“We’re making incredible strides,” “Grey’s Anatomy” star Jesse Williams told the crowd Thursday night at the Hrts Foundation Gala at the Beverly Hilton.
Williams spoke about the progress he sees on diversity, equity and inclusion issues in Hollywood during a a 15-minute Q&a with Odetta Watkins, president of the Hollywood Radio and Television Society and head of drama series for Amazon MGM Studios, held as part of the organization’s annual fundraiser. Williams, who was nominated for a Tony Award in 2022 for “Take Me Out,” was feted by Hrts for his work as an actor, director, producer and activist.
“There’s been a letting in of new voices — a widening of the bottleneck,” Williams told Watkins, adding that creatives from under-represented backgrounds have gained authority and authorship of their stories. “We’re not tokenized,” he said. He also cautioned the industry and actors, writers and directors of color...
Williams spoke about the progress he sees on diversity, equity and inclusion issues in Hollywood during a a 15-minute Q&a with Odetta Watkins, president of the Hollywood Radio and Television Society and head of drama series for Amazon MGM Studios, held as part of the organization’s annual fundraiser. Williams, who was nominated for a Tony Award in 2022 for “Take Me Out,” was feted by Hrts for his work as an actor, director, producer and activist.
“There’s been a letting in of new voices — a widening of the bottleneck,” Williams told Watkins, adding that creatives from under-represented backgrounds have gained authority and authorship of their stories. “We’re not tokenized,” he said. He also cautioned the industry and actors, writers and directors of color...
- 12/15/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
The Hollywood Radio and Television Society is honoring former Grey’s Anatomy star Jesse Williams.
Williams will be feted with the inaugural Hrts Change Maker Award during a gala event December 14 at the Beverly Hilton, where he will join Hrts Board President, Hrts Foundation Board Member and Head of Drama Series, Amazon Studios, Odetta Watkins for an onstage conversation about his career and activism.
The event will be hosted by Matt Friend.
Williams recently appeared in Paramount’s Secret Headquarters with Owen Wilson, Netflix’s Your Place or Mine with Reese Witherspoon, and Season 3 of Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building with Meryl Streep, Martin Short, Steve Martin, Paul Rudd and Selena Gomez.
Williams operates multimedia company Visibility, co-founded with artist Glenn Kaino, all while connecting students to more than $100 million in scholarship money via college scholarship app Scholly, where he is both a company partner and ambassador. He is...
Williams will be feted with the inaugural Hrts Change Maker Award during a gala event December 14 at the Beverly Hilton, where he will join Hrts Board President, Hrts Foundation Board Member and Head of Drama Series, Amazon Studios, Odetta Watkins for an onstage conversation about his career and activism.
The event will be hosted by Matt Friend.
Williams recently appeared in Paramount’s Secret Headquarters with Owen Wilson, Netflix’s Your Place or Mine with Reese Witherspoon, and Season 3 of Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building with Meryl Streep, Martin Short, Steve Martin, Paul Rudd and Selena Gomez.
Williams operates multimedia company Visibility, co-founded with artist Glenn Kaino, all while connecting students to more than $100 million in scholarship money via college scholarship app Scholly, where he is both a company partner and ambassador. He is...
- 12/13/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
The Hollywood Radio and Television Society has elected 12 new board members and six new advisory council members, and extended CEO Melissa Grego’s contract through 2025, the organization announced Wednesday.
Newly elected to the Hrts Board of Directors for a three-year term beginning in July 2023 are: Kathryn Busby; Ben Davis; Jaime Feld; David Eilenberg (Head of Content – Roku Media); Frank Jung (Co-Founder/Co-head of Digital Media – CAA); Lisa Katz (President, Scripted Content – NBCUniversal); Tim McNeal (Senior Vice President, Creative Talent Development & Inclusion, Disney Television Studios – Disney Entertainment); DJ Nurre (Executive Vice President – Unscripted, Endemol Shine North America); Brett Paul (President, Warner Bros Television – Warner Bros Discovery); Rhonda Price (Managing Partner – The Gersh Agency); Lauren Stein (EVP Drama Development – Sony Pictures Television) and Erin Underhill (President, Universal Television).
