping a CFL player lay the groundwork for a post-football career by developing a sitcom about his life. The series will premiere exclusively on The Comedy Network in Fall 2006. "It's better living through better writing," says creator and Executive Producer Allan Novak. "Punched Up is a series where an improvised sitcom moves into the real world and real people travel into a sitcom world." Six comedians beat out more than 600 applicants from across Canada to land the highly sought after gig. Meet the team behind the punch ups: Lauren Ash: A native of Belleville, Ontario Lauren Ash is currently performing in her second Second City Toronto main stage revue, Bird Flu Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Prior to main stage, Lauren performed with The Second City Touring Company, Tony & Tina's Wedding and her one-woman show Why Jerry Orbach Won't Let Me Be a Feminist. Ash is one-half of the sketch duo CORY!, named one of the best comedy discoveries of 2004 by Now Magazine. She has co-produced and starred in three successful runs of Sass and the City, an improvised serial based on the popular television show of similar name. Recent television credits includeT.O. Laughs, The Wilkinsons: House Raising and Sketch with Kevin McDonald. Matt Baram: Matt Baram is currently a member of Toronto's acclaimed Second City comedy troupe, performing in his sixth main stage revue, Bird Flu Over The Cuckoo's Nest. Select film and television credits include Ace Lightning, Veritas, Soul Food, Train 48, The Newsroom and Mr. Magorium's Magic Emporium. A graduate of the University of Alberta's acting program, Baram has performed extensively in theatres across the country. Shannon Beckner Originally from Thunder Bay, actor/writer Shannon Beckner divides her time between Toronto and Los Angeles. A member of the popular and critically acclaimed Toronto comedy troupe, The Sketchersons, she produces, directs, writes and performs new sketches for live audiences every week. The troupe received two consecutive Canadian Comedy Award nominations for best sketch troupe in 2004 and 2005. Beckner is a regular at comedy showcases, festivals and tours in North America. John Catucci Toronto homeboy John Catucci is an actor/singer/comedian. He is one-half of the musical comedy duo The Doo Wops. In 2001, the duo won the prestigious Homegrown Comedy Competition at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. Since then, they have become regulars at the Festival and on Just For Laughs Comedy Tours. Catucci is also a member of The Second City Touring Company as well as a founding member of The Minnesota Wrecking Crew, the 2003 and 2004 Canadian Comedy Award winners for best sketch troupe. TV and film credits include The Comedy Network's Liocracy, Toronto 1's The Toronto Show, ABC's Movie of the Week Kiss My Act and The Tuxedo with Jackie Chan. Scott Montgomery: Scott Montgomery is also a member of Toronto's Second City comedy troupe. Prior to this stint on the main stage, Montgomery appeared in several reviews with The Second City National Touring Company. He has also been performing in and around Toronto in such shows as Monkey Toast (winner of a 2004 Canadian Comedy Award for best improv troupe), Catch 23, Sass in the City andThe Late, Late Horror Show. Originally from Winnipeg, Montgomery is a founding member the comedy collective "The Royal Liechtenstein Theatre Company", whose special The Royal Liechtenstein Comedy Theatre aired on TransCanada Comedy Trail. Additional credits include The Blobheads, Tilt and as the 'C.N. Tower' on Late Nite With Conan O'Brien. Look for him in the upcoming feature Hooked On Speedman. Pat Thornton: Thornton is a founding member of the sketch troupes "Todd's Lunch", "Gorilla Sketch", "The Amazings" and Toronto's newest critically acclaimed weekly showcase for cutting edge comedy, "Sunday Night Live." Last year, Thornton was nominated for the Tim Sims Encouragement Award, presented to Canada's brightest new comedic star. This Mississauga, Ontario, native also has extensive experience writing for theatre and film, having written, performed, directed and produced four plays, two independent features and multiple short films including the independent feature Hair of the Dog and the multi-award winning short film,When Urine Love, which is currently airing on The Comedy Network. Allan Novak is the Executive Producer and Founder of Indivisual Productions, a boutique production company specializing in innovative comedy, documentary, reality and lifestyle programming. Credits include the Gemini-nominated, critically acclaimed Comedy Network special, The Joe Blow Show, and the 90-minute special The Joke's on Us: 50 Years of CBC Satire, which earned Novak a Gemini nomination for best director. Indivisual also produced W Network's lifestyle series Second Time Around and Loving Spoonfuls, currently seen on CBC and also airing in Finland, Italy, Israel and the U.K. This article is from CHANNEL CANADA   http://www.channelcanada.com/ The URL for this story is:   http://www.channelcanada.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1481