Universal Television’s top comedy development executives said business is thriving with EVP Jim Donnelly calling the moment “oddly busy.”
“The world is crazy right now and people love the comfort of comedy. And post-strike, everybody really wants to work … We have five new series in development that we’re excited about. We have a pilot for NBC,” he told a panel at SXSW, where NBCU’s Hacks will premiere Episode 3 here tomorrow ahead of its debut on Max in May.
“I feel like we need comedy more than ever.”
He was joined by colleagues Megan Macmillan and Beth Miyares, both SVPs for Comedy Development. The team is behind successful and anticipated television comedies Never Have I Ever, Girls5eva, Harlem, Bupkis, A Clasic Spy, St. Denis Medical and The Four Seasons.
Of course challenges there are. The explosion of streamers changed some of television’s fundamentals and that’s been...
“The world is crazy right now and people love the comfort of comedy. And post-strike, everybody really wants to work … We have five new series in development that we’re excited about. We have a pilot for NBC,” he told a panel at SXSW, where NBCU’s Hacks will premiere Episode 3 here tomorrow ahead of its debut on Max in May.
“I feel like we need comedy more than ever.”
He was joined by colleagues Megan Macmillan and Beth Miyares, both SVPs for Comedy Development. The team is behind successful and anticipated television comedies Never Have I Ever, Girls5eva, Harlem, Bupkis, A Clasic Spy, St. Denis Medical and The Four Seasons.
Of course challenges there are. The explosion of streamers changed some of television’s fundamentals and that’s been...
- 3/8/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
The ninth annual SeriesFest, an annual television-centric event held in Denver, kicks off Friday with a slightly abbreviated schedule in light of the writers strike. Per WGA rules, writers are not allowed to make “promotional appearances” at film festivals or at “For Your Consideration” Emmy events. Already, a number of FYC showcases have either been canceled, or continued on but with just a screening, no panel, due to the strike.
SeriesFest becomes the first festival to be impacted by the strike. This year’s event takes place from May 5 to May 10, which now happens to coincide with the early days of the strike. As a result, showrunners have opted out of a handful of panels, while screenings of many new and returning shows will now take place without talent/showrunner Q&As. It could be an early peak at the pivot that may have to take place with other upcoming festivals,...
SeriesFest becomes the first festival to be impacted by the strike. This year’s event takes place from May 5 to May 10, which now happens to coincide with the early days of the strike. As a result, showrunners have opted out of a handful of panels, while screenings of many new and returning shows will now take place without talent/showrunner Q&As. It could be an early peak at the pivot that may have to take place with other upcoming festivals,...
- 5/5/2023
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: As Trevor Noah puts The Daily Show behind him, his production company has made a number of executive changes on the television side.
Noah’s Day Zero Productions has hired Chloe Ifshin as VP of Scripted Television and Eugene Han as Head of Unscripted Development.
It comes after the departures of Devon Quinn and Ashley Dizon and as its television slate is ramping up with projects such as The Turning Point for MSNBC, For All Humankind for Discovery+, and Kid of the Year for Nickelodeon.
The company is also developing a scripted series adaptation of Kiese Laymon’s novel Long Division.
Quinn, a former Marvel TV exec, was previously SVP, Television, overseeing live-action and animated TV development and production. Deadline understands that he has joined Amazon and is believed to be working on global spy drama Citadel.
Dizon was formerly VP, Development at the company. She is joining Universal Television...
Noah’s Day Zero Productions has hired Chloe Ifshin as VP of Scripted Television and Eugene Han as Head of Unscripted Development.
It comes after the departures of Devon Quinn and Ashley Dizon and as its television slate is ramping up with projects such as The Turning Point for MSNBC, For All Humankind for Discovery+, and Kid of the Year for Nickelodeon.
The company is also developing a scripted series adaptation of Kiese Laymon’s novel Long Division.
Quinn, a former Marvel TV exec, was previously SVP, Television, overseeing live-action and animated TV development and production. Deadline understands that he has joined Amazon and is believed to be working on global spy drama Citadel.
Dizon was formerly VP, Development at the company. She is joining Universal Television...
- 1/31/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Overall and first-look deals still drive the television business.
Although some mega-producers have moved to the streaming world, including Ryan Murphy and Shonda Rhimes at Netflix, the overwhelming majority of pacts are still at the studio and linear network level. These deals help lock in show services, as well as keep the development pipeline flowing.
Here is a snapshot at most of the deals currently in place across Hollywood, as of mid-May.
A+E Studios
Appletree Pictures
Ross Fineman
Sarah Gertrude Shapiro
Thruline (Ron West/Chris Henze/Jb Roberts)
ABC Studios
Eli Attie
Alec Baldwin/Mallory Schwartz El Dorado Pictures
Kenya Barris Khalabo Ink Society
Julie Bean
Kevin Biegel
Sherry Bilsing-Graham/Ellen Kreamer
Bluegrass Fanfare
Chris Brancato Churchill Road Prods.
Jeremy Bronson
Danny Chun
Adam Ciralsky
Eliza Coupe
Liz Craft/Sarah Fain
Carlton Cuse
Paul Davies
Viola Davis/Kaylon Hunt JuVee Prods.
Tim Doyle
Dan Dworkin/Jay Beattie
Randall Einhorn...
Although some mega-producers have moved to the streaming world, including Ryan Murphy and Shonda Rhimes at Netflix, the overwhelming majority of pacts are still at the studio and linear network level. These deals help lock in show services, as well as keep the development pipeline flowing.
