Ben Schwartz News

Donald Faison will guest star in two episodes of the upcoming season of Showtime's HOUSE OF LIES. 

On last night's LATE LATE SHOW, after learning Jessica Alba's The Honest Company accepts product ideas from consumers, James and guest Ben Schwartz convince Jessica they should call a customer service representative and pitch ridiculous product ideas

'History is written by the victors!' …Or sometimes by the drunk narrators. The Emmy-nominated Comedy Central series 'Drunk History' returns for a 13-episode third season tonight, September 1.

"History is written by the victors!" …Or sometimes by the drunk narrators. The Emmy®-nominated Comedy Central series "Drunk History" returns for a 13-episode third season on Tuesday, September 1

SHOWTIME has renewed HOUSE OF LIES for a fifth season to air in 2016 with 10 episodes, it was announced today by Gary Levine, Executive Vice President of Original Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.

Nickelodeon serves up a whopping, word-tastic episode of WALLYKAZAM! with the debut of the hour-long special, “The Big Goblin Problem,” today, Feb. 6, at 12:00 p.m. (ET/PT).

The hilarious comedy COFFEE TOWN, written and directed by Brad Copeland stars Glenn Howerton, Steve Little, Ben Schwartz, Adrianne Palicki and Josh Groban. The collectible DVD will be available beginning today, February 3, 2015 from Shout! Factory.

Beginning tonight Sunday, January 11th, Showtime celebrates the New Year with its three Emmy-nominated leads William H. Macy, Don Cheadle and Matt LeBlanc when brand new seasons of SHAMELESS (9 p.m.), HOUSE OF LIES (10 p.m.) and EPISODES (10:30 p.m.) return on the network's powerhouse, triple-header Sunday night.

Today, SHOWTIME is giving viewers an early opportunity to sample the season premieres of SHAMELESS, HOUSE OF LIES and EPISODES across multiple platforms before their debut this Sunday, January 11 starting at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

SHOWTIME will be available to over 70 million households during a Free Preview Weekend this Friday, January 9 through Sunday, January 11. Viewers nationwide will be able to sample the network's award-winning programming on SHOWTIME, SHOWTIME On Demand, SHOWTIME ANYTIME and select distributors' TV Everywhere portals. The Free Preview weekend will include sampling of the season premieres of the hit comedy series SHAMELESS, HOUSE OF LIES and EPISODES, hard-hitting sports programming, as well as feature films, including the television premieres of Philomena and Last Vegas.

Weber joins previously announced guest stars Valorie Curry, Demetri Martin, Fred Melamed, Jenny Slate, Larenz Tate and Alicia Witt. HOUSE OF LIES will premiere Sunday, January 11th at 10 p.m. ET/PT opposite the new seasons of SHAMELESS (9 p.m.) and EPISODES (10:30 p.m.).

Tony® Award nominee Mary McCormack (In Plain Sight) has signed on as guest star on the fourth season of the hit SHOWTIME comedy series HOUSE OF LIES.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, comedian Demetri Martin has joined the cast of Showtime's HOUSE OF LIES for a 'multiple-episode role' on the fourth season.

The Toronto International Film Festival is in full swing, continuing through September 14, 2014. A total of 393 films are scheduled to be shown, including 143 world premieres. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the red carpet arrivals for THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU.

