TV Guide Network, which is bringing a little something extra to its syndicated presentation of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, has lined up Jerry Seinfeld, Oscar-nominated actress Taraji Henson and Mad Men star Jon Hamm as the initial panelists to discuss Larry David's misanthropic series.
Hosted by Susie Essman, who plays the foul-mouthed wife of Larry David's agent on the series, Curb: The Discussion will follow each of the show's episodes when it begins airing on TV Guide Network on June 2 at 10 p.m. (ET/PT).
Rather than curtail the Curb installments -- other than being edited for language and nudity -- to fit a traditional half-hour format, TV Guide Network is extending them into an hour window, so they can run as David intended them. Working with him, the network developed a panel discussion format that rounds out the episode to a one-hour, while providing a forum for guest stars, media pundits and social figures to dissect the curious and ethically challenged world of its curmudgeonly creator.
In a joint acquisition, TV Guide Network and TV Land secured rights to the first seven seasons of Curb, which was scheuled to begin its multiyear, basic-cable run on the former in February. TV Land will begin airing the series in TV Land Prime immediately following TV Guide Network's term, in 2013.
Both networks will have access to the 70 episodes that have been produced thus far and will have the rights, if David, the co-creator of Seinfeld, and HBO elect to produce an eighth season. TV Land's run would begin later, if another Curb season materializes.
In addition to Seinfeld, Henson and Hamm, panelists will include actor and producer Seth Green; heavy metal singer and film director Rob Zombie; actor and author Hill Harper; comedienne and TV writer Merrill Markoe; physician and television personality Dr. Drew Pinsky; radio and TV personality Adam Corolla; actor Rex Lee; musician Dave Navarro; Millionaire Matchmaker star Patti Stanger; actor and standup comedian D.L. Hughley; and comedians Jeff Ross and Patton Oswalt, among others.
Among the media pundits and social figures on tap: MSNBC Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough and co-host Mika Brezinski; celebrity attorney Gloria Allred; The New York Times ethicist Randy Cohen; and clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. Stan Katz.
"With Susie Essman hosting and moderating Curb: The Discussion, the panels will no doubt result in hilarious, off-the-cuff television." said Diane Robina, executive vice president, programming and marketing for TV Guide Network, in a statement. "And offering these original and engaging discussions will bring even more viewers to discover and rediscover Curb Your Enthusiasm.
T
