Comedy cabler lands seven pix

'Fool,' 'Rushmore' on Comedy Central slate

By CHRIS PURSELL

With competitors USA, TBS and TNT forging ahead with an all-out assault on the major networks' one-time domain of first-broadcast movie slates, Comedy Central has joined the fray, landing four Buena Vista and three Universal comedies to premiere on the cabler.

Universal's pics will be the first out of the block with "McHale's Navy," starring Tom Arnold, airing this November. "Kissing a Fool," toplining David Schwimmer, and "Half Baked," starring Dave Chappelle, will premiere in 2000.

The cabler has also landed Buena Vista's acclaimed "Rushmore," starring Bill Murray, to air in 2001, while "An Ideal Husband," with Cate Blanchett; "Mumford," starring Ted Danson; and the Farrelly Bros.' "Outside Providence" will bow in 2002.

"These films are an important part of our primetime programming strategy," said the cabler's VP of programming Michele Ganeless. "They provide strong lead-ins for our original programming and bring comedy icons to the network that our viewers want to see."