MANCHESTER, N.H., July 15, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) In 2008 Ben Schwartz-a young New Hampshire English and special education teacher-decided it was time to get that first novel written. He entered Southern New Hampshire University's low-residency MFA in Fiction and Nonfiction program, and wrote that novel-'The Drift of Things'-as his thesis. Last month 'The Drift of Things' was named the Silver Medal Winner in the Piscataqua Press's 2014 Novel Contest, one of three manuscripts plucked from some 120 submissions. And as quickly as that-in a world that now includes print-on-demand publishing-Schwartz's novel is available from Piscataqua. 'We're all very happy for Ben,' said novelist/essayist Benjamin Nugent, the director of Southern New Hampshire's MFA program. 'And we're looking forward to books by other alumni coming out soon from presses like Viking and Da Capo.' While at Southern New Hampshire, Schwartz worked primarily with novelists Katherine Towler ('Snow Island') and Merle Drown ('The Suburbs of Heaven') in crafting his story of a middle-aged man who has blamed himself for the drowning death of his best friend in high school, and who then returns for his mother's funeral to the town from which he has exiled himself. 'Funny, smart, unpredictable, and true, 'The Drift of Things' is that rare book in contemporary fiction, one with both heart and intelligence,' wrote Katherine Towler in her response to the finished work. 'Ben Schwartz has delivered a cast of characters so real you expect to find them watching TV in the living room. In a beautifully-crafted story about what remains broken and yet healed in all of us, Schwartz has established himself as a writer to watch.' Schwartz's story marks the latest publishing success for an MFA program that was founded in 2006 by historical novelist Robert Begiebing and that has only recently reached its full complement of 65 students and 15 faculty members. Begiebing's vision involved a two-year program-with 'Go Write Your Book' as its motto-in which students would immediately apply themselves to the completion of a publishable, professional-level manuscript, as Schwartz did. Though the program's alumni community remains small, there were some immediate post-graduate successes: 'If I Told You So' by Timothy Woodward '08, a novel that came out from Kensington in 2012; and 'Lost and Found Hanoi,' a work of photojournalism co-authored by Elizabeth Rush '11, which came out from the Things Asian Press earlier this year. But now the floodgates are open, as a number of new alumni have recently turned their theses into book contracts, some with large commercial houses. Pratima Cranse '12 has a so-far-untitled novel in the works from Viking. 'The Trees Beneath Us,' a novel by Darren R. Leo '13, will initiate a new literary line of fiction from the Stark House Press. And Charlie Stella '13 is co-authoring a biography, 'Dogfella,' due out from Da Capo. Other Southern New Hampshire alumni have novels on the production line at several small presses like Piscataqua. 'The Holy Fool' by Ken Butler '12 is forthcoming from the Touchstone Press; 'They Call Me Crazy' by Kelly Stone Gamble '12 from Red Adept Publishing; 'Fallen' by Mike Hancock '08 and 'The Keepers of Mercia' by James Marino '09, both from Black Rose Writing. 'This is a hard thing to do, taking your very first attempt at long-form fiction or nonfiction and getting it published,' said Nugent. 'But we're proving now that we can make Bob's go-write-your book model work. At the very least, our students are leaving the program with stories that have a fighting chance in the marketplace, and the skills to write more.' Nonetheless, Nugent said, he and his faculty are moving to diversify the program by also offering a curriculum track for those who want their MFA work to simply prepare them to write that first novel or nonfiction narrative-rather than to require writing it immediately. 'We think some students would benefit more from being able to experiment,' Nugent said. 'This would involve, for example, trying out lots of short stories or essays and throwing them out, or trying out a few novel or memoir ideas, and finally settling on one and getting it started. Students will still complete a thesis, but the parameters will be more flexible.'

Scott Aukerman (Between Two Ferns, Mr. Show) and Reggie Watts (Conan, Jash.com) return for an all-new 20 episode third season of the unconventionally entertaining scripted late night talk show, Comedy Bang! Bang! tonight, May 8 at 10:30PM ET/PT on IFC, immediately following the season two premiere of Maron. The only talk show on television where space, time, reason and laws of physics need not apply.

It's been a wild ride this season for Marty (Don Cheadle) – a new firm, new clients and now, a new chapter in his life with Jeannie (Kristen Bell). But the road to happiness on HOUSE OF LIES has always been paved with landmines and barbed wire. The day begins with breakfast in bed…but will it end on a date with the Feds?! It all goes down during the jaw-dropping season finale of HOUSE OF LIES this Sunday, April 6th at 10 pm ET/PT on SHOWTIME.

Despite facing some stiff competition across broadcast and cable, SHAMELESS and HOUSE OF LIES delivered their highest-rated nights of the season. In fact, SHAMELESS had its most viewers EVER in the series history.

Scott Aukerman (Between Two Ferns, Mr. Show) and Reggie Watts (Conan, Jash.com) return for an all-new 20 episode third season of the unconventionally entertaining scripted late night talk show, Comedy Bang! Bang!

Emmy® nominated funnyman Fred Armisen (Portlandia, today Night Live) will guest star on the hit SHOWTIME comedy series HOUSE OF LIES this Sunday, March 23rd at 10 pm PT/ET.