Comedy Central this week announced it has extended contracts for two of its newest hot properties, "The Colbert Report" and "Mind of Mencia".

Originally slated for an 8-week trial run, "The Colbert Report" has been picked up through 2006, after only two weeks on-air. A spin-off of the network's highly-rated "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," the show has averaged 1.2 million viewers a night, and is retaining 86% of the lead-in audience from "The Daily Show...," which airs just prior to it.

Stephen Colbert, for those not familiar with the show, provided some of the wittiest and humorous commentary during the past Presidential campaign. His popular segments on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" made him a natural for a show of his own.

"I want to thank Comedy Central for picking up the show, but more importantly I want to congratulate Comedy Central for picking up the show," said Colbert. "This says really good things about you guys. You clearly 'get it.' Bravo, Comedy Central. Bravo."

"The Colbert Report" is the first project developed under Comedy Central's first-look agreement with Jon Stewart's Busboy Productions, Inc. The show regularly airs Monday-Thursday at 11:30 p.m, with repeats at multiple times throughout the following day.

Also proving popular in its freshman season is the series "Mind of Mencia," starring comedian Carlos Mencia. The network has been so impressed with the ratings, that it not only has signed an order for a second season of 13 more episodes, it has also signed the provocative comic to a multi-faceted deal that includes more than just the series.

Under the contract, Mencia will shoot a one-hour stand-up special for the network. In addition, he will host a major, live-performance tour in over 30 markets across the country in 2006.

The network also has plans to release season one of "Mind of Mencia" on dvd in an uncensored version that will include deleted scenes, outtakes, and never-before-seen backstage "diary" footage.

For more information on "The Colbert Report," "Mind of Mencia," or any other Comedy Central programming, please visit www.comedycentral.com.