Existing board members elected to a new three-year term beginning July 2023 are Kate Adler (EVP,...
Newly elected to the Hrts Board of Directors for a three-year term beginning in July 2023 are: Kathryn Busby; Ben Davis; Jaime Feld; David Eilenberg (Head of Content – Roku Media); Frank Jung (Co-Founder/Co-head of Digital Media – CAA); Lisa Katz (President, Scripted Content – NBCUniversal); Tim McNeal (Senior Vice President, Creative Talent Development & Inclusion, Disney Television Studios – Disney Entertainment); DJ Nurre (Executive Vice President – Unscripted, Endemol Shine North America); Brett Paul (President, Warner Bros Television – Warner Bros Discovery); Rhonda Price (Managing Partner – The Gersh Agency); Lauren Stein (EVP Drama Development – Sony Pictures Television) and Erin Underhill (President, Universal Television).
Existing board members elected to a new three-year term beginning July 2023 are Kate Adler (EVP,...
- 7/19/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Melissa Grego, a former Variety reporter who brought new energy to the Hollywood Radio and Television Society as CEO and helped expand its membership base to the largest in its 76 year history, has extended her contract with the organization to 2025. The news comes as the Hrts, which provides programming, fellowship and other support for executives, aspiring industry leaders and others across the business, has announced a newly elected group of board members and advisory council members.
The news was announced on Wednesday by Hrts president Odetta Watkins — whose day job is serving as head of drama series at Amazon Studios — and Grego. Grego, whose previous work as a journalist also included overseeing the TV trade Broadcasting & Cable as its editor, joined Hrts in 2017 and immediately began collaborating with its board to grow the org’s various programs and create some new ones.
That included the launch last year of the charitable Hrts Foundation,...
The news was announced on Wednesday by Hrts president Odetta Watkins — whose day job is serving as head of drama series at Amazon Studios — and Grego. Grego, whose previous work as a journalist also included overseeing the TV trade Broadcasting & Cable as its editor, joined Hrts in 2017 and immediately began collaborating with its board to grow the org’s various programs and create some new ones.
That included the launch last year of the charitable Hrts Foundation,...
- 7/19/2023
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
“Citadel” cost Amazon a ton of money to make. Perhaps if Prime Studios had only commissioned one cut of the Priyanka Chopra Jonas spy thriller…
Tucked into a Wednesday Bloomberg story was the backstory of how “Citadel” came to be one of the most expensive series in TV history, with a price tag north of $250 million for one season.
Amazon ended up with two different cuts of “Citadel” Season 1, per Bloomberg, one from O.G. writers Josh Appelbaum and Bryan Oh and another semi-secret one from Joe and Anthony Russo. What you see on the service is an expanded version of the latter, a costly decision that blew the show’s budget out of the water.
An Amazon Studios spokesperson did not immediately respond to IndieWire’s request for comment on the Bloomberg story.
Appelbaum and Oh originally developed a series about dueling spy rings that fit a vision from Amazon Studios chief Jen Salke,...
Tucked into a Wednesday Bloomberg story was the backstory of how “Citadel” came to be one of the most expensive series in TV history, with a price tag north of $250 million for one season.
Amazon ended up with two different cuts of “Citadel” Season 1, per Bloomberg, one from O.G. writers Josh Appelbaum and Bryan Oh and another semi-secret one from Joe and Anthony Russo. What you see on the service is an expanded version of the latter, a costly decision that blew the show’s budget out of the water.
An Amazon Studios spokesperson did not immediately respond to IndieWire’s request for comment on the Bloomberg story.
Appelbaum and Oh originally developed a series about dueling spy rings that fit a vision from Amazon Studios chief Jen Salke,...
- 7/5/2023
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Prime Video thought it had another bona fide hit on its hands with “Citadel,” the spy-thriller series starring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. The show drove big viewership numbers early on, garnering a bigger audience for its premiere episode than any Prime Video series in history besides “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.”
