COMEDIAN JOSH WOLF TO HOST "SHARK AFTER DARK"
-Shark Week's First Ever Live Talk Show Kicks Off August 4-
(Los Angeles, CA) SHARK WEEK, television's longest running must-see summer TV event, returns to Discovery Channel on Sunday, August 4 at 8PM ET/PT with its first ever live SHARK WEEK talk show, SHARK AFTER DARK, hosted by comedian Josh Wolf who is best known for his regular appearances on E!'s Chelsea Lately. SHARK AFTER DARK premieres Sunday, August 4 at 11PM ET/PT and will air each night during SHARK WEEK from 11PM - 12AM ET/PT.
SHARK AFTER DARK is produced by Embassy Row, the innovative production company behind AMC's "The Talking Dead" and Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live" along with Green Mountain West. In each nightly episode, Wolf will lead viewers through an hour-long celebration of all things shark-related that will include celebrity guests, shark experts and shark attack survivors, among others. The show will give viewers the first opportunity to interact live on-air every night with tweets, questions to the shark experts and more. "It's shameful that the shark demographic has been neglected for so long by late night TV," said Executive Producer Craig Ferguson. "I'm delighted to be making a show that combines comedy, witty chat and ferocious biting predators." Wolf will also look back at some of the highlights from the past 26 years of SHARK WEEK, and look ahead to give viewers a sneak peek at the next day's SHARK WEEK programs. "I can't tell you how excited I am for this show and to be part of Discovery's SHARK WEEK," Josh Wolf said in a statement. "I hope they don't expect me to swim with sharks though because I will for sure soil my wetsuit!"
Building upon last year's eight shark-filled specials, a whopping 11 SHARK WEEK episodes coupled with SHARK AFTER DARK gives this year's SHARK WEEK the most premiere hours ever featured in the 26-year history of the event. SHARK WEEK shows no signs of slowing down. Ratings for 2012 propelled Discovery Channel to the #1 non-scripted cable network spot for P18-49 delivery and the top cable network for P/W 18-34 delivery.* Grabbing 21.4 million viewers P2+, premieres of SHARK WEEK last year surpassed SHARK WEEK 2011 premiere viewership (18.63M P2+) across all key demos. ** On the social media front, there were more than 1.6 million Tweets about SHARK WEEK (doubling the volume of 2011), and SHARK WEEK accounted for 35% of all cable social activity from August 12-16, according to Trendrr.
SHARK AFTER DARK is produced for Discovery Channel by Embassy Row and Green Mountain West. Executive Producer for Embassy Row is Michael Davies. Executive Producers for Green Mountain West are Craig Ferguson and Rebecca Tucker. For Discovery Channel, Executive Producers are Denise Contis and Craig Coffman with Sydney Clover as Associate Producer.
* Source: Nielsen. NHI Calendar. Mo-Th, 8/13/12-8/16/12. L+SD AA(000) Rank.
** Source: Nielsen NPower. Cume. 6min Qual. All Shark Week Premieres. 7/31/11-8/6/11 vs. 8/12/12-8/18/12
About Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 100.8 million U.S. homes, can be seen in 210 countries and territories, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit www.discovery.com.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than two billion cumulative subscribers in 223 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity through 162 worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science and Investigation Discovery, as well as U.S. joint venture networks OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, The Hub and 3net, the first 24-hour 3D network. Across the Nordic region, Discovery owns and operates SBS Discovery Media, a top-three portfolio of 20 television brands that feature leading nonfiction content, as well as locally produced entertainment programs, sports and the best scripted series and movies from major studios. Discovery also is the leading provider of educational products and services to schools, including an award-winning series of digital textbooks, and owns and operates a diversified portfolio of digital media services, including Revision3. For more information, please visit
www.discoverycommunications.com.
About Embassy Row
Embassy Row is a New York City-based television and digital production company dedicated to developing and acquiring original formats for television networks and online distribution in the U.S. and abroad. The company specializes in the genres of talk, games, competition, comedy, factual, food and sports and are pioneers in the areas of brand and social media integration. Recent credits include: Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live," Oxygen's "The Glee Project" and AMC's "The Talking Dead." Embassy Row is a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Television.
About Josh Wolf
Josh is currently a regular round table guest on the hit E! series "Chelsea Lately," and was a performer on the E! series, "After Lately." Being a part of Chelsea's gang has taken Josh all over the country and has truly made him one of the most visible comedians in the nation. He regularly tours with "The Comedians of Chelsea Lately" and headlines clubs and colleges all over the nation.
Josh's first book, "It Takes Balls," was released in February by Grand Central, the publishing house behind the books for comedians Chelsea Handler, Tina Fey and Ellen Degeneres. He also recently wrote a feature screenplay for Adam Sandler's production company, Happy Madison and is currently developing a project with comic guru Stan Lee.
Josh has a weekly podcast on The Toad Hop Network with fellow "Chelsea" regular Ross Mathews. On "Josh and Ross" the guys share their unique view on pop culture and the news of the day.
He is recurring on the Fox sitcom "Raising Hope," and he hosted two seasons of "The College Experiment," a comedic weekly online college sports show for Fox Sports. Josh has also written on sitcoms including, "Yes, Dear", Will Smith's "All of Us" and "Cuts" starring Shannon Elizabeth. Acting roles followed on "All of Us", he had a recurring role on "My Name is Earl" and he has done several hosting gigs for E!
Upon first arriving in LA over 12 years ago, Josh immediately got the attention of the comedy world. After doing his first one man show at the HBO Workspace, Josh landed a two year talent deal at 20th Century Fox and ABC for his own television show. A deal at NBC soon followed.
He has also toured with Chelsea Handler and Larry the Cable Guy.
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