PRESS RELEASE - JUNE 10th 1999 "THE CHIMP CHANNEL" COCOMPLAINT AGAINST -CREATOR TOM J. STERN FILES WARNER DOMESTIC PAY CABLE, TURNER BROADCASTING, TELESCOPIC PICTURES AND PRODUCER TONY SHIFF 34 year old Writer of contract /Director/Producer/Actor Tom J Stern will file a breach complaint today (Thursday June 10th) against Chimp Channel Producers Telescopic Pictures Pictures, Warner Brothers Domestic Pay Cable, , Palomar and Turner Broadcasting System when . Stern alleges his contract was breached he was suddenly terminated from the show he co-created with former writing are remarkable. On Monday /producing partner Tim Burns. The details March 8th. Stern reported to Shades of Light studios in Burbank California to direct the first episode of the The Chimp Channel, a weekly half hour comedy featuring an all chimpanzee cast set to premiere tonight on TBS. Unhappy with the creative direction of the show due to what he perceived as TBS's wrongheaded and overly cautious creative demands, Stern requested and was granted permission from production heads to make a mission statement speech on videotape. It was the day before commencement of principal photography- a camera and lighting test day with no cast present. Certain production executives had encouraged Stern to put on record the latter¹s reservations about the show direction i.e. TBS's edict as per the show's "content". With no prepared speech, Stern chose a form he's used in the past so-called "improv comedy monologue". The ensuing half hour monologue was a passionate plea for - the more creative freedom to make a quality satire, since Stern felt the show was at risk. "An overly safe, tepid comedy which airs after Professional Wrestling is doomed" said Stern. His outrageous mission statement included an intrepretive dance to the James Brown song "Say It Loud"- performed fully naked. After the performance Stern calmly tidied up, apologized to several crew and staff members for his admittedly shocking performance, and left the stage fully expecting to come in the next day for the start of principal photography. Unbeknownest to him, the news of his so called mission statement was swiftly relayed to Telescopic president Tony Shiff, who immediately sent it up the corporate chain of command. Within hours Stern received a hand delivered letter informing him that his services on The Chimp Channel were terminated completely - those services including co-exec producing, directing, co-head writing, and also performing the voice of the show¹s lead character Harry Waller Describing the reasons for his outrageous and fateful speech, Stern said "I was contracted to be the creative . director - visionary of the show, if you will, Then the Time Warner folks effectively disregarded my vision with their , the wrongheaded ultimatums." "That¹s why I call it the Stupidstation. Perhaps my brand of comedy is not fit for a Bible Belt channel like TBS but how many Christian family values are espoused on Professional Wrestling, which was our lead-in and , the top rated show on cable?" "I couldn¹t stand idly by and watch the show I was so passionate about be ruined by a corporate climate antithetical to the kind of good modern comedy we were asked to compete with- such as the Simpsons and South Park Writers have always been screwed in Hollywood, but now corporate control of entertainment is making the . destruction of art even more efficient." "Well here¹s the bottom line: the show sucks out loud and symbolizes everything that¹s wrong with corporate America." Stern was initially represented in this matter by Michael Sherman Esq. at the Century City law firm Jeffer Butler Mangles & Marmaro but has now retained LA attorney David Wall Esq. to represent him in this lawsuit. Last year in downtown LA Superior Court Wall won a similar case for Audrey Lewis, an African American filmmaker in LA who was awarded a 1.2 million dollar jury verdict against a similarly unscrupulous production company. "Tom took all the good quotes" commented Wall*. Stern can be reached through Mr. Wall at (213) 629-****. *real quote to come...