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But in the weeks following the show’s premiere, it has not cracked Nielsen’s top 10 streaming charts. Despite a falling off in the ratings, Amazon is still planning to develop the series into an international streaming franchise. Speaking at the 2023 Banff Media Festival, Amazon Studio’s Head of Drama Series Odetta Watkins said the show’s performance was a “victory,” and that it needed more time to spread its wings.
“I think [‘Citadel’] was conceived to be able to speak to the world and it has,” Watkins said.
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But in the weeks following the show’s premiere, it has not cracked Nielsen’s top 10 streaming charts. Despite a falling off in the ratings, Amazon is still planning to develop the series into an international streaming franchise. Speaking at the 2023 Banff Media Festival, Amazon Studio’s Head of Drama Series Odetta Watkins said the show’s performance was a “victory,” and that it needed more time to spread its wings.
“I think [‘Citadel’] was conceived to be able to speak to the world and it has,” Watkins said.
- 6/13/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
As the major streamers tighten their belts amid a threatening recessionary climate and a new focus on profitability, major TV makers got down to talking about more cost-effective programming at the Banff Media World Festival on its opening day.
“How do we play it safe, while still keeping unique points of view on the production side? I guess budgets matter again, in using dollars,” Juan Ponce, senior vp and general manager at Telemundo Streaming Studios, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, told a panel on industry trends.
TV business execs noted demand for content worldwide was still growing as the industry comes through pandemic-related disruption and changes and a racial reckoning and is now beset by the WGA strike and threat of an actors strike in Hollywood.
“For me, I’ve got clients who were on a strong growth trajectory and their forecast has halved this year. Some scripted producers have been hit very hard,...
“How do we play it safe, while still keeping unique points of view on the production side? I guess budgets matter again, in using dollars,” Juan Ponce, senior vp and general manager at Telemundo Streaming Studios, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, told a panel on industry trends.
TV business execs noted demand for content worldwide was still growing as the industry comes through pandemic-related disruption and changes and a racial reckoning and is now beset by the WGA strike and threat of an actors strike in Hollywood.
“For me, I’ve got clients who were on a strong growth trajectory and their forecast has halved this year. Some scripted producers have been hit very hard,...
- 6/12/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Citadel, the big-budget drama starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden, was designed as a global franchise with a U.S. series and planned spinoffs set in countries including Italy and Mexico.
A few days after its launch in April, Amazon Studios boss Jennifer Salke said it “attracted one of the largest global audiences in the history of Prime Video”.
But the show failed to make the recent Nielsen streaming charts since its launch.
Odetta Watkins, Head of Drama Series, Amazon Studios, backed up the show’s performance, calling it a “victory” for the streamer and revealed that the company has plans to develop similar global franchises, in other genres including YA and mystery.
Speaking on a panel at the Banff Media Festival, Watkins, “I think the show was conceived to be able to speak to the world and it has. Every show is not going to hit in every place on the same level.
A few days after its launch in April, Amazon Studios boss Jennifer Salke said it “attracted one of the largest global audiences in the history of Prime Video”.
But the show failed to make the recent Nielsen streaming charts since its launch.
Odetta Watkins, Head of Drama Series, Amazon Studios, backed up the show’s performance, calling it a “victory” for the streamer and revealed that the company has plans to develop similar global franchises, in other genres including YA and mystery.
Speaking on a panel at the Banff Media Festival, Watkins, “I think the show was conceived to be able to speak to the world and it has. Every show is not going to hit in every place on the same level.
- 6/12/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon Studios’ head of drama series Odetta Watkins says big-budget drama “Citadel,” which has yet to crack Nielsen’s weekly streaming rankings, still “needs time to grow” with “very jaded” U.S. audiences.
The exec was speaking at the Banff World Media Festival in Alberta, Canada, on Sunday, where the global-facing “Citadel” was discussed during an international media leaders panel, moderated by The Ankler’s Elaine Low.
In response to a question from Variety about “Citadel’s” sluggish domestic performance but strong showing overseas — and whether that matters to Prime Video — Watkins said: “I can tell you from a creative perspective, for me, it’s a victory, because the show was conceived to be able to speak to the world.”
