What's Bad for the Economy is Good for The Comedy Network Programming Highlights / Comedy Network Posted by RAD on Feb 08, 2009 - 07:14 PM As the economy gets wackier than a Japanese game show, it seems that more Canadians are tuning out the gloom and doom by tuning into comedy. Last December, The Comedy Network experienced its highest audiences ever, a 32% increase in its key demo, with THE DAILY SHOW and COMEDY NIGHT IN CANADA leading the charge.* For most Canadians, the phrase “current economic downturn” is as nauseating as a vodka cooler hangover, and while there are many forms of escapism, none are as satisfying and affordable as unbridled laughter. With comedians like Tina Fey, Sarah Silverman, and Jon Stewart conquering more awards shows, headlines, and magazine covers than ever, viewers seem to crave more comic relief than a session of parliamentary proceedings. Last December on The Comedy Network, an episode of THE DAILY SHOW drew in 177,000 A18-49 viewers making it the highest individual airing that month. Trailing right behind it was a COMEDY NIGHT IN CANADA special, JEFF DUNHAM'S VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS with 174,000 A18-49 viewers. * While Christmas party invites filled inboxes on Saturday nights, viewers traded their cab fare for potato chips, and tuned in for more COMEDY NIGHT IN CANADA. Viewers couldn’t get enough of JEFF DUNHAM'S VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS SPECIAL as two repeat airings drew audiences of 156,000 and 122,000 A18-49. THE COMEDY CENTRAL ROAST OF PAMELA ANDERSON was indeed a laughing matter pulling in 126,000 A18-49. THE COMEDY CENTRAL ROAST OF BOB SAGET drew in 107,000 A18-49 viewers who yearn to see Bob Saget sizzle. As a result, The Comedy Network saw a 32% increase in the A18-49 audience over December 2007, both in primetime and 24-hour viewing.* In February, The Comedy Network rolls out even bigger laughs with SATURDAY NIGHT STAND-UP, premiering this Saturday, Feb. 7 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. It’s a stand-up comedy smack-down with all-new, uncut, and totally uncensored stand-up specials. Also in February, comedian Demetri Martin (THE DAILY SHOW, FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS) brings his witty word play and quirky sketches to The Comedy Network with IMPORTANT THINGS WITH DEMETRI MARTIN. This hilarious, seven-part series airs Wednesday nights at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT following all-new episodes of THE JON DORE TELEVISION SHOW. With the airing of non-stop stand up, reality, animated, topical, situational, and sketch comedies, The Comedy Network is Canada’s go-to channel for all things comedy, perhaps now more than ever. 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=2667