truTV Winter 2015 Highlights

truTV, which recently celebrated the one year anniversary of its brand refresh, is set to keep the fun going through Winter 2015 with new premieres and existing series’ returning to the network.

In December, truTV premieres the holiday-themed competition series Santas in the Barn, in which ten Santas from around the country will compete to be crowned America’s Best Santa and Almost Genius, a series that celebrates the people, places, and things that are almost successful, but can’t quite cut it in the end. In January, the network will premiere 10 Things, a list-based showcase of offbeat and unusual topics, as well as new episodes of the genre-busting prank show Fameless, from executive producer David Spade.

In February, truTV will premiere its first scripted series, Those Who Can’t, a half-hour scripted comedy set in Denver from the comedy troupe The Gawlix. Impractical Jokers returns for a fifth season with a new round of hilarious and shocking dares and punishments that will keep Joe, Murr, Q, and Sal wondering what’s next.

Below is a rundown of truTV’s programming highlights for Winter 2015.

This winter, America will brace itself for the ultimate Christmas competition with Santas in the Barn, the search for the nation’s Best Santa. In this heart-warming holiday special event, ten Santas from across the country are brought to live at the ultimate Christmas fantasy camp where they will compete in an array of over-the-top Christmas-themed challenges meant to discover who most lives the “Santa Way.” While living out their Santa dreams, these would-be Kris Kringles will vote on who most exemplifies the Christmas spirit, with the last one standing winning $100,000 and the title of America’s Best Santa!

Almost Genius is a self-contained, half-hour comedy series that celebrates the people, places and things that try so hard to succeed but come up just a bit short. Hosted by April Richardson and Chris Fairbanks, the show features comedians and performers digitally inserted into viral videos to comment on and congratulate people for their bravery and ingenuity in snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. But Almost Genius doesn’t mock, because as everyone knows, almost is awesome…and genius.

In truTV’s new series 10 Things, stand-up comedian Jamie Lee (Girl Code, Ridiculousness, Conan) takes the listicle to a new level with this combo of irreverent commentary and cutting-edge visuals. The result is a comedic countdown packed with surprising and buzz-worthy facts presented with a unique point of view.

From the mischievous mind of David Spade comes Fameless — a genre-busting prank show that features an unsuspecting group of wannabe stars who think they have been cast on an actual reality show – and they have. Each week, our hilarious team of improv actors takes on a new challenge — from game show host to survival show contender to a home makeover expert – and creates sketches that parody the genre.  But there’s a twist…one of the contestants is real.  Half sketch show/half prank show, this comedy will takes a light-hearted look at how far people will go to be famous.

Impractical Jokers is back for a fifth season, with an all new round of outrageous dares and punishments that are guaranteed to keep Sal, Joe, Murr and Q looking over their shoulders for what is next. The new season comes in the wake of the series’ biggest episode ever, a live high-wire walk at South Street Seaport to celebrate their 100th episode. The special episode, which aired live on Sept. 3, drew 3.7 million total viewers in Live +3 delivery, making it truTV’s most watched telecast in 19 months. In addition to Top 5 rankings in its timeslot across all the key demos, the show was a huge success on social media, trending nationwide.

Those Who Can’t is truTV’s first foray into full-length scripted comedy. The half-hour comedy follows three trouble-making teachers, played by show creators Adam Cayton-Holland, Andrew Orvedahl and Ben Roy of the Denver-based comedy troupe The Grawlix. More inept than the kids they teach, they’re out to beat the system as they struggle to survive each day on their own terms. Joining them is Maria Thayer (Eagleheart) the school librarian with an insuppressible passion for life.

Seen across multiple platforms in 90 million households, truTV delivers a fresh and unexpected take on comedy with such popular original series as Impractical Jokers, Billy on the Street, The Carbonaro Effect, Friends of the People, Hack My Life, Adam Ruins Everything, Fameless and Super Into, as well as the upcoming Those Who Can’t and Santas in the Barn. And the fun doesn’t stop there. truTV is also a partner in airing the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championsh ip.

truTV is part of Turner, a Time Warner company. Turner creates and programs branded news; entertainment; kids and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.