Watkins allowed that “every show is not going to hit in every place on the same level, but as the franchise grows, I feel like the numbers will grow all over,...
The exec was speaking at the Banff World Media Festival in Alberta, Canada, on Sunday, where the global-facing “Citadel” was discussed during an international media leaders panel, moderated by The Ankler’s Elaine Low.
In response to a question from Variety about “Citadel’s” sluggish domestic performance but strong showing overseas — and whether that matters to Prime Video — Watkins said: “I can tell you from a creative perspective, for me, it’s a victory, because the show was conceived to be able to speak to the world.”
Watkins allowed that “every show is not going to hit in every place on the same level, but as the franchise grows, I feel like the numbers will grow all over,...
- 6/12/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
The WGA East’s second Showrunner Academy gets underway today, with the 31-member class taking part in a program designed to support television writer-producers, upper-level writers and new show creators in honing the skills necessary to become successful showrunners and TV industry leaders.
The Academy, which provides instruction from current showrunners and other industry professionals on a wide range of topics, is led by Diana Son and Frank Pugliese.
“Being a showrunner is so much more than being the creative voice of the show,” Son said in a statement. “It’s also managing a multimillion-dollar endeavor with over 100 employees. We’re bringing in accomplished and experienced showrunners who’re willing to share the breadth of their experience – the good, bad and the ugly – so new showrunners can have a head start on figuring out what kind of showrunner they’re going to be.
The Academy, which provides instruction from current showrunners and other industry professionals on a wide range of topics, is led by Diana Son and Frank Pugliese.
“Being a showrunner is so much more than being the creative voice of the show,” Son said in a statement. “It’s also managing a multimillion-dollar endeavor with over 100 employees. We’re bringing in accomplished and experienced showrunners who’re willing to share the breadth of their experience – the good, bad and the ugly – so new showrunners can have a head start on figuring out what kind of showrunner they’re going to be.
- 9/14/2022
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon Studios Reorg: Albert Cheng Becomes Full-Time COO, Vernon Sanders Now Solo Head Of Television
Exclusive: Amazon Studios’ longtime Chief Operating Officer Albert Cheng, who also has served as Co-Head of Television for the last three and a half years, will focus solely on his duties as COO going forward, with Co-Head of Television Vernon Sanders becoming Head of US/Global Television at Amazon Studios. The announcement was made this morning by Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios, in a companywide memo obtained by Deadline.
In the note Salke, stressing Amazon Studios’ commitment to being “inclusive home for talent”, revealed that the company’s content in 2022 is targeted to grow more than 70% year over year, with more than twice as many local Originals in 2022 vs 2021, and spoke of Amazon Studios’ planned expansion into new countries in Europe, Africa and South East Asia.
“With our next phase of growth ahead, it’s time for us to have a dedicated Chief Operating Officer, focusing completely on all...
In the note Salke, stressing Amazon Studios’ commitment to being “inclusive home for talent”, revealed that the company’s content in 2022 is targeted to grow more than 70% year over year, with more than twice as many local Originals in 2022 vs 2021, and spoke of Amazon Studios’ planned expansion into new countries in Europe, Africa and South East Asia.
“With our next phase of growth ahead, it’s time for us to have a dedicated Chief Operating Officer, focusing completely on all...
- 10/11/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Odetta Watkins has been hired by Amazon for the newly created role of head of drama series, the streamer announced Wednesday.
In her new role, Watkins will report to Laura Lancaster, head of series for Amazon Studios. She will help shepherd a drama slate that currently includes shows like “Jack Ryan,” “The Wilds,” and “Hunters.”
“Odetta is a powerhouse at what she does – with a proven track record of recognizing and shepherding global hits, we are incredibly proud to have her join Amazon Studios,” said Lancaster. “Her leadership and creative sensibilities are invaluable as we look to continue to break boundaries and tell nuanced and entertaining stories.”
