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[via press release]

Class of 3000 Brings Sophisticated Funk to Cartoon Network Beginning Friday, Nov. 3, at 8 p.m. (ET, PT)

Network to air “Mockumentary” and All-Star Premiere Event Featuring Celebrity Guest Performers

Class of 3000, the highly anticipated primetime half-hour animated series created and executive produced by André “3000” Benjamin (OutKast) and Tom Lynch (Romeo!), will debut with a one-hour premiere on Friday, Nov. 3, at 8 p.m. (ET, PT), on Cartoon Network.  The night of the premiere kicks off at 7 p.m. (ET, PT) with a special musical event from the historic Fox Theatre in Atlanta featuring special guest star performances.

On Friday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network will also air the half-hour “mockumentary” Sunny Bridges: From Bankhead to Buckhead, chronicling the life of the fictional superstar of Class of 3000, Sunny Bridges, with interviews from the character’s fans and celebrity friends.

The series, about an international music star who gives up everything to teach a group of gifted musical prodigies in Atlanta, will feature a new song every week from Benjamin within the context of a music video, animated by some of today’s most highly respected animation directors.  Benjamin also wrote and performed the series’ theme song.

In addition to his creative responsibilities – including production, writing contributions, and voice, music and visual direction – André “3000” Benjamin will lend his voice talent to the lead character, Sunny Bridges.

The cast of Class of 3000 includes veteran voice actors Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants, Camp Lazlo), Phil LaMarr (Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, Justice League, Samurai Jack), Crystal Scales (Static Shock, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius), Jennifer Hale (Samurai Jack, The Powerpuff Girls), Janice Kawaye (Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi) and Jeff Glen Bennett (Johnny Bravo, Camp Lazlo).

Class of 3000 is produced by Cartoon Network Studios in association with the Tom Lynch Co. and Benjamin’s production company, Moxie.  Thomas W. Lynch and André “3000” Benjamin are the executive producers of Class of 3000.  Twelve half-hours and a one-hour premiere are in production at Cartoon Network Studios in Burbank, Calif.  The show’s co-executive producer and head writer is Patric M. Verrone, a writer for Futurama, The Critic and Pinky and the Brain and a supervising producer on Futurama.  Joe Horne (The Boondocks, Teamo Supremo, The Oblongs) serves as supervising producer.

André “3000” Benjamin is best known as one half of the Grammy-winning musical group OutKast.  His acting career includes roles in feature films Idlewild; Four Brothers, starring Mark Wahlberg; Be Cool, starring John Travolta; and Hollywood Homicide, featuring Harrison Ford.  He also lends his voice to the character Elwyn in the upcoming film Charlotte’s Web, which blends live-action and animation.  Moxie, his Atlanta-based production company, develops original feature films as well as episodic television.

Tom Lynch has been an innovator in the field of kids, tween and teen programming for the past 20 years.  His groundbreaking debut series, KIDS Incorporated, was the first variety show for youngsters, and his series The Secret World of Alex Mack was both the first series created for tweens and the first show to feature a tween girl as its central character. Since then, Lynch has continued to blaze new trails with such original programs as the Emmy-nominated Scout’s Safari (filmed in South Africa) and Romeo!, starring the real life musician Romeo and his father, music mogul Master P.

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in nearly 91 million U.S. homes and 160 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service offering the best in original, acquired and classic animated entertainment for kids and families.  Overnight from 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (ET, PT) Sunday-Thursday, Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.