Joel McHale to continue hosting 'The Soup' through 2016

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Actor and comedian Joel McHale is to continue as host of the hilarious reality television analysis show The Soup through 2016, E! Entertainment announced Thursday.

McHale's production company Free Period Productions also will continue its production development deal, in which he will give the cable network first look rights to ideas for non-scripted series.

"Whether he is entertaining the audience with the best 'worst of the week' or offering up a fresh hit of pop culture on the production development front, McHale is a valued fixture at the network for both his industry know-how and comic relief," Jeff Olde, executive vice president of original programming and development for E!, said in a statement. "On behalf of the network and fans of The Soup, we can't help but smile as we look forward to more years of comedy with McHale."

"I'm thrilled to be working at E! for two more years hosting The Soup," said McHale. "Although I narrowly beat Mitt Romney out for the job in a number of states, I'm confident that I can keep up the same quality of humorous observation of shows like Naked Dating and Bad Girls Club Season 12 Reunion Part 2 that the American people age 18-49 have come to expect and deserve. Thank you E!, Comcast Universal, and the entire Dallas Maverick organization."

McHale, who has hosted The Soup since 2004, is also a cast member of the popular sitcom Community.