The Comedy Network Announces Canadian Comedian Darrin Rose to Host MATCH GAME

− Oshawa, Ontario-born Rose is four-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee −
− MATCH GAME premieres Monday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT −

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TORONTO, Sept. 4, 2012 /CNW/ - The search is over as The Comedy Network today announced that Canadian comedian, actor, and writer Darrin Rose will host the English-language revival of the classic comedy game show MATCH GAME. Well-known for his roles on MuchMusic's VIDEO ON TRIAL as well as MR. D, Rose is an internationally known stand-up comic who has appeared at Just For Laughs and the Edinburgh Comedy Festival. MATCH GAME is produced by Montreal's Zone3 and will air exclusively on Comedy Monday to Friday at 8 p.m. ET/PT beginning October 15.

** Media Note ** - Download photography of Darrin Rose, host of MATCH GAME, at BellMediaPR.ca/Comedy

"Darrin's comic timing, his charisma, and his charm make him the perfect match for MATCH GAME," said Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. "With his outstanding stand-up chops and wide range of on-camera success, Darrin is ready to put his own stamp on this iconic game show."

As the host of MATCH GAME, Rose will take competitors through four rounds of play, while keeping a panel of six comedians and entertainment personalities in check as the competitors try to fill-in-the-blanks to match their responses to questions like "Suzanne had to call 911 because her boss's blank was stuck in the photocopier."

"It's fun to be part of such an iconic game show, if only because my dad is finally interested in my career," said Rose. "He said 'the new Gene Rayburn, eh? I guess now I can stop telling my friends you're a real estate agent.'"

A four-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee, including Best Male Stand-Up in 2011, Oshawa, Ontario native Rose was called "one of the hottest comics in Canada" by GQ Magazine. Rose has appeared twice on CBC's HALIFAX COMEDY FESTIVAL, and he headlined his own half-hour stand-up special on CTV and The Comedy Network. Rose recently won a 2012 Canadian Screenwriting Award for comedy, following nominations in 2009 and 2010. He has toured across Canada and the United Kingdom. In addition to MuchMusic and CBC, he has appeared on Last Comic Standing, Britain's NUTSTV, XM Satellite Radio, and MTV LIVE.

MATCH GAME is based on FremantleMedia's international format, with local versions having been shown across the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France and Mexico.

MATCH GAME is produced by Zone3 in association with Bell Media. Executive producers are Isabelle Bourduas and Michael Kronish. Martha Kehoe is producing. Sarah Fowlie is Director, Independent Production, Comedy. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Catherine MacLeod is Vice-President, Specialty Channels, Bell Media. Rick Brace is President, Specialty Channels and CTV Production. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports.

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About Zone3
MATCH GAME Canada is produced by Montreal-based Zone3, Quebec's top production house. The company focuses in three main areas: television production, film production, and live entertainment production. Zone3 was founded in 2000 by André Larin, Michel Bissonnette and Vincent Leduc, all of whom have held key positions in the Quebec television and broadcasting industry. Michael Kronish and Isabelle Bourduas are the executives in charge of English language production. Zone3 is owned by Telesystem Ltd. and CDP TélécomMédias.

About FremantleMedia Enterprises
FremantleMedia is one of the leading creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world. FremantleMedia is part of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company, which is in turn 90 per cent owned by Bertelsmann AG, one of the world's major media and entertainment companies. FremantleMedia's worldwide production arm is responsible for many of the world's highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama and factual entertainment programmes. FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment around the world. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes FremantleMedia North America, UFA, FremantleMedia UK, FremantleMedia Australia, Original Productions, @radical.media and Ludia amongst others) has operations in 22 countries, one of the most comprehensive global networks, creating over 9,200 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 300 individual titles. FremantleMedia has some of the world's most sought after and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally produces such programmes as: Idols (co-produced with 19 Productions in the US), Hole In The Wall, Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), Take Me Out, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife, Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten, and Neighbours.

About The Comedy Network
Canada's first and favourite specialty comedy service, The Comedy Network airs comedy of all kinds, 24-hours-a-day, across multiple platforms, including a revolutionary broadband service at thecomedynetwork.ca. Launched in October 1997, The Comedy Network broadcasts, uncut and uncensored, an eclectic mix of scripted, stand-up, sketch, improv, and animated comedy - as well as topical comedy talk shows, game shows and classic situation comedies. The Comedy Network is a division of Bell Media, which is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company, and is available in nearly six million households across the country.

SOURCE: Comedy Network

For further information:

Andrea Allen, The Comedy Network, 416.384.5375 or [e-mail]
Christy Sullivan, The Comedy Network, 416.384.3624 or [e-mail]