From a media release:

The Comedy Network Orders New Sketch Comedy Series PICNICFACE

• Big-buzz sketch comedy troupe Picnicface inks 13-episode order
• KIDS IN THE HALL alum Mark McKinney is Executive Producer and Showrunner

The Comedy Network announced today that it has ordered a new, half-hour sketch comedy series PICNICFACE. The brainchild of sketch troupe Picnicface and produced by Breakthrough Entertainment Inc., PICNICFACE the series is a fast-paced, mash-up comedy mixing a contemporary, Pythonesque animation and absurd sketch comedy. Already an online sensation and garnering praise from sketch-com legends Will Farrell and Dave Foley, the troupe will hunker down in Halifax, Nova Scotia in Spring 2011, to begin principal photography on 13 episodes. Veteran Canadian comedy master Mark McKinney is Executive Producer and Showrunner.

“Irreverent and incredibly hilarious, we’re preparing to unleash the international Haligonian internet phenomenon, Picnicface, on our viewers,” said Millan Curry-Sharples, Vice-President, The Comedy Network. “With the undeniable comedic pedigree of Mark McKinney, this new world order of sketch is an ideal addition to The Comedy Network.”

Hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, the eight-person sketch troupe consists of Andrew Bush, Kyle Dooley, Cheryl Hann, Mark Little, Brian MacQuarrie, Evany Rosen, Scott Vrooman and Bill Wood. Having amassed a following in their hometown and after posting their short video on YouTube called “Powerthirst”, Picnicface became an online sensation, capturing more than one million views. In 2007, Picnicface posted their first video shorts, including “Powerthirst” on Will Ferrell’s comedy website, funnyordie.com. Soon after, Ferrell hand-picked “Powerthirst” and two other Picnicface shorts as his favourite videos of the week, saying “Picnicface cranks out the goods”. Meanwhile, Dave Foley of Kids in the Hall fame, called Picnicface “distressingly good”.

“Picnicface is the perfect multi-platform sketch comedy troupe for today’s audience,” said Ira Levy, Co-Founder and Executive Producer at Breakthrough Entertainment. “They are outrageously funny performers who embody the spirit of Monty Python and Kids in the Hall. We’re thrilled that The Comedy Network has given them a television home.”

“Picnicface is extremely excited about the opportunity to expand from the internet to television on Canada’s go-to-comedy channel, The Comedy Network. And as soon as we’re finished doing celebratory log rolls down Citadel Hill, we will get busy writing,” said Scott Vrooman of Picnicface.

PICNICFACE is executive produced by Mark McKinney (Kids in the Hall, Less Than Kind), Ira Levy and Peter Williamson (Kenny vs. Spenny, Less Than Kind).

Blackstone is an unmuted raw look behind the veil of power and politics on an Aboriginal reserve. This one hour television series tells the story of a community suffering disintegration by its own hand – a result of the corruption, mismanagement and nepotism of its Chief and Councillors; and the parallel complicity of the silent bandmembers.

APTN will re-broadcast of the one-hour pilot of Blackstone on:

Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 9:00 pm ET on APTN HD

The first episode of the series will air on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 9:00 pm ET on APTN HD

The interview will air at 11:05 pm on Monday, November 29th on CBC television.