Animated series comes from Cross, 'Home Movies' star

LOS ANGELES -- Comedy Central has ordered seven episodes of "Freak Show," an animated show about second-tier superheroes whose secret identities are as sideshow performers.

The show, created by "Arrested Development" star David Cross and H. Jon Benjamin ("Home Movies," "Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist") will premiere late this year or in early 2007. Benjamin and Cross will executive produce the show and provide voices for several characters.

"We've been chasing David and Jon for years and it was worth the wait," says Lauren Corrao, Comedy Central's head of original programming. "After one of the funniest pitches we heard all year, they have delivered a pilot that's high in concept and hilarity."

"Freak Show" will follow the adventures of the Freak Squad, superheroes who take on the missions the A-list heroes can't be bothered with. In their off time, the members of the team -- Siamese twins Tuck and Benny, the Bearded Clam, the World's Tallest Nebraskan, Primi, the Premature Baby, and Log Cabin Republican -- live their lives as performers in Bob and Helen Hartsdale's Funtyme Freak Show, America's last independently owned traveling sideshow.

The pilot finds the Squad embarking on a mission to a small island nation under U.S. embargo to retrieve a stash of the president's favorite nuts. They must use their powers to evade the island's evil dictator and secure the salty snacks.