A&E NETWORK GREENLIGHTS NEW DOCUSERIES 'LITTLE FUNNY,' (working title) FROM EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ELLEN DeGENERES, FOLLOWING 11-YEAR-OLD STAND-UP COMIC SAFFRON HERNDON AS SHE PERFECTS HER ACT

ELLEN AND HER FRIENDS - COMIC LEGENDS INCLUDING CHRIS ROCK, GEORGE LOPEZ, WANDA SYKES AND TOM PAPA - MENTOR HER ALONG THE WAY

NETWORK ORDERS 10 EPISODES FROM THIS IS JUST A TEST, TELEPICTURES AND A VERY GOOD PRODUCTION TO PREMIERE EARLY 2017

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 16, 2016 - A&E Network has ordered the new nonfiction series "Little Funny" (working title) from This is Just a Test, Telepictures and A Very Good Production, it was announced today by Elaine Frontain Bryant, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming at A&E Network. The docuseries from executive producer Ellen DeGeneres will follow 11-year-old up-and-coming comedian Saffron Herndon as she sharpens her stand-up act.

Saffron, or Saffy, as she prefers to be called, is not like most 11-year olds. She spends her nights performing at her local comedy club and her days trying to understand why her friends don't get her jokes. Her dream is to be a famous standup comedian with an illustrious career like her idol, Ellen DeGeneres.

Saffy is a stand-up comedy prodigy with a unique brand of edgy, adult humor who has been making waves on the comedy circuit for the past three years, and now Ellen DeGeneres is stepping in to executive produce a series about her journey to the stage. Saffy will receive advice and encouragement from Ellen and other notable stand-up pros like Chris Rock, George Lopez, Wanda Sykes, Tom Papa, Iliza Shlesinger and more to help hone her skills. Whether it's bringing out her inner curmudgeon or polishing the perfect "pageant girl" jokes, we will see Saffy working with the best and brightest in the world of comedy as she prepares for various gigs. Ellen will send Saffy messages of encouragement as she endeavors to get stage time at legendary clubs across America and seek inspiration from other comedians to hone her craft and prove to Ellen she has what it takes to make it in the highly competitive and cutthroat world of comedy.

Ellen DeGeneres said, "It's crazy that Saffy is telling such hilarious jokes at 11 years old. When I was 11, I was telling knock-knock jokes. To be honest, I'm still telling knock-knock jokes."

"The world of standup comedy has never been explored through the point of view of an 11-year-old kid," said Frontain Bryant. "Saffy's journey, like that of any artist, is unique and unexpected. Viewers will have a peek behind the curtain as she hones her craft with the help of today's best comics."

"Little Funny" (w.t.) is produced for A&E Network by This is Just a Test, Telepictures and A Very Good Production. Executive producers for This is Just a Test are Aengus James and Colin King Miller. Executive producers for A Very Good Production are Ellen DeGeneres and Jeff Kleeman. Executive producers for A&E Network are Elaine Frontain Bryant and Colleen Conway Grogan.

About A&E Network

A&E leads the cultural conversation through high-quality, thought provoking original programming with a unique point of view. Whether it's the network's distinctive brand of award-winning disruptive reality, groundbreaking documentary, or premium scripted drama, A&E always makes entertainment an art. The A&E website is located at aetv.com. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/aetv and Facebook at facebook.com/AETV.

About Telepictures

Telepictures is an industry-leading and Emmy(R) Award-winning producer of innovative, multiplatform advertiser-friendly television series and digital content for the first-run syndication, cable and digital marketplace. Programs produced by Telepictures have won 93 Emmy(R) Awards in the last 20 years, including Outstanding Talk Show or Outstanding Talk Show Host for 16 of the last 19 years. Telepictures series include Crime Watch Daily, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Extra, Hello Goodbye, Judge Mathis, MADtv, The People's Court, The Real, TMZ, TMZ Live and TMZ Sports. For more information about Telepictures programming, please visit www.telepicturestv.com.

About A Very Good Production

A Very Good Production (AVGP) is the Emmy(R)-winning television and film production company of producer/writer/actor/host Ellen DeGeneres. Based at Warner Bros. Television Group (WBTVG) with an exclusive multiyear deal, AVGP produces the nationally syndicated daytime talk program The Ellen DeGeneres Show and develops television projects for all divisions of WBTVG, including scripted and unscripted primetime series for network and cable, as well as additional syndicated fare. Current and recent series produced by AVGP include the upcoming animated family comedy Green Eggs and Ham for Netflix; the smash hit unscripted comedy/variety series Little Big Shots and upcoming unscripted relationship series First Dates for NBC; the unscripted design competition program Ellen's Design Challenge for HGTV; and Hello Goodbye for the Travel Channel. Jeff Kleeman serves as President of A Very Good Production.

About This is Just a Test Media

This is just a test. We make television series, films, commercials, branded entertainment, scripted and non-scripted, long-form and short-form, and transmedia. Our work has received numerous awards and honors, including special recognition from the White House and United Nations for issues of awareness. The company was founded by good friends, Aengus James and Colin King Miller. This is only a test.