American Greetings Announces Partnership with Comedy Central on New Greeting Cards

American Greetings Announces Partnership with Comedy Central on New Greeting Cards

Project Illustrates Company's Focus on Humor

CLEVELAND, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American Greetings Corporation (NYSE:AM) today announced a licensing partnership with Comedy Central that will bring the characters, antics and signature humor from some of the network's most popular shows to the greeting card aisle. The first products to launch include a line of seven "South Park" birthday and anytime cards. In addition to "South Park", the partnership also includes licenses for other hit Comedy Central shows, including "RENO 911!," "The Sarah Silverman Program," "Mind of Mencia" and "Lil' Bush."

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070913/CLTH023 )

"We take our funny card business very seriously because we recognize that many people connect with others through humor. Our partnership with Comedy Central is yet another example of our commitment to truly understand what consumers find funny so that we can be sure our products deliver on that," said Michael Brown, Vice President of Licensing for American Greetings. "Comedy Central is a destination for laughs for millions of people every day, and we're proud to be bringing the humor from some of the network's most recognizable shows to life in a new way."

In an effort to ensure the Company continues to create funny cards that resonate with consumers, the humor team at American Greetings conducted a six- month long research project to get to the root of what makes people laugh today. The findings revealed distinct differences in the way men and women use humor to communicate. As the result, American Greetings recently unveiled hundreds of new funny cards that appeal to a woman's sense of humor by highlighting the funny parts of everyday situations and experiences. The licensing agreement with Comedy Central, the #1 cable network in primetime among men 18-24 and men 18-34, allows the Company to create humorous cards that appeal to what men find funny, according to the research.

The new "South Park" cards from American Greetings are available in the funny card section at Target stores nationwide for $2.25. Cards featuring signature "South Park" sound bytes will debut at several retailers in January 2008, and more Comedy Central cards are scheduled to hit shelves this fall and throughout 2008 at American Greetings retailers nationwide.

About American Greetings Corporation

American Greetings Corporation (NYSE:AM) is one of the world's largest manufacturers of social expression products. Along with greeting cards, its product lines include gift wrap, party goods, stationery, calendars, ornaments and electronic greetings. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings generates annual net sales of approximately $1.7 billion. For more information, visit http://corporate.americangreetings.com/.

About Comedy Central

Comedy Central, television's only all-comedy network, is a 24-hour, advertiser-supported, basic cable comedy service available to over 91 million viewers nationwide and is the #1 network in primetime among men 18-24 and men 18-34 as well as a consistent Top Ten-rated network among all adults 18-49. With on-air, online and on-the-go mobile technology, Comedy Central gives its audience access to the cutting-edge, laugh-out-loud world of comedy wherever they go. Hit series include The Sarah Silverman Program, RENO 911!, The Colbert Report, Mind of Mencia and the Emmy(R) and Peabody(R) Award-winning series The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and South Park. Comedy Central is also involved in producing nationwide stand-up tours, boasts its own record label and operates one of the most successful home entertainment divisions in the industry. Comedy Central is owned by, and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.'s (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:and) (NYSE:VIA.B) MTV Networks. For more information visit Press Central, Comedy Central's press-only Web site, at www.comedycentral.com/press or the network's consumer site at www.comedycentral.com.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: megan.ferington@amgreetings.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070913/CLTH023
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN8

Source: American Greetings Corporation

CONTACT: Consumer Public Relations Department, +1-216-252-4938

Web site: http://www.americangreetings.com/
http://www.comedycentral.com/
http://corporate.americangreetings.com/
http://www.comedycentral.com/press

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Profile: International Entertainment