Smallscreen News

SNL Andy Samberg wins CSO position for Discovery's Shark Week

By April MacIntyre Apr 20, 2011, 17:00 GMT

Andy Samberg - Nokia Theatre - Los Angeles, CA, USA © Bob Charlotte / PR Photos

The position of Chief Shark Officer has been filled by Discovery.

SNL star Andy Samberg won the position after a long and arduous process of blood typing, insurance verification and wetsuit fittings.

Discovery Channel today announced the appointment of its first ever Chief Shark Officer (CSO), Andy Samberg. 

As CSO, Samberg will host the network’s 24th annual Shark Week celebration, cable’s longest running programming event and the official mark of summer.  He will film on-air wraps for the weeklong event, host a Shark Week special and may even take the plunge and dive with the apex predators.

“Shark Week is a summertime celebration.  It’s about being scared out of your swim trunks but it’s also about being entertained and learning something new.  Andy Samberg, an comedian and innovator, is the perfect person to bring those elements together and represent Discovery for our biggest week of the year,” said Discovery Channel President and General Manager Clark Bunting.

Said Samberg: “I’m overjoyed about being appointed CSO.  Everyone loves Shark Week.  It’s the Bill Cosby of week-long television blocks dedicated to sea animals.”

Shark Week is a ratings apex predator in the summertime, and was watched by almost 31 million people last year, Discovery’s highest rated to date. 

The event has become a pop culture phenomenon.  In the immortal words of 30 Rock’s Tracy Morgan: “Live every week like it’s Shark Week.”
 
Samberg can also be seen this summer in Will Gluck’s Friends with Benefits opposite Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis and Mark Mylod’s What’s Your Number?  opposite Anna Faris this summer.

Samberg is currently in his sixth season as a cast member on Saturday Night Live.