March brings Black comedy and barnyard merriment to skeds

Comedian Lewis Black on pop culture, two Ontario boys travelling the world, and a mix of March Break shows for kids - here's a look ahead at what's premiering on specialties as the month ticks over to March.
By Jesse Kohl
February 22, 2008

CTVglobemedia’s Comedy Network is set to premiere Lewis Black: The Root of All Evil on Wednesday, March 19 in the 10 pm time slot. The half-hour show sees the stand-up comic (pictured) as judge, jury and executioner as pop culture goes on trial in a courtroom setting. In the series premiere, Greg Giraldo and Patton Oswalt are pitted against each other to argue the evils of Paris Hilton vs. Dick Cheney. Black makes regular appearances on The Daily Show delivering his ‘Back in Black’ commentary segment.

OLN will premiere a new Canadian production, Departures, on Monday, March 17 in the 10 pm ET/7 pm PT time slot. The 13-ep series takes best friends – and Brantford, Ontario, natives – Scott Wilson and Justin Lukach on international adventures without safety nets. Locations include Jordan, Ascension Island, India, Japan, Cambodia and New Zealand.

Treehouse is also unveiling several new series over the next week. In the Night Garden, a UK show from the partners behind Teletubbies, features curious characters in real woodland backdrop filmed with a mix of costumed actors, puppets and computer-animated puppets. It will air weekdays and Sundays at 7:30 pm beginning Monday, Feb. 25.

Another show set for a world premiere on Treehouse is the Nelvana-produced My Friend Rabbit, based on the award-winning book by Eric Rohmann. The series, aimed at kids three to six, will air Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 am beginning with its world premiere Monday, Feb. 25. Shows from abroad set to hit the Treehouse sked include Fifi and the Flowertots (every weekday at 6:20 pm, beginning Monday, Feb. 25), Ni Hao Kai Lan (Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 pm beginning Tuesday, Feb. 26), the unique Yo Gabba Gabba (every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4:30 pm beginning Monday, Feb. 25), and The Koala Brothers (every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5:30 pm beginning Monday, Feb. 25).

YTV will premiere Back at the Barnyard on Sunday, March 2 at 9 am. The Nickelodeon series follows Otis, a literal party animal who inherited the job of keeping the barn and its residents in order, and his friends Pip, Pig, and Freddy and their adventures in, well, the barnyard. The net’s also got March Break marathons and back-to-back eps of hit series kicking off on Monday, March 10 – including Ruby Gloom at 9 am, Growing Up Creepie at 9:30 am, SpongeBob SquarePants at 12 pm and The Fairly OddParents at 12:30 pm. In the afternoons, YTV will continue the March Break madness with a blockbuster movie at 1 pm.