Watkins most recently worked at Warner Bros. Television. She first joined the studio in 2002 as director of current programs, rising to the rank of executive vice president of current programs, cable & streaming. She worked on the day to day logistics of shows like...
In her new role, Watkins will report to Laura Lancaster, head of series for Amazon Studios. She will help shepherd a drama slate that currently includes shows like “Jack Ryan,” “The Wilds,” and “Hunters.”
“Odetta is a powerhouse at what she does – with a proven track record of recognizing and shepherding global hits, we are incredibly proud to have her join Amazon Studios,” said Lancaster. “Her leadership and creative sensibilities are invaluable as we look to continue to break boundaries and tell nuanced and entertaining stories.”
Watkins most recently worked at Warner Bros. Television. She first joined the studio in 2002 as director of current programs, rising to the rank of executive vice president of current programs, cable & streaming. She worked on the day to day logistics of shows like...
- 10/6/2021
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Odetta Watkins is exiting Warner Bros Television to join Amazon Studios as Head of Drama Series.
Watkins, who was most recently EVP Current Programs, Cable & Streaming, is leaving the Hollywood studio after 19 years, having joined in 2002 as Director of Current Programs.
In her newly created role she will report to Laura Lancaster, Head of Series for Amazon Studios, and will shepherd ongoing current series for the streamer including Amazon Originals Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, The Wilds and Hunters.
It comes after Amazon Studios restructured and streamlined its programming operations earlier this year with Marc Resteghini becoming US/Global Head of Development and Lancaster joining to lead a department that oversees its returning shows.
Kara Smith remains Head of Drama on the development side, reporting to Resteghini.
Watkins’ departure comes after a number of changes at Warner Bros Television. Channing Dungey, who took over as chairman of Warner Bros Television Group,...
Watkins, who was most recently EVP Current Programs, Cable & Streaming, is leaving the Hollywood studio after 19 years, having joined in 2002 as Director of Current Programs.
In her newly created role she will report to Laura Lancaster, Head of Series for Amazon Studios, and will shepherd ongoing current series for the streamer including Amazon Originals Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, The Wilds and Hunters.
It comes after Amazon Studios restructured and streamlined its programming operations earlier this year with Marc Resteghini becoming US/Global Head of Development and Lancaster joining to lead a department that oversees its returning shows.
Kara Smith remains Head of Drama on the development side, reporting to Resteghini.
Watkins’ departure comes after a number of changes at Warner Bros Television. Channing Dungey, who took over as chairman of Warner Bros Television Group,...
- 10/6/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon continues to bolster its executive ranks.
The retail giant/streamer has recruited former Warner Bros. TV exec vp current Odetta Watkins for the newly created role of head of drama series, though her focus will be on current programming and not the development side.
Watkins, who segues to Amazon following an impressive 19-year run at Warners, will oversee ongoing current series including Jack Ryan, The Wilds and Hunters. She will report to Laura Lancaster, who joined Amazon in February from Alacon to serve as head of series (current programming).
The addition of Watkins should be seen as a way for Amazon ...
The retail giant/streamer has recruited former Warner Bros. TV exec vp current Odetta Watkins for the newly created role of head of drama series, though her focus will be on current programming and not the development side.
Watkins, who segues to Amazon following an impressive 19-year run at Warners, will oversee ongoing current series including Jack Ryan, The Wilds and Hunters. She will report to Laura Lancaster, who joined Amazon in February from Alacon to serve as head of series (current programming).
The addition of Watkins should be seen as a way for Amazon ...
- 10/6/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Amazon continues to bolster its executive ranks.
The retail giant/streamer has recruited former Warner Bros. TV exec vp current Odetta Watkins for the newly created role of head of drama series, though her focus will be on current programming and not the development side.
Watkins, who segues to Amazon following an impressive 19-year run at Warners, will oversee ongoing current series including Jack Ryan, The Wilds and Hunters. She will report to Laura Lancaster, who joined Amazon in February from Alacon to serve as head of series (current programming).
The addition of Watkins should be seen as a way for Amazon ...
