• by David Goetzl , December 20, 2007

ION has signed P&G to help promote the launch of newly acquired series "The Drew Carey Show."

The network will run a "Bring in the Drew Year with a Smile" promotion in conjunction with the Crest White Strips brand, starting Jan. 1.

Viewers will be able to vote for a favorite smile among the "Carey Show" cast on the ION Web site, and the winner will receive a trip for four to a place of their choice in the U.S. The effort is being billed as a "make you smile" venture.

ION will plug the promotion via on-air spots--particularly during a New Year's Eve, four-hour marathon to mark the show's debut on the network.

The series then becomes part of the regular lineup, airing Monday through Thursday with back-to-back prime-time episodes in the 9 p.m. hour.

The "Carey Show" ran from 1995 through 2004 on ABC. It has also had a strong run in syndication and on TBS.