CINCINNATI, July 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Actor,
comedian and multi-faceted entertainer Bill Bellamy has been
named the new host of Let's Ask America, the
daily, half-hour television game show from The E.W. Scripps
Co. (NYSE: SSP) and produced by Telepictures
and paraMedia inc.
Contestants and viewing audiences can expect plenty of humor
from Bellamy, who has built a successful acting career in
television and cable networks and a loyal following from his
stand-up comedy routines.
Bellamy combined his experiences from the stand-up circuit with
his natural talents as a VJ for MTV to host two successful comedy
competitions, including NBC's Emmy®-nominated Last Comic
Standing. He refined his craft through recurring
guest-host roles for shows such as Access Hollywood, The Rachael Ray
Show and Entertainment Tonight.
Let's Ask America is a daily, half-hour television
game show that lets the home viewer be a contestant on the show on
TV from the comfort of their home via web chat. Every day, four
contestants will be chosen to play the game and win cash from their
homes. Bellamy will poll America about fun and irreverent
topics to find out what people are thinking.
"I look forward to working with the great executives at
Telepictures and Scripps and taking this show to the
next level," said Bellamy. "Our contestants are a virtual gold
mine for non-stop laughs. I can't wait to interact with them. Our
audiences can look forward to great entertainment
from Let's Ask America every day."
The access-hour program expands to television markets nationwide
this fall through syndication partner MGM Domestic Television
Distribution LLC (MGM), a division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
Beginning in January 2015, the Game
Show Network also will pick up Let's Ask America episodes
with Bill Bellamy.
"What a treat for viewers of Let's Ask
America to see Bill Bellamy
work his magic with contestants to find humor in the most
unexpected places," said Bob
Sullivan, VP of programming for Scripps. "Our expanded
national audience will appreciate his comedic genius, which
will fuel an already fast-paced show."
Let's Ask America was developed by Jeff Apploff (Don't Forget the
Lyrics, Take Me Out) and the
late Jim Paratore. Seasoned game show
veterans Michael Canter (1 vs. 100, Parental
Control) and Jeff Krask (Deal or No
Deal, The Mole) will serve as executive
producers of the program, entering its third season. Apploff also
serves as an executive producer.
Additional credits for Bellamy include headlining a national
comedy tour, The Standing Ovation Tour; appearing in
syndicated TV comedy Mr. Box Office; and guest starring
in USA's White Collar and Royal
Pains, TBS's Meet the Browns and
ABC's Castle.
Bellamy lives with his wife and two young children in
Los Angeles. He is
represented by his manager Barry
Katz, his lawyer Jonathan Shikora at Lichter,
Grossman, Nichols, Adler & Feldman, Inc. and his agency
Resolution.
The third season of Let's Ask
America premieres Monday, Sept. 8, in nationwide
syndication (check your local listings.)
About Scripps
The E.W. Scripps Company (www.scripps.com) serves audiences and
businesses through a growing portfolio of television, print and
digital media brands. Scripps owns 21 local television stations as
well as daily newspapers in 13 markets across the United States. It also runs an expanding
collection of local and national digital journalism and information
businesses including online multi-source video news provider Newsy.
Scripps also produces television programming, runs an award-winning
investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and serves as the long-time
steward of one of the nation's largest, most successful and
longest-running educational programs, Scripps National Spelling
Bee. Founded in 1879, Scripps is focused on the stories of
tomorrow.
About Telepictures
Telepictures is an industry-leading
and Emmy® Award–winning producer of innovative, multiplatform
advertiser-friendly television series and digital content for the
first-run syndication, cable and digital marketplace. Programs
produced by Telepictures have won 85 Emmy® Awards in the last 18
years, including Outstanding Talk Show or Outstanding Talk Show
Host for 15 of the last 17 years. Telepictures is currently
producing The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Extra, Judge Mathis,
The People's Court, TMZ, TMZ Live, Let's Ask America,
Just Keke
and #CandidlyNicole, as well as the
upcoming The Real and Ellen's Design
Challenge. For more information about Telepictures programming,
please visit www.telepicturestv.com.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140729/130824
SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company