Nickandmore!

via Nickelodeon press release:

NICKELODEON’S NEWEST LIVE-ACTION COMEDY, THE NICK CANNON SHOW, PREMIERES JANUARY 19 WITH AN OVER-THE-TOP SPIN ON REALITY

Show Features Celebrity Guest Appearances By Eddie Murphy, Britney Spears, Usher, The Sopranos’ Joe Pantoliano, Mary J. Blige, Master P and Lil’ Romeo

Los Angeles, CA – Jan. 15, 2002 — Nickelodeon’s newest live-action, half-hour comedy series, The Nick Cannon Show, premieres Saturday, January 19, at 9:30 p.m. (ET/PT) in the newly revamped SNICK (Saturday Night Nickelodeon) line-up. Nick Cannon, the 21-year-old star who has become a favorite with Nickelodeon audiences as a former All That cast member and current host of the TEENick Sunday programming block, executive produces — along with Tollin Robbins Productions — and stars in the “comedy-on-the-go” series. Shot entirely on location, The Nick Cannon Show features Cannon “taking over” real-life situations such as a family dinner, a baseball game or lunchtime at a high school cafeteria. Cannon also “mixes it up” with celebrities such as Eddie Murphy, Britney Spears, Usher, The Sopranos’ Joe Pantoliano, Mary J. Blige, Master P and Lil’ Romeo.

From Hollywood to London, Cannon injects his wild and unpredictable brand of comedy into the everyday settings and “takes over” a variety of ordinary situations to create extraordinary comedy. Whether he is disguised as a substitute teacher or is taking over a rodeo or a major league baseball stadium — anything goes. Cannon’s impulsive, off-the-wall characterizations — sprinkled with appearances by today’s hottest names in music, movies and sports — stir up fun-loving chaos, turning an otherwise ordinary event into a private Nickelodeon party.

“Nick Cannon has incredible versatility and comedic range,” said Albie Hecht, President of Film and Television for Nickelodeon, Nick-at-Nite, and TNN. “His creative instincts on what is funny to kids, coupled with his ability as a performer, will make him extremely successful as both Executive Producer and the star of this new series.”

“Nickelodeon has always given me incredible freedom to develop and showcase my talents as an actor, comedian and musical artist,” said Cannon. ” I’m just so excited for the opportunity to reach out to kids in my very own series that injects pure kid-madness into their regular day.”

The premiere episode of The Nick Cannon Show features Nick Cannon invading an everyday family and turning their lives inside out. From redecorating their home to

invading their grandfather’s old age home, Nick adds a little spice to their daily life. But it’s Cannon’s final surprise that turns a simple backyard barbecue into an all-out Nickelodeon celebration. Master P and Lil’ Romeo guest star as themselves.

In addition to his new role as one of Hollywood’s youngest Executive Producers and star of his own series, Cannon is also gaining notice in the music world. Cannon is an up-and-coming hip-hop artist with his recent single “Parents Just Don’t Understand” — a Cannon, Lil’ Romeo and 3LW collaborative remake of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince’s 80’s classic featured on the Nickelodeon Movies’ “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius” soundtrack. His solo album debut is slated for release in Spring 2002 on Nick Records. Last summer (July 2001), Cannon’s musical performance in Nickelodeon’s TEENick In Concert series averaged 532,000 “Tween” (K9-14) viewers. Cannon also hosted the concert series for the network, as well as the All That Music and More Festival — a 47-city tour featuring artists such as B*Witched, Blaque, A-Teens, LFO and more in the Summer of 2000.

Cannon developed a huge fan base with the Nickelodeon audience through his work as a former cast member for the network’s popular sketch-comedy series All That. He has also been visible on the network in other roles including host of the SNICK House, the channel’s weekly Nick’s Video Picks and the Sunday Night TEENick programming block. More recently, Cannon was cast in his first feature film leading role in Fox 2000’s Drumline (to be released Summer 2002) in which he plays a talented drummer from Harlem who receives a full scholarship to a college in Atlanta, starring opposite Orlando Jones.

Mike Tollin and Brian Robbins of Tollin/Robbins Productions serve as Executive Producers for The Nick Cannon Show, alongside Joe Davola, President of TRP Television. As longtime producers for Nickelodeon, TRP’s other projects for the network include All That, Cousin Skeeter, Kenan & Kel and The Amanda Show, as well as the Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies’ 1997 feature film Good Burger.

They are also the creative team responsible for the popular television series ARLI$$ on HBO, now in its sixth season, and WB’s Smallville. TRP’s feature-film credits include MTV’s Varsity Blues and Warner Bros. Summer Catch starring Freddie Prinze, Jr., Jessica Biel and Brian Dennehy; Paramount’s Hardball with Keanu Reeves; and Universal’s Big Fat Liar starring Frankie Muniz and Nickelodeon’s Amanda Bynes.

Nickelodeon, now in its 22nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines, music and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 84 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic-cable network for six consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.