BRAVO ANNOUNCES "A.S.S.S.S.C.A.T.: IMPROV" - AN ORIGINAL IMPROV SPECIAL FROM THE CUTTING-EDGE COMEDY TROUPE, UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE

BRAVO ANNOUNCES "A.S.S.S.S.C.A.T.: IMPROV" - AN ORIGINAL IMPROV SPECIAL FROM THE CUTTING-EDGE COMEDY TROUPE, UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE

U.C.B.'S AMY POEHLER, MATT BESSER, MATT WALSH AND IAN ROBERTS ARE JOINED BY SPECIAL GUESTS ANDY RICHTER, KEVIN DORFF AND SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE'S TINA FEY, RACHEL DRATCH AND HORATIO SANZ

LOS ANGELES -- July 15, 2005 - The critically acclaimed and highly successful cutting-edge comedy group, Upright Citizens Brigade, brings its signature, one-hour long form improv comedy show, "A.S.S.S.S.C.A.T.: Improv" to Bravo this fall. The fully improvised one-hour special features an all-star cast of founding members Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh. Special guest performers include SNL's Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, Horatio Sanz, and late Night with Conan O'Brien's Kevin Dorff and Andy Richter. The special is slated to air on Bravo in Fall 2005. The announcement was made today by Lauren Zalaznick, President, Bravo.

"This special is the real-deal focusing on pure comedic creativity," said Zalaznick. "It's bare bones comedy with no costumes, props or sets to rely on. Bravo's audience is ready for an unexpected take on comedy from talent who are tops in their field."

The special, like the live show, begins with a suggestion of a single word from the audience. From there, a guest performer improvises a monologue, which plants the seeds for the all-star cast to build a series of interlocking, improvised scenes. The show follows a loose structure where character and story are instantly created, resulting in a surprisingly fresh, mysteriously interconnected and hilarious piece of improv comedy that can never be performed the same way twice.

"A.S.S.S.S.C.A.T.: Improv" (an acronym for Automatic Sprinkler System Shutdown Siamese Connection Alternative Theatre) lives up to its reputation as the best improv show in New York City as the cast fearlessly explores any subject thrown at them by the audience. The troupe generates a side-splitting storyline involving the Philadelphia Bicentennial from Fey's use of the word "squish," a sensual game of tennis arises after Richter spouts out a monologue originating from the word "dunk." In the end, this spontaneous show proves that established comedians are much funnier without a script.

"A.S.S.S.S.C.A.T.: Improv" is produced by Constant Communications for Bravo. Lisa Leingang and John Fortenberry serve as executive producers. Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh are the executive producers for the Upright Citizens Brigade. The special is produced by Jerry Kupfer and directed by John Fortenberry.

Bravo is the cable network that plugs people into arts, culture and pop culture with original programming, movies and by showing a whole different side of celebrities. Currently available in more than 79 million homes, Bravo is known for breaking exciting new personalities, shaking up the way we look at style, media, fame and Hollywood, pulling back the curtain on the creative process and making influential and inventive original programming. Its critically acclaimed and award-winning original programming includes "Inside the Actors Studio," "Celebrity Poker Showdown," "Project Greenlight," as well as the 2004 Emmy winner for Outstanding Reality Program, "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." The network's other hits include "Project Runway," "Blow Out" and "Sports Kids Moms & Dads.

Bravo is a program service of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Bravo has been a NBC Cable Network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. For more information visit www.bravotv.com.