The Search For "CMT's NEXT BIG COMIC" Begins Today

Twelve Comics Battle For Laughs in Online Competition at CMT.com

For the second year in a row, CMT is launching a national online search to find America's NEXT BIG COMIC. Beginning today, viewers can head over to CMT.com to watch video clips from each of the top 12 comics, and cast their votes on who should advance to the next round and ultimately be crowned the winner. Rooftop Comedy, the leading distributor of interactive comedy videos, scoured standup comedians from across its network of 21 performance venues and, along with CMT Executives, hand-picked 12 finalists on the verge of stardom.

"Comedy is a proven hit for CMT fans, which is even more evident with the recent success of WORKING CLASS on the network," said Lewis Bogach, Vice President of Production at CMT. "With that in mind, we're really excited to be partnering with Rooftop Comedy again to find CMT's NEXT BIG COMIC."

"We are thrilled that footage from Rooftop's standup comedy library is once again helping CMT find America's NEXT BIG COMIC," said Tom Hill, COO of Rooftop Comedy. "Filming 365 nights a year from comedy clubs all over the country creates an opportunity to see comics as they are about to break out. And it's exciting that CMT viewers can view that footage at CMT.com and determine who is going to be the next big star."

The online competition will run for five weeks, and each week viewers can watch new video clips of the comics at CMT.com. Contestants are narrowed down from 12 to eight on February 14, and again from eight to the final four on February 21. The finalists will then have three weeks to convince fans they are CMT's NEXT BIG COMIC when they go head-to-head onstage in a battle to win the most laughs and votes. Video pleas encouraging fan voting will hit CMT and CMT.com on February 28, and the final round of voting online will begin March 7 when CMT kicks off BIG NEW COMEDY WEEK, a week filled with original, comedy-inspired programming and standup performances. The winner of CMT's NEXT BIG COMIC will be announced March 14.

The top 12 finalists for NEXT BIG COMIC were revealed at CMT.com today, and include:

Comic Name - Current Location

Cy Amundson - Minneapolis, MN

Tim Harmston - Minneapolis, MN

Tom Segura - Los Angeles, CA

Michael Palascak - Orland Park, IL

Andy Woodhull - Chicago, IL

Keith Alberstadt - New York, NY

Kelly MacFarland - Watertown, MA

Nate Bargatze - New York, NY

Andrew Norelli - Los Angeles, CA

Matt White - Atlanta, GA

Andy Sandford - Atlanta, GA

Sean Keane - San Francisco, CA