Comedy Central is banking on Workaholics. The network took the opportunity of the Television Critics Association winter press tour to announce a pickup for fourth and fifth seasons -- and order a new series based on the popular web series Drunk History from Will Ferrell and Adam McKay.
Workaholics, which recently pulled an average 2 million viewers in its summer run and performed especially well among the network's coveted younger males, will produce an additional 26 episodes under the pickup.
"When I realized Workaholics is not a reality show, it made me appreciate the guys' talent that much more," said Comedy Central head of original programming and production Kent Alterman. "It only seems right that we would renew for two seasons."
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Co-creators and stars Blake Anderson, Adam Devine, Anders Holm and Kyle Newacheck said they were "stoked" about news of the renewal.
As for Drunk History, Comedy Central first gave an order for a pilot presentation last summer. The viral success, which has seen the likes of Jack Black, Zooey Deschanel and Jim Carrey reenacting drunken narrations of historical events, will run as a weekly half-hour program.
The series comes from Gary Sanchez Productions, with Ferrell, McKay, Chris Henchy and Owen Burke serving as executive producer alongside creator and star Derek Waters and writer and director Jeremy Konner.
“Will and I have always believed booze brings out truth," said McKay. "Sometimes that truth involves hitting on airport bar janitors or eating cheese fries at 4 a.m. But in this case, we hope that truth will shine on our nation’s history."
Drunk History is slated for a summer debut, while new episodes of Workaholics star Wednesday, Jan. 16, at 10 p.m.
