Yahoo Bolsters Its Comedy Video Lineup

Yahoo says that it’s already the “top online destination for comedy” with 1B streams of original material — and hopes to reinforce its claim on that title with some new Web-based video series. Seth Morris will star in First Dates With Toby Harris, a 12-episode series of 3-to-5 minute videos from Funny or Die; Yahoo doesn’t say when it will launch. A scripted comedy Burning Love from Paramount Pictures/Red Hour will spoof reality TV shows beginning this spring. Sketchy from Principato Young/Electus promises 26 weeks of topical shorts. 7 Minutes in Heaven from Broadway Video will run 10 weeks and feature conversations with SNL writer Mike O’Brien. Odd News from Yahoo Studios will run 24 weeks with Greg Proops serving up the week’s most unusual headlines. And beginning March 19, Hackerazzi from video producer David Morgasen will offer 14 weeks of “embarrassing celebrity videos.”