MATT WALSH AND IAN ROBERTS STAR IN NEW SPIKE TV COMEDY PLAYERS

Spike TV expands its comedic slate with “Players,” a series created by and starring one of the founders of the acclaimed improvisational comedy troupe, the Upright Citizens Brigade, Matt Walsh. “Players” follows two brothers (Walsh and Ian Roberts) with conflicting personalities trying to run a successful sports bar. Spike TV’s new original half-hour comedy premieres Tuesday, March 2 at 10:30 PM, ET/PT.”Players” stars Walsh as Bruce Fitzgerald, a free-spirited, fun-loving, guy’s guy who is living out his fantasy of owning a sports bar that allows him to bet on games, drink for free and date the cocktail waitresses. His older, uptight brother, Ken (Ian Roberts), tries to keep the focus on turning a profit while avoiding lawsuits and health code violations. The series also features Krista (Danielle Schneider), the promiscuous waitress who has an affinity for B-list athletes and married men, Barb (June Diane Raphael), the insecure and neurotic waitress who falls in love with Bruce, Hickey (Jack McGee), a retired cop who got Bruce out of a gambling debt and was rewarded with a job where, instead of actually working, he spends most of his time bidding on sports memorabilia on eBay, and Calvin (James Pumphrey), the young, simple-minded bartender who lives in the store room and is an aspiring sports model who idolizes Bruce.

Spike.com will feature original video content and editorial from the off-beat comedic minds of the show’s stars Walsh and Roberts. The players.spike.com site will also include exclusive outtakes, cast bios and photos for each of the main characters. After the series premiere, fans will be able to catch sneak peek scenes leading into each week’s new episode and other episodic content.

Matt Walsh, Ian Roberts, Jay Martel, as well as Peter Principato, Paul Young, Tucker Voorhees and John Lynch of Devlin Entertainment serve as executive producers. Jason Woliner (“Human Giants,” “Parks and Recreation”), who directed the presentation and multiple episodes, serves as a co-executive producer. Walsh, a Chicago native, is a former “Daily Show” correspondent who was a founding member of the successful improv comedy troupe, Upright Citizens Brigade. Walsh has appeared in such popular comedy films as “The Hangover,” “Old School,” “Semi-Pro” and “Bad Santa.”