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Sunday, November 19, 2006

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By

YouTube for TV

Big-screen star Jack Black will soon be seen on the small screen.

The comic actor and half of acoustic heavy-metal duo Tenacious D is partnering with VH1 to executive produce "The Department of Acceptable Media," E! Online reports. The weekly comedy sketch show will feature user-generated content and short films occasionally starring Mr. Black.

Mr. Black's partners are Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab, who teamed with the actor three years ago to co-found Black Channel 101, a Web site featuring digital shorts made by novice filmmakers in a competitive forum.

Aiming to capitalize on the do-it-yourself success of YouTube, the VH1 series will pick up where Channel 101 left off. Each week, "The Department" will showcase six three-minute clips of would-be TV shows that viewers will vote on via an online poll at acceptable.tv, beginning in February.

The three "acceptable" series tallying the most votes will be renewed for another episode airing the following week, while the shows receiving the fewest votes will be "canceled" and replaced by three new pilots. Eventually, producers intend to showcase the best of the shorts as a full-blown series on VH1.

"This is the first show in TV history to be programmed by the audience," Mr. Black said.

Mr. Black pointed to the success of such Channel 101 alumni as Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, who collectively dubbed themselves the Lonely Island. Their short films landed them spots on "Saturday Night Live," where they scored a hit comedy sketch with the popular "Lazy Sunday" video (otherwise known as the "Chronic-what?-cles of Narnia" rap).

Variety reports that the "School of Rock" star and his colleagues will write and produce most of the sketches on "The Department" and will appear on air to introduce them. However, at least one of the shorts will be chosen from user-generated video submissions from the Web site. Producers say that, depending on the quality, more amateur videos could be added as the show evolves.

The first of eight episodes of the sketch comedy series is scheduled to premiere on VH1 in the spring.

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