In a press release today:

FX TO OFFER SPECIAL PREVIEW EPISODE OF ITS HIT COMEDY SERIES WILFRED

Network Takes a Page Out of FOX’s Playbook With Special Preview Episode of Wilfred

Scheduled to Run Across Multiple Platforms to Promote Season 2 Premiere Launch

Special Preview Episode To Launch on Video-on-Demand and Online on Thursday, June 14, and Air on FX on Thursday, June 21 at 10:30 PM E/P

Season 2 of Wilfred Premieres with an All-New Episode on June 28 at Its Regular Time Period of Thursdays at 10:00 PM E/P

LOS ANGELES, June 7, 2012 – Taking a page out of its sister network FOX’s playbook for Glee and New Girl, FX will offer viewers a Special Preview Episode of its hit comedy series Wilfred for viewing across multiple platforms over a two-week period beginning on Thursday, June 14 in advance of the series’ official season two premiere launch on Thursday, June 28.

On Thursday, June 14, the never-before-seen Special Preview Episode will roll out on Video-on-Demand through the network’s cable, satellite and telco distribution partners, and also will begin running that day online on HULU and Yahoo! TV, as well as FXnetworks.com and the Wilfred Facebook page. The final exhibition will be on FX on Thursday, June 21 at 10:30 PM E/P. In the Special Preview Episode, “Progress,” which features guest star Robin Williams, “Ryan” (Elijah Wood) realizes the consequences of not having “Wilfred” (Jason Gann) in his life (Written by David Zuckerman; Directed by Randall Einhorn). The Special Preview Episode will be preceded by an encore run of Wilfred’s Season 1finale at 10:00 PM E/P.

Then on June 28, Wilfred moves to its regularly scheduled time period of Thursdays at 10:00 PM with its official Season 2 premiere and the all-new episode, “Letting Go.” In the episode, Wilfred refuses to help Ryan with his problems as a result of his belief that their relationship is one-sided due to Ryan’s selfishness (Written by Reed Agnew & Eli Jorné; Directed by Randall Einhorn).

“We’ve seen the success FOX had previewing Glee and New Girl with this type of initiative and we felt this was a perfect opportunity to execute a similar strategy for Wilfred,” said FX President and General Manager John Landgraf. “Wilfred enjoyed the most successful first season of any comedy ever on FX and the time is right to capitalize on that success and hopefully grow our audience. This is a special treat for fans of the show to get a jump start ahead of the season two premiere.”

In addition to the exposure of the Special Preview Episode, the complete first season of Wilfred will be available on VOD on June 14 and is available on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday, June 19.

WILFRED: L-R: Elijah Wood as Ryan and Jason Gann as Wilfred. CR: FX.

Starring Elijah Wood and Jason Gann, Season 1 of Wilfred ranks as FX’s most-watched freshman comedy launch in the network’s history among Total Viewers (2.22 million), Adults18-49 (1.56 million), Men 18-49 (981,000), Women 18-49 (581,000), Adults 18-34 (932,000), Women 18-34 (326,000), Adults 25-54 (1.33 million), Men 25-54 (825,000), and Women 25-54 (503,000).

Wilfred is a half-hour, live-action comedy about Ryan (Wood), a young man struggling unsuccessfully to make his way in the world until he forms a unique friendship with Wilfred (Gann) his neighbor’s canine pet. While everyone else sees Wilfred as just a dog, Ryan sees a crude and somewhat surly, yet irrepressibly brave and honest Australian bloke in a cheap dog suit. While leading him through a series of comedic and existential adventures, Wilfred the dog shows Ryan the man how to overcome his fears and joyfully embrace the unpredictability and insanity of the world around him. The series co-stars Fiona Gubelmann and Dorian Brown. Wilfred is based on the critically-acclaimed Australian series of the same title and was adapted for FX by David Zuckerman (Family Guy, American Dad, King of the Hill). Zuckerman also serves as executive producer along with Jason Gann, Rich Frank and Jeff Kwatinetz of Prospect Park, Randall Einhorn, and Joe Connor and Ken Connor of Renegade, producers of the Australian version of the series. Einhorn also serves as director. Wilfred is produced by FX Productions. The Australian version of Wilfred was written by Jason Gann and Adam Zwar, directed by Tony Rogers and produced by Jen Livingston.

Thursday, June 28 marks FX’s biggest night of comedy ever with the launch of two new and two returning comedy series. The night kicks off with two episodes of the new comedy Anger Management, starring Charlie Sheen at 9:00 and 9:30 PM E/P, followed by Wilfred at 10:00 PM, the award-winning Louie at 10:30 PM, and the new latenight series Brand X with Russell Brand at 11:00 PM E/P.

About FX

FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from Fox. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 98 million homes. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning hit dramas series including Sons of Anarchy, Justified and American Horror Story, and acclaimed hit comedy series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Louie, Archer and Wilfred. Upcoming comedies include Brand X with Russell Brand, Anger Management, Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell, and Legit. The network’s library of acquired box-office hit movies is unmatched by any ad-supported television network. FX’s other offerings include the acquired hit series Two and a Half Men and How I Met Your Mother, and live sports with college football and the UFC. For more information about FX, visit our web site at www.FXnetworks.com.

About FX Productions

FX Productions co-produces the award-winning hit drama series Sons of Anarchy, and critically acclaimed hit drama series Justified. FXP produces the critically acclaimed hit comedy series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Louie, Wilfred, Archer, Brand X with Russell Brand, Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell, and Legit.

 

Source: The Nielsen Company, Live+7 (000s); © FX Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

 

Photo: © FX Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.