NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jim Belushi is heading to New Orleans this month to celebrate Mardi Gras and ride in the glitzy Orpheus parade founded in 1993 by Harry Connick Jr.

After a long and painful summer that saw only a handful of new scripted series due to the writers' strike, the fall TV season is finally here. Hallelujah.

Two weeks ago, nerds, geeks, and those "just going to San Diego for the weekend to check out the beaches" poured into Comic-Con 2008 in all their "Babylon 5"-clad glory.

Viewers can expect more from the mind of comedian Carlos Mencia as Comedy Central has ordered a fourth season of the weekly hit, "Mind of Mencia." The fourth season will premiere in the spring of '08.

Just in time to liven up the dog days of summer, "Mind of Mencia" returns with eight new episodes and gives television audiences what they've been waiting for -- Carlos Mencia's unique point of view of the world! An all-new season of Comedy Central's hit series, "Mind of Mencia" premieres on Sunday, July 8 at 10:00 p.m.

Celebrate "Mencia de Mayo" on Comedy Central beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, with a rewind of the newest Mind of Mencia episodes followed by "Comedy Central Presents: Carlos Mencia" at 12:30 a.m. and cap-off your evening with a doubleserving of "Carlos Mencia: No Strings Attached" at 1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m.

Nominations for the 13th Annual NAMIC Vision Awards were announced today by the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC). A record number 37 networks received nominations for the only entertainment industry award honoring outstanding achievements in original, multi-ethnic cable programming.

Jimmy Kimmel Live, which airs every weeknight (12:05-1:05 a.m., ET), features a diverse lineup of guests that includes celebrities, athletes, musical acts, comedians, human interest subjects and dangerously crazy people -- along with comedy bits and a house band.

Comedy Central has ordered a third season of the weekly hit, Mind of Mencia. The next season of the series, which is executive produced and created by Carlos Mencia and Emmy Award-winning Robert Morton, will premiere in the first quarter of 2007 and consist of 16 episodes.

Bob Saget's spoof Farce Of The Penguins has begun to attract major talent in the starring voiceover roles as well as a veritable Who's Who of comedy in its many cameos. Samuel L. Jackson has been signed to narrate the picture. Lewis Black, Mo'Nique, and Tracy Morgan will voice the three lead penguins along with writer/director Saget, who will play the lovelorn main character.