August 1 (2002-08-01) – September 1, 2002 (2002-09-01)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)
Contest Searchlight is a four-episode fictional comedy television series that aired in 2002 on the Comedy Central network. It was a documentary-style parody or mockumentary of the HBO (and later Bravo) network's non-fictional series Project Greenlight.
Contest Searchlight starred Denis Leary and Lenny Clarke, playing slightly fictionalized versions of themselves, as TV producers holding a nationwide contest to select a new television series to produce for the Comedy Central network. When none of the proposed submissions prove acceptable, Leary and Clarke end up combining several of the finalist's proposals to produce a new, semi-improvised ensemble sitcom entitled "Jesus and the Gang." The new show ostensibly stars New York City theatre and television actor Peter Gallagher (again playing a fictionalized version of himself), but when Gallagher is hit by a motorist during the filming of a network promotion, the lead role is shifted to comedian Patrice O'Neal. During rehearsals for the premiere episode, the actors, crew and producers all start fighting each other (and themselves), and "Jesus and the Gang" is permanently shelved.
Contest Searchlight was shown in a pseudo-documentary style, and there was no laugh track or other obvious sign that this was a fictional series. Following Peter Gallagher's exit from the show, both he and Comedy Central received a number of panicked calls from viewers who believed that Gallagher really had been hit by a motorist.
A fully produced version of the "Jesus and the Gang" theme song appears as the eighth track on Leary's 2004 album, Merry F#%$in' Christmas.
and 20 Related for: Contest Searchlight information
ContestSearchlight is a four-episode fictional comedy television series that aired in 2002 on the Comedy Central network. It was a documentary-style...
short-lived network sitcom Lenny (1990), and in such TV shows as ContestSearchlight, The Job, The John Larroquette Show and It's All Relative and movies...
Sanders Show – Keith Spin City – Doug Sex and the City – Ordinary Guy ContestSearchlight – himself Tough Crowd With Colin Quinn – regular panelist Tom Goes...
Criminal Intent, The Education of Max Bickford, Comedy Central's ContestSearchlight, Ugly Betty, How I Met Your Mother, MTV's Human Giant, and Mad Men...
episodes The Job Mike McNeil Also writer and producer All episodes 2002 ContestSearchlight Fictionalized version of himself All episodes Crank Yankers Joe Smith...
Citizens Brigade The Real Jesus Episode: "Spaghetti Jesus" 2002 ContestSearchlight Hotel Worker Episode #1.1 2004 Crossballs Various Also writer 2005...
in Trio's The Pop Culture Round-Up: White Noise, Comedy Central's ContestSearchlight with Denis Leary, was a cast member of VH1's prank show Sledgehammer...
Folks NBC July 29 One-Hit Wonders VH1 August 1 The Rerun Show NBC ContestSearchlight Comedy Central Cavuto on Business Fox News Channel August 6 A Haunting...
Comedians of Comedy (2005) Comedy Central Roast (2003–19) Con (2005) ContestSearchlight (2002) Crossballs: The Debate Show (2004) Distraction (2005–06) Dog...
Comedians of Comedy (2005) Comedy Central Roast (2003–19) Con (2005) ContestSearchlight (2002) Crossballs: The Debate Show (2004) Distraction (2005–06) Dog...
Comedians of Comedy (2005) Comedy Central Roast (2003–19) Con (2005) ContestSearchlight (2002) Crossballs: The Debate Show (2004) Distraction (2005–06) Dog...
The Redding Record Searchlight is a newspaper serving Redding, California. It has a daily print circulation of under 15,000 and has between 100,000 to...
Comedians of Comedy (2005) Comedy Central Roast (2003–19) Con (2005) ContestSearchlight (2002) Crossballs: The Debate Show (2004) Distraction (2005–06) Dog...
documentaries and film projects. He produced the opening sequence for ContestSearchlight on Comedy Central and executive-produced On the Team for Noggin and...
Napoleon Dynamite was acquired at the Sundance Film Festival by Fox Searchlight Pictures, who partnered up with Paramount Pictures and MTV Films for...
Comedians of Comedy (2005) Comedy Central Roast (2003–19) Con (2005) ContestSearchlight (2002) Crossballs: The Debate Show (2004) Distraction (2005–06) Dog...
Originally slated to be released theatrically on December 8, 2023, by Searchlight Pictures, the film has been removed from its release schedule and dropped...
Studios, Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Studios; the Searchlight Pictures label operates its own autonomous theatrical distribution and...
Comedians of Comedy (2005) Comedy Central Roast (2003–19) Con (2005) ContestSearchlight (2002) Crossballs: The Debate Show (2004) Distraction (2005–06) Dog...
Global Information