U.S. cable network Comedy Central says it has ordered eight episodes of "Sports Show with Norm MacDonald," a scripted series to start airing in April.

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The show is being executive produced by MacDonald, a former "Saturday Night Live" cast member, as well as Marc Gurvitz, Lori Jo Hoekstra and Jackhole's Daniel Kellison. It is to be taped in front of a live studio audience beginning this month and will cover a wide variety of sports, both popular and obscure, the network said.

"Norm has the uncanny ability to say what I didn't even realize I was thinking," Kent Alterman, Comedy Central's head of original programming and production, said in a statement Thursday.

"I'm excited and look forward to doing this series," added MacDonald. "On this show, we plan to put the 'central' back in 'Comedy Central.'"