The retail giant/streamer has recruited former Warner Bros. TV exec vp current Odetta Watkins for the newly created role of head of drama series, though her focus will be on current programming and not the development side.
Watkins, who segues to Amazon following an impressive 19-year run at Warners, will oversee ongoing current series including Jack Ryan, The Wilds and Hunters. She will report to Laura Lancaster, who joined Amazon in February from Alacon to serve as head of series (current programming).
The addition of Watkins should be seen as a way for Amazon ...
- 10/6/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Vicki Dummer has been hired at Warner Bros. Television to serve as executive vice president and head of current programming.
Dummer will report to Wbtv Group Chairman Channing Dungey, with whom she previously worked during their respective tenures at ABC. Dummer was a 24 year veteran at ABC, most recently working head of current series programming. She was laid off back in December following a major reorganization of the Disney TV Group.
“I’m thrilled to have Vicki joining us here at Warner Bros. Television to lead our exceptional current programming team,” Dungey said. In our time together at ABC, I found Vicki to be a truly insightful and collaborative creative executive who works incredibly well with talent. She has played a pivotal role in managing some of the most successful, long-running series of the last two decades. We are excited to have the benefit of her expertise at what is...
Dummer will report to Wbtv Group Chairman Channing Dungey, with whom she previously worked during their respective tenures at ABC. Dummer was a 24 year veteran at ABC, most recently working head of current series programming. She was laid off back in December following a major reorganization of the Disney TV Group.
“I’m thrilled to have Vicki joining us here at Warner Bros. Television to lead our exceptional current programming team,” Dungey said. In our time together at ABC, I found Vicki to be a truly insightful and collaborative creative executive who works incredibly well with talent. She has played a pivotal role in managing some of the most successful, long-running series of the last two decades. We are excited to have the benefit of her expertise at what is...
- 7/26/2021
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Warner Bros. Television has hired former ABC exec Vicki Dummer as EVP & head of current series programming as part of a restructure of its team.
It marks a reunion between Dummer, who was previously head of current series programming at ABC Entertainment, and Channing Dungey, who is now Chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group. The pair previously worked together at the Disney-owned broadcast network.
Dummer left ABC in December after 24 years as part of the company’s consolidation that saw Craig Erwich take over original content for ABC and Hulu and Karey Burke take over 20th Television and Touchstone TV.
She will have a broad overview of current with Odetta Watkins, Rachel Filippelli, and Kelly Goode set as senior leaders of the department, reporting to Dummer.
Maddy Horne, who previously supervised current across broadcast network series, retired earlier this month.
The studio had previously split the current duties between broadcast,...
It marks a reunion between Dummer, who was previously head of current series programming at ABC Entertainment, and Channing Dungey, who is now Chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group. The pair previously worked together at the Disney-owned broadcast network.
Dummer left ABC in December after 24 years as part of the company’s consolidation that saw Craig Erwich take over original content for ABC and Hulu and Karey Burke take over 20th Television and Touchstone TV.
She will have a broad overview of current with Odetta Watkins, Rachel Filippelli, and Kelly Goode set as senior leaders of the department, reporting to Dummer.
Maddy Horne, who previously supervised current across broadcast network series, retired earlier this month.
The studio had previously split the current duties between broadcast,...
- 7/26/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Channing Dungey has hired Vicki Dummer, one of her former top lieutenants at ABC, as head of current programming for Warner Bros. Television Group.
In her new role, Dummer will be responsible for managing creative affairs for all current scripted series produced by Wbtv across all platforms, including HBO Max, external streaming services, premium and basic cable channels, and the five U.S. broadcast networks. Dummer will also supervise Wbtv’s newly structured current programming team, with Odetta Watkins, Rachel Filippelli, and Kelly Goode serving as senior leaders of the department, reporting to Dummer.
Dummer was previously head of current series programming for ABC Entertainment; Dungey served as president of ABC Entertainment from 2016 to 2018.
“I’m thrilled to have Vicki joining us here at Warner Bros. Television to lead our exceptional current programming team. In our time together at ABC, I found Vicki to be a truly insightful and collaborative...
