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Sony Pictures' Crackle Programs 'Moving Targets' Hilarity Ensues!

Posted on: Monday, 10 September 2007, 12:00 CDT

SAUSALITO, Calif., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Crackle, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, today announced the launch of Moving Targets, a programmed channel teeming with gut-busting sketches, hilarious digital shorts, and laugh-out-loud animation.

Moving Targets delivers laughs around the clock from the comedy chops of veterans like Jerry Zucker (Airplane!, Naked Gun, and many more), animation innovators Starz and Jennifer Shiman (30-Second Bunnies Theatre), and Brian Dalton (Mr. Deity), as well as open submissions from today's emerging talent.

The stage has Second City, TV has Saturday Night Live, now the Web has Moving Targets.

"Sketch comedy has been a launching pad for some of Hollywood's brightest stars, and with Moving Targets we're giving content creators the opportunity to shine, while comedy hungry audiences get quality programming they desire," said Tony Liano, vice president of programming at Crackle. "Every generation has had a signature comedy program -- Laugh-In, In Living Color, Saturday Night Live -- Moving Targets will be this generation's."

At launch, Moving Targets will be home to comedy from several partners including:

-- National Banana -- Featuring the celebrated director/producer/writer Jerry Zucker's unique, zany style, as proven in the classic franchises Airplane! and Naked Gun. National Banana is THE venue for viral wackiness. Check it out at: http://www.crackle.com/outreach/rolemodels -- Starz Presents: 30-Second Bunnies Theatre -- Starz and inventive animator Jennifer Shiman bring us this original animated movie parody franchise, which features beloved films spoofed in 30 seconds or so by animated bunnies. Some of the titles lampooned include Brokeback Mountain, Star Wars and Pulp Fiction. Check it out at: http://www.crackle.com/outreach/bunnies -- Mr. Deity -- Brian Dalton's heavenly original comedy series about God and the Universe has already garnered more than 5.7 million views since March 2007. Check it out at: http://www.crackle.com/outreach/deity

Crackle also produces a stable of original programs under the auspices of Crackle Studios. Moving Targets combines licensed and produced episodes as well as invited submissions from emerging talent participants. At launch, original content includes:

-- WTF -- Sketch comedy gets edgy with this collaborative Crackle original mixed-media (reality/sketch/animation) show executive produced by Sean Sahlin. Crackle recruited comedy troupes and indie filmmakers and gave them a theme to create the premiere program; however, the doors are now open for online submissions for subsequent episodes. Check it out at: http://www.crackle.com/outreach/wtf -- Script Cops -- Noted independent filmmaker Scott Rice presents Script Cops, an original side-splitting spoof of law enforcement reality TV shows, only here the criminals carry typewriters and commit crimes against language. Check it out at: http://www.crackle.com/outreach/scriptcops

Moving Targets exemplifies the best of Crackle's unique open studio formula:

-- A Branded, Programmed Environment that offers the freedom of online entertainment by combining the funniest established comedians with tomorrow's up-and-coming stars -- Open Web Syndication, built to embrace leading social networks and viral Web distribution (e.g., MySpace, Facebook, hi5, AOL, Piczo, WordPress and more) -- Multiplatform Distribution across Sony devices like the PSP, VAIO and BRAVIA, as well as over IPTV -- Career Pathways to Entertainment include contest prizes consisting of development deals with Crackle Studios and pitch meetings with Sony Pictures Television -- Production Incubation and Support -- from licensing to development to production deals

"The Internet is an empowering medium, and we want to let artists tell their stories without interfering with their creative process, you can't do that on television," said Sean Carey, senior executive vice president, Sony Pictures. "We're giving the best and brightest talent a forum to showcase their skills, and with the prospect of pitching their show ideas to top television executives as the prize, you can be sure they'll all be bringing their A-game to the competition."

About Crackle

Crackle, Inc., a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, is a streaming entertainment network dedicated to the discovery and development of pioneering video creators across a diverse range of genres. Crackle delivers programmed and customized video streams to a global audience via a multi-platform, syndication network that includes Sony devices, IPTV, leading social networks and one-click viral Web distribution. Crackle launches the most innovative creators with on-going collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment and other leading fame partners.

Visit Crackle's new site at http://www.crackle.com/ .

Crackle, Inc.

CONTACT: Taryn Langer, +1-212-751-3392, or tlanger@groupsjr.com, orBilly Sind, +1-310-713-5189, or wjsind@groupsjr.com, both of Group SJR, forCrackle, Inc.

Web site: http://www.crackle.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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