Nick Cannon to head 2nd MTV comedy series

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- MTV says it will launch a second U.S. comedy series next year from the creative mind of actor Nick Cannon.

While MTV is currently airing the third season of "Nick Cannon Presents Wild 'N Out," the musical network has announced that it will launch the sketch comedy, "Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz," in early 2007, said TVWeek.com.

To date, the cable network has ordered eight episodes of the comedy, which MTV executive producer Tony DiSanto said will offer Cannon a chance to expand upon the scope offered by "Wild 'N Out."

"Nick pitched this show as a way to do for sketch comedy what 'Wild 'N Out' did for improv -- infuse it with a hip-hop vibe and Nick's own brand of edgy humor," DiSanto told the Web site. "It is a scripted companion piece to 'Wild 'N Out,' providing an expanded platform for some of the great comedic talent from that show and a way to break new talent."