In her new role, Dummer will be responsible for managing creative affairs for all current scripted series produced by Wbtv across all platforms, including HBO Max, external streaming services, premium and basic cable channels, and the five U.S. broadcast networks. Dummer will also supervise Wbtv’s newly structured current programming team, with Odetta Watkins, Rachel Filippelli, and Kelly Goode serving as senior leaders of the department, reporting to Dummer.
Dummer was previously head of current series programming for ABC Entertainment; Dungey served as president of ABC Entertainment from 2016 to 2018.
“I’m thrilled to have Vicki joining us here at Warner Bros. Television to lead our exceptional current programming team. In our time together at ABC, I found Vicki to be a truly insightful and collaborative...
- 7/26/2021
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Melissa Grego’s three-year stint as the CEO of the Hollywood Radio and Television Society will continue on. Today, the Hrts announced that Grego’s role has been re-upped. The organization’s also released the names of its newly-elected Executive Officers and Board Members, and the industry leaders newly appointed to serve as Advisory Council members.
“It has been my great honor to work alongside Melissa Grego as President of Hrts over the past three years,” said outgoing Hrts President Marc Korman, in a statement. “Melissa joined Hrts with a shared vision to transform Hrts to support the membership and meet today’s challenges in the industry. I’m so proud of the work that we’ve done to make Hrts a community that is inclusive of all people working in TV and entertainment, and I look forward to continuing our efforts as a Board Member. Our newly-elected officers are...
“It has been my great honor to work alongside Melissa Grego as President of Hrts over the past three years,” said outgoing Hrts President Marc Korman, in a statement. “Melissa joined Hrts with a shared vision to transform Hrts to support the membership and meet today’s challenges in the industry. I’m so proud of the work that we’ve done to make Hrts a community that is inclusive of all people working in TV and entertainment, and I look forward to continuing our efforts as a Board Member. Our newly-elected officers are...
- 1/13/2021
- by Mónica Marie Zorrilla
- Variety Film + TV
Hollywood Radio and Television Society announced newly elected executive officers, board members and newly appointed advisory council members on Wednesday.
The organization, which bills itself as the “industry’s premier information and networking forum,” elected the following officers to two-year terms: Warner Bros. Television’s Odetta Watkins as president, UTA partner Dan Erlij as chairperson of the board, HBO Head of Drama Programming Francesca Orsi as vice president, Fox EVP Drama Programming Charlie Andrews as secretary and Exile Content CEO Alejandro Uribe as treasurer.
Hrts also announced Melissa Grego has reupped as CEO. Grego joined Hrts in 2017 and quickly made her mark, working with the Officers and Directors to grow the organization into a resource and community supporting every career level.
Grego, along with outgoing president and WME partner Marc Korman, created an advisory council tapping the expertise of long-serving board members; released its first Diversity and Inclusion Resource Guide,...
The organization, which bills itself as the “industry’s premier information and networking forum,” elected the following officers to two-year terms: Warner Bros. Television’s Odetta Watkins as president, UTA partner Dan Erlij as chairperson of the board, HBO Head of Drama Programming Francesca Orsi as vice president, Fox EVP Drama Programming Charlie Andrews as secretary and Exile Content CEO Alejandro Uribe as treasurer.
Hrts also announced Melissa Grego has reupped as CEO. Grego joined Hrts in 2017 and quickly made her mark, working with the Officers and Directors to grow the organization into a resource and community supporting every career level.
Grego, along with outgoing president and WME partner Marc Korman, created an advisory council tapping the expertise of long-serving board members; released its first Diversity and Inclusion Resource Guide,...
- 1/13/2021
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Amid the greater restructuring happening at AT&T-owned WarnerMedia, Warner Bros. Television Group is realigning its scripted and unscripted TV production operations, merging Warner Bros. Television and Warner Horizon Scripted TV to create a new division.
The scripted units will be led by WBTV presidents Susan Rovner and Brett Paul, while Warner Bros. unscripted and alternative TV president Mike Darnell will continue to lead unscripted as president of Warner Bros. Unscripted and Alternative Television.
