Comedy Central Declares January ’09 “Stand-Up Month”

Basic cable’s Comedy Central has tons of laughs in store for fans of the stand-up brand of comedy.

The network recently announced that come January 2009, it will devote four whole weeks to special programming and events for Stand-Up Month, all centered around comics who like to tell their jokes from behind a live microphone.

In addition to new stand-up specials from Dane Cook, D.L. Hughley, Katt Williams, and Kevin Hart, premiering every weekend, starting on January 11, viewers can look forward to brand-new episodes of COMEDY CENTRAL Presents, premiering each Friday night at both 10pm and 10:30pm EST, from January 9 onward. The run marks the series’ 13th season in existence.

Then there’s the Stand-Up Showdown scheduled for Sunday, January 25. During the month of January, fans can vote online at comedycentral.com for their favorite stand-up comedian. Viewers’ top twenty choices will then be counted down, one by one, during the day-long special Stand-Up Showdown Finals on January 25. Later that night, the winning comic’s special will air.

Follow the jump for more details about some of the specials premiering throughout the celebration, many — if not all — of which are a must-see for comedy devotees.

January 11

Dane Cook: Rough Around The Edges: In his hilarious World Television Premiere special, Cook delivers his latest “in the round” stand-up special to 40,000 screaming fans at Madison Square Garden. [9pm EST]

January 17

D.L. Hughley: Unapologetic: The always dapper Hughley descends on D.C. to offer his take on all of your favorite hot topics: immigration, urban living, family matters, and the “N” word. [10pm EST]

January 25

It’s Pimpin’ Pimpin’: Nothing is sacred in this performance as Katt Williams takes on prescription drugs, terrorism, elections, and even some of our past, present, and future presidents. [9pm EST]

January 31

Kevin Hart: I’m A Grown Little Man: Hart takes a grown-up approach to being a little man. Everything from giving his wife moral support in a fight at the club to why black people don’t go whitewater rafting seems larger than life when standing at 5 foot 4 inches. [10pm EST]