'Cougar Town' creators to ABC: We'll promote it ourselves!

[Brian Damage]

Most ABC shows don’t have to launch and finance their own full-scale publicity tour, but then most shows aren’t like Cougar Town — the adults-only confection that has yet to earn a spot on the network’s midseason lineup.

Rather than sit around and wait for ABC to talk up the comedy, creators Bill Lawrence and Kevin Biegel have decided to shoulder the responsibility themselves. They’ve begun hosting nationwide screenings in hopes that fans will do what the network can’t — encourage more people to watch one of the most endearing (though ratings-challenged) shows on TV.

Having already made the rounds in Sarasota, Atlanta, Louisville and San Diego, Cougar Town on Friday treated 150 fans to free booze and two new episodes at the show’s home studio in Culver City, CA. Save for Busy Philipps — who was on her way to Chicago for another screening – the rest of the ensemble was there to share some laughs and riff on the new season.

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