<P> On July 25, 2011, Dish Nation premiered in a limited test run in seven markets . With the help of Madeleine Smithberg, co-creator of The Daily Show, the show kicked off as a fast - paced entertainment roundtable covering pop culture and celebrity news through four radio teams . The test show ran in the home markets where the radio shows were based (New York, Atlanta, Detroit and Los Angeles), as well as in Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Phoenix . Hosts for the test run included WPLJ's Scott Shannon and Todd Pettengill, WHTA's nationally syndicated Rickey Smiley Morning Show, featuring Ebony Steele, Gary With Da Tea, and HeadKrack, as well as WDVD's Fowler and Martinek . Recording artist DJ Felli Fel and Jessi Malay, with comedian Michael Bachmann, were the show's Los Angeles hosts . </P> <P> Dish Nation averaged a modest 0.9 rating / 2 share for the six - week test, but Fox saw promising growth . The show experienced an 11% increase in household ratings from the premiere week to the end of the six - week test . </P> <P> Dish Nation experienced other standout ratings successes, beating David Letterman in Atlanta and frequently coming in third in key demos and household ratings, although with the caveat that Atlanta's CBS affiliate is one of that network's weakest affiliate stations . The show's median age of viewers was 43.1, the lowest among all entertainment magazine shows, according to Twentieth (TMZ 43.7, Access Hollywood 52.3, Extra 54.2, The Insider 55.2, Entertainment Tonight 56.6, Inside Edition 58). However, the show hasn't been always successful, and has been canceled in the Houston and Austin markets . </P> <P> Prior to the 2012 NATPE conference, 20th Century Fox announced that Dish Nation would return for a 52 - week,, full series run to premiere September 10, 2012 . After the rating success of its first 100 episodes, Twentieth Television announced on January 25, 2013 that Dish Nation had been picked up for an unprecedented Season Two . Viewers "are constantly sharing with their friends that Dish Nation is the funniest show on television, resulting in new eyeballs watching the show and contributing to the continued upward trajectory of the ratings," said Stephen Brown, EVP of programming and development at 20th Television . </P>

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