December 9, 2014 - The truTV programming evolution is kicking into high gear, with a packed slate of series renewals, greenlights and more. Headlining the renewals, truTV has ordered second seasons of its hit series The Carbonaro Effect, starring comic magician Michael Carbonaro, and the eye-popping performance competition series Fake Off.

The network has also landed additional episodes of the network's first-ever sketch comedy series, Friends of the People, and has ordered a new one-hour special taped during the “truTV Presents The Impractical Jokers featuring The Tenderloins” tour, which took place this winter as a build-up to the Impractical Jokers season 4 premiere on Thursday, Jan. 29.

Two all new series are set to join the truTV slate. The network has greenlit Kings of Cue (working title), about the high-stakes, cutthroat competition in New York City’s pool halls, and Santas in the Barn, a refreshingly unexpected holiday-themed series. And on the development front, truTV is expanding its reach into scripted programming with a pilot order for the previously announced Those Who Can't (working title), from the comedy team The Grawlix – Adam Cayton-Holland, Andrew Orvedahl and Ben Roy. The pilot cast has expanded to include Kyle Kinane and Kate Berlant.

"Building on the success and momentum of recent premieres, we are continuing to take big swings in new spaces with original series that are innovative, surprising and irresistibly shareable." said Chris Linn, president, head of programming for truTV. "We are delivering on our promise to make compelling shows that have a voice and take you to unique places. We look forward to working with our new and returning production partners as we set out to take fun to a whole new level."

In late October, truTV launched a major brand refresh touting the network as the place for "Way More Fun." The new branding is designed to support the network's ever-growing slate of original series, including the returning hits Impractical Jokers and The Carbonaro Effect and the new series Fake Off, Friends of the People, How to Be a Grownup and Barmageddon, to name a few.

Joining the truTV lineup this winter are television's first-ever reality musical Branson Famous, premiering Monday, Dec. 29 and produced by Road to Awe; Kart Life, a look inside the big-stakes, little-driver world of kart racing, premiering Wednesday, Jan. 28, and produced by Bodega Pictures; and Breaking Greenville, a look at the playful rivalry between the news teams at two small town television stations premiering Thursday, Jan. 29 and produced by Electus.

The following is a rundown of truTV's latest programming renewals, pickups and development.

Renewals

The Carbonaro Effect – Thursdays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)
truTV's series The Carbonaro Effect follows comic magician Michael Carbonaro as he uses his skills to trick, amaze and amuse an unsuspecting public. Since premiering in May, The Carbonaro Effect has become a hit for truTV, generating extensive social media buzz around Michael's eye-popping tricks and ranking as one of basic cable's Top 10 shows in its timeslot.

truTV has ordered 13 half-hour episodes for season 2 of The Carbonaro Effect, which is produced for truTV by Fields Entertainment. The new season is slated to premiere Summer 2015.

Fake Off – Mondays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)
In the second season of Fake Off a whole new collection of performers from around the country will take the stage to compete in the captivating art of Faking. In this series teams ultilize a mix of theater, acrobatics, black light and illusion to reimagine iconic moments in pop culture and see who’s got the skills to be named America's best Fakers. Fake Off has earned high praise from television critics and viewers alike, which has helped expand its audience by +37% since its premiere.

truTV has ordered eight one-hour episodes for the second season of Fake Off, which is being produced by Shine America. The season is slated to launch Spring 2015.

Friends of the People –Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT)
truTV is expanding its order for Friends of the People, the network's first-ever sketch-comedy series. Comedians Kevin Barnett, Jennifer Bartels, Jermaine Fowler, Lil Rel Howery, The Lucas Bros. and Josh Rabinowitz star in the series, which provides a fresh, unique and extremely hilarious take on sketch comedy, with a combination of scripted scenes, man-on-the-street segments and more. The extensive buzz about Friends of the People has kept the show growing, with its most recent episode drawing +65% more viewers than when it first premiered.

truTV has ordered 10 additional half-hour episodes of Friends of the People, which is being produced by 3 Arts Entertainment and Marobru Productions.

Series Greenlights

Kings of Cue (working title)
Revealing new series Kings of Cue introduces viewers to the big characters, high stakes, and cutthroat competition in New York City's pool halls — where the world’s best sharks come to win money and talk trash at the tables.

truTV has ordered 10 one-hour episodes of Kings of Cue, which is being produced by Pilgrim Studios.

Santas in the Barn
Next winter, 10 Santa enthusiasts come together for a television event that incorporates Christmas traditions from around the world for a holiday-inspired series like nothing you’ve ever seen before.

truTV has ordered eight one-hour episodes, with plans to launch the series next fall in time for the holidays. Santas in the Barn is produced by Half Yard Productions, part of Red Arrow Entertainment.

Pilot

Those Who Can’t (working title) – previously announced
High school never had it so bad in Those Who Can't (working title), a new single-camera comedy created by and starring The Grawlix comedy team of Adam Cayton-Holland, Andrew Overdahl and Ben Roy. They play three Denver teachers who are just as juvenile as the kids in their classes. When a hotshot student begins making their lives especially miserable, they decide to plot revenge. The pilot cast has expanded to include Kyle Kinane and Kate Berlant.

Produced by Thank You, Brain! Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment, Those Who Can't marks truTV's first foray into full-length scripted series after the network branched out into scripted sketch comedy with the current series Friends of the People, also from 3 Arts Entertainment.

Special

The Impractical Jokers Tour Special (working title)
In this hour-long special, viewers are given an all-access look inside the Jokers’ universe as Sal, Joe, Q and Murr tour the country, performing in sold-out venues and messing with each other at every turn. The "truTV Presents The Impractical Jokers featuring The Tenderloins" tour is an extension of truTV's top-rated series Impractical Jokers, which will have its season 4 premiere on Thursday, Jan 29. The tour is a way to give fans more of what they love, and the special will cut back and forth between the guys' live stage show and life on the road. The special will feature exclusive, never-before-seen footage that will make viewers feel like they’ve got a backstage pass to all the hilarity and mayhem that goes down when these four guys hit the road.

The Impractical Jokers Tour Special is produced by NorthSouth Productions and is slated to premiere Thursday, March 26th.