NEW YORK –
"Stark Raving Black," an hourlong Lewis Black comedy special, will air on Epix in December after screening in movie theaters in select markets.

The network -- a premium TV joint venture of Viacom, Lionsgate and MGM -- has said it plans to offer comedy, concert and other event-type programing in addition to movies and original TV shows, and the Black special is one of its first major programing selections.

Epix said the show will feature "cathartic rants on everything from the iPhone and growing older to lamenting his experience being forced to follow Country and Christian music's golden couple, Vince Gill and Amy Grant, at a benefit."

Filmed recently at the Fillmore Theater in Detroit, the comedy special will be released in the fall to movie theaters in 20 U.S. markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Detroit. It also will be released in 25 international markets.

The event will be available on Epix's TV and broadband platforms in December. After the show's Epix premiere, Black will interact with fans in the online Epix Event Theater on the network's Website.