Rovner and Paul will continue to lead the newly combined Wbtv together, overseeing all scripted programming and reporting to Wbtvg chairman Peter Roth; Rovner and Paul had previously headed both Wbtv and and Warner Horizon.
Clancy Collins White, most recently exec VP of drama development at Wbtv, has been promoted to a newly created position overseeing all day-to-day scripted program development for the new Wbtv division, reporting to Rovner.
Leigh London Redman, most recently exec VP...
The scripted units will be led by WBTV presidents Susan Rovner and Brett Paul, while Warner Bros. unscripted and alternative TV president Mike Darnell will continue to lead unscripted as president of Warner Bros. Unscripted and Alternative Television.
Rovner and Paul will continue to lead the newly combined Wbtv together, overseeing all scripted programming and reporting to Wbtvg chairman Peter Roth; Rovner and Paul had previously headed both Wbtv and and Warner Horizon.
Clancy Collins White, most recently exec VP of drama development at Wbtv, has been promoted to a newly created position overseeing all day-to-day scripted program development for the new Wbtv division, reporting to Rovner.
Leigh London Redman, most recently exec VP...
- 8/10/2020
- by Elaine Low
- Variety Film + TV
As part of the ongoing WarnerMedia restructuring, Warner Bros Television Group chairman Peter Roth is consolidating the studio’s scripted and unscripted television production operations. On the scripted side, Warner Bros Television and cable/streaming unit Warner Horizon Scripted TV are being merged into a new scripted division led by Warner Bros Television presidents Susan Rovner and Brett Paul. The duo, who previously served as Presidents of both Warner Bros TV and Warner Horizon Scripted TV, will continue overseeing all scripted programming, reporting to Roth.
The consolidation reverts Warner Bros TV to its original structure before cable and unscripted fare was given their own division with the 2006 launch of Warner Horizon.
Clancy Collins White has been elevated to a newly created position and will now have day-to-day oversight of all scripted program development for the new Warner Bros Television, reporting to Rovner. She previously served as EVP Drama Development at Warner Bros Television.
The consolidation reverts Warner Bros TV to its original structure before cable and unscripted fare was given their own division with the 2006 launch of Warner Horizon.
Clancy Collins White has been elevated to a newly created position and will now have day-to-day oversight of all scripted program development for the new Warner Bros Television, reporting to Rovner. She previously served as EVP Drama Development at Warner Bros Television.
- 8/10/2020
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
In the latest move to come out of WarnerMedia’s seismic restructuring that began last week, Warner Horizon will merge its scripted operations with Warner Bros. Television.
Both units have operated inside the Warner Bros. TV Group, which will continue to be led by Peter Roth. Warner Horizon focused exclusively on the cable and streaming marketplace, whereas Warner Bros. Television serviced those two, as well as broadcast. The new merged Warner Bros. Television will be led by presidents Susan Rovner and Brett Paul.
Mike Darnell, president of Warner Bros. unscripted and alternative division, will continue to lead Warner Horizon’s unscripted unit, along with Telepictures and Shed Media. While the three will continue to operate independently, physical production, business affairs and finance for all unscripted programming will now be consolidated in a new organizational structure servicing all three labels.
Also Read: Layoffs Begin at WarnerMedia After Major Reorganization
Warner Bros.
Both units have operated inside the Warner Bros. TV Group, which will continue to be led by Peter Roth. Warner Horizon focused exclusively on the cable and streaming marketplace, whereas Warner Bros. Television serviced those two, as well as broadcast. The new merged Warner Bros. Television will be led by presidents Susan Rovner and Brett Paul.
Mike Darnell, president of Warner Bros. unscripted and alternative division, will continue to lead Warner Horizon’s unscripted unit, along with Telepictures and Shed Media. While the three will continue to operate independently, physical production, business affairs and finance for all unscripted programming will now be consolidated in a new organizational structure servicing all three labels.
Also Read: Layoffs Begin at WarnerMedia After Major Reorganization
Warner Bros.
- 8/10/2020
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
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