Comedy Central is ready to show more of what happens when comedians get off stage, announcing Friday that it has renewed Jonah Ray and Kumail Nanjiani’s “The Meltdown” for a third season.
The series is hosted by the two stand-up stars and actors. It’s shot documentary style at the Nerdist Showroom in the back of Los Angeles’ Meltdown Comics and follows comedians as they experiment with new bits onstage and hang out backstage.
Season two, which was directed by Lance Bangs, featured performances by the likes of Andy Daly, Fred Armisen, Hannibal Buress, Abbi Jacobson, Ilana Glazer, Natasha Leggero, John Mulaney and Paul Scheer. Ratings-wise, It averaged 296,000 viewers (including 186,000 adults 18-49), according to Nielsen’s “live plus-3” estimates — not bad, given its late-night time slot and that it is a summer series.
“There continues to be no better way to experience the best, live weekly stand-up show in L.A. than ‘Meltdown,’” said Kent Alterman, president of original programming Comedy Central. “Except for actually being there, of course.”
Like its predecessors, season three will consist of eight episodes. “The Meltdown” is executive produced by Ray, Nanjiani, live show producer Emily V. Gordon, and Red Hour’s Ben Stiller, Debbie Liebling, Stuart Cornfeld and Mike Rosenstein. JoAnn Grigioni and Ryan Moran are the executives in charge for Comedy Central.
“Third time’s a charm!,” said Ray, Nanjiani and Gordon.
