PIVOT TO DEBUT 'PLEASE LIKE ME’, ORIGINAL SERIES BASED ON ACTUAL

AWKWARDLY PAINFUL EVENTS OF COMEDIAN JOSH THOMAS ON AUGUST 1^ST

Participant Media’s New TV Network Targeting Millennials Launches Day One with

Back-to-Back Episodes of Its First Scripted Series Starting at 8PM ET/7PM CT

 

NEW YORK, July 11, 2013 - When Pivot, Participant Media’s new television network targeting Millennials (18-34), turns on the switch Thursday, August 1^st, viewers will be introduced to a robust programming lineup anchored by the Pivot Original Series, "Please Like Me." The comedic-drama, based on actual awkwardly painful events from 25-year-old, award-winning Australian comedian Josh Thomas, will air as a series marathon starting at 8:00 pm ET/7:00 pm CT with a total of six back-to-back episodes. The announcement was made today by Evan Shapiro, President of Pivot.

‘Please Like Me’ is inspired in part by the real life experiences of Thomas who created, wrote and executive produced the coming-of-age series which he also headlines. The acclaimed stand-up comedian has been called by critics: “brilliantly personal and so very sharply observed” and “brave, funny and thoroughly entertaining.”  He was also the recipient of the 2010GQ Comedian of the Year Award.

The story follows Josh as he heads towards his 21^st birthday. In the span of 24 hours, Josh is dumped by his girlfriend, realizes he may be gay and moves in with his mother, who has just attempted suicide.  All of a sudden it seems as though everyone’s life is in disarray and Josh is at the center of it all. For someone with an aversion to confrontation, drama and emotion in general, there are some big challenges ahead for Josh – challenges he can only deal with in his own awkward, self-centered and hilariously frank way. Josh comes to realize he’s growing up quickly and that parents are not always the heroes you thought they were.

The charming, laugh-out-loud series aims squarely at the center of the millennial mindset and life-stage, and charges head-on into very relevant ground concerning family, mental health, depression, suicide and sexuality. 

Pivot’s curation of the series also caters to the millennial lifestyle. The network is releasing the first episode for free online at Pivot.tv, and then scheduling the series many different ways starting on August 1^st on Pivot, including series marathons, tailor made for binge-watching and On Demand.

Josh Thomas said: “Hello Hollywood! I'm excited about being in America - I hope we get along. I'm encouraged by your oversized slices of cake. I'm also really proud to be on Pivot, a genuinely new and unique network making really interesting choices.  I hope you enjoy our TV show.”

Shapiro said: “‘Please Like Me’ is the perfect show to launch our network.  This show is unique and authentic, which speaks to the quality entertainment that we aspire to present to our target audience. Josh’s quarter-life crisis will resonate with many Millennials and the way he and the cast capture that angst is hysterical. Once you start watching, you don’t want it to end, and that’s exactly why we’re releasing it the way we are – we don’t want our audience to have to wait to watch more."

‘Please Like Me’ is a Pivot Original series in association with Pigeon Fancier Productions/John and Josh International and Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The series was created and written by Josh Thomas, produced by Todd Abbott and directed by Matthew Saville. Executive Producers are Josh Thomas, Todd Abbott and Kevin Whyte. The series also stars Thomas Ward, Debra Lawrance, David Roberts, Judi Farr, Caitlin Stasey, Wade Briggs, Nikita Leigh-Pritchard, Renee Lim and Andrew S. Gilbert.  This marks the series' U.S. television debut. 

ABOUT PIVOT 
Pivot, launching August 1st, is a new television network from Participant Media serving passionate Millennials (18-34) with a diverse slate of talent and a mix of original series, acquired programming, films and documentaries. Pivot focuses on entertainment that sparks conversation, inspires change and illuminates issues through engaging content, and its website TakePart.com to continue the conversation and connect audiences to a wealth of content and customizable actions. Pivot is also changing the media landscape, available via traditional Pay TV subscription to 40 million-plus homes and integrates a Live and on demand streaming option via its interactive, downloadable Pivot APP. In both content and delivery, Pivot is TV for The New Greatest Generation. Follow Pivot on Twitter at @pivot_tv and on Facebook at facebook.com/pivottelevision.

ABOUT PARTICIPANT MEDIA
Participant is a global entertainment company founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll to focus on feature films, television, publishing and digital content that inspire social change.  Participant's more than 40 films include GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK., SYRIANA, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, FOOD, INC., WAITING FOR ‘SUPERMAN’, THE HELP, CONTAGION and LINCOLN.  Participant’s social action campaigns and digital network TakePart.com continue the conversation and connect audiences to a wealth of content and actions.  Its new millennial television network pivot, launching this summer in 40 million-plus homes, is TV for The New Greatest Generation.