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Damon Wayans to Launch Comedy Web Channel
posted on Feb 13, 2008
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Actor/writer/comedian
Damon Wayans ("In Living Color" and "My Wife and Kids") recently showed a prototype of WayOutTV.com, his new website
project, to attendees at a Dealmaker media investment conference. WayOutTV’s VP, actor Joseph Vassallo, was also in attendance.
According to the Los Angeles TImes, WayOutTV.com will feature videos produced by aspiring young comedians handpicked by Wayans who sees the free site as an online comedy club and production
studio that could eventually change the way content is bought and sold
in Hollywood. He expects WayOutTV to help find
talented comedians and train them to write and produce their own
vehicles. The goal is to sell that work to Hollywood.
"There's
a lot of initial attempts at these sites but no one has dominated like
the way Comedy Central dominates cable," said Tim Chang, a principal at
Norwest Venture partners, who has been informally advising Wayans.
"Damon is used to these skit formats; his strength is in putting out
content quickly" he told the Los Angeles Times.
Other sites offering material produced by professional comedians
include Will Ferrell's FunnyorDie.com, Jeff Foxworthy's
MyBlueCollar.com, and Harry Shearer's MyDamnChannel.com.
RooftopComedy.com and Black201.com also feature the work of
professional producers and comedians but lack a well-known celebrity.
Wayans is reportedly pursuing
revenue-sharing viral marketing deals (such as YouTube and Break.com).
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