Here is a snapshot at most of the deals currently in place across Hollywood, as of mid-May.
A+E Studios
Appletree Pictures
Ross Fineman
Sarah Gertrude Shapiro
Thruline (Ron West/Chris Henze/Jb Roberts)
ABC Studios
Eli Attie
Alec Baldwin/Mallory Schwartz El Dorado Pictures
Kenya Barris Khalabo Ink Society
Julie Bean
Kevin Biegel
Sherry Bilsing-Graham/Ellen Kreamer
Bluegrass Fanfare
Chris Brancato Churchill Road Prods.
Jeremy Bronson
Danny Chun
Adam Ciralsky
Eliza Coupe
Liz Craft/Sarah Fain
Carlton Cuse
Paul Davies
Viola Davis/Kaylon Hunt JuVee Prods.
Tim Doyle
Dan Dworkin/Jay Beattie
Randall Einhorn...
- 5/16/2018
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
CBS All Access is developing “8 Fights — The Life of Muhammad Ali,” a limited series that will tell the story of eight critical moments in the life of the legendary boxer. Each of the eight episodes episode will be framed by one of Ali’s fights. The story of each episode, however will focus on Ali’s internal struggles and the drama of his life outside the ring. The project will explore the heart and mind of one of the most consequential and controversial figures of the 20th century.
The limited series will be produced by CBS Television Studios in association with Morgan Freeman’s Revelations Entertainment, and is based on the recent biography “Ali: A Life” by Jonathan Eig. Dan Kay will serve as writer and executive producer. Freeman, Lori McCreary and Beth Miyares will exec produce for Revelations Entertainment. Erica Shelton will serves as a consulting producer through her...
The limited series will be produced by CBS Television Studios in association with Morgan Freeman’s Revelations Entertainment, and is based on the recent biography “Ali: A Life” by Jonathan Eig. Dan Kay will serve as writer and executive producer. Freeman, Lori McCreary and Beth Miyares will exec produce for Revelations Entertainment. Erica Shelton will serves as a consulting producer through her...
- 4/20/2018
- by Daniel Holloway
- Variety Film + TV
CBS All Access has nabbed the development rights to limited event series “8 Fights,” which follows the life and career of boxing great Muhammad Ali.
The project, which is based on Jonathan Eig’s biography “Ali: A Life,” comes from Morgan Freeman’s Revelations Entertainment and CBS TV Studios.
The streaming service’s order is considered straight-to-series.
Also Read: Michael Rapaport Shreds ESPN Over New Employee Guidelines: 'This Is Some Stalin S-t!' (Video)
Dan Kay will write “8 Fights – The Life of Muhammad Ali,” which chronicles eight distinct moments in the life of Ali, with each episode framed by one fight from his boxing career, per the description. The focus will be on the internal fight — the drama outside the ring — which will explore the struggle going on in the heart and mind of one of the most consequential and controversial figures of the 20th century.
Kay will executive produce alongside Freeman, Lori McCreary and Beth Miyares. Erica Shelton is a consulting producer.
Read original story CBS All Access Nabs Muhammad Ali Limited Series From Morgan Freeman At TheWrap...
The project, which is based on Jonathan Eig’s biography “Ali: A Life,” comes from Morgan Freeman’s Revelations Entertainment and CBS TV Studios.
The streaming service’s order is considered straight-to-series.
Also Read: Michael Rapaport Shreds ESPN Over New Employee Guidelines: 'This Is Some Stalin S-t!' (Video)
Dan Kay will write “8 Fights – The Life of Muhammad Ali,” which chronicles eight distinct moments in the life of Ali, with each episode framed by one fight from his boxing career, per the description. The focus will be on the internal fight — the drama outside the ring — which will explore the struggle going on in the heart and mind of one of the most consequential and controversial figures of the 20th century.
Kay will executive produce alongside Freeman, Lori McCreary and Beth Miyares. Erica Shelton is a consulting producer.
Read original story CBS All Access Nabs Muhammad Ali Limited Series From Morgan Freeman At TheWrap...
- 4/20/2018
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
In a competitive situation, CBS All Access, CBS’ Svod and live streaming service, has landed for development 8 Fights – The Life of Muhammad Ali, a limited event series about the boxing great. The project hails from Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary’s Revelations Entertainment and CBS TV Studios where it had been in development as part of the studio’s major ramp-up of premium cable/streaming content.
Written by Dan Kay based on Jonathan Eig’s recently published biography Ali: a Life, the series will chronicle eight distinct moments in the life of Ali, with each episode framed by one fight from his boxing career. The focus will be on the internal fight — the drama outside the ring – which will explore the struggle going on in the heart and mind of one of the most consequential and controversial figures of the 20th century.
Kay executive produces with Freeman, McCreary and Beth Miyares for Revelations.
Written by Dan Kay based on Jonathan Eig’s recently published biography Ali: a Life, the series will chronicle eight distinct moments in the life of Ali, with each episode framed by one fight from his boxing career. The focus will be on the internal fight — the drama outside the ring – which will explore the struggle going on in the heart and mind of one of the most consequential and controversial figures of the 20th century.
Kay executive produces with Freeman, McCreary and Beth Miyares for Revelations.
- 4/20/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Fox is beefing up its drama and comedy teams with the hire of Beth Miyares as Svp Drama Development & Programming, and Conor Welch as VP Comedy Development & Programming. As part of a restructuring implemented in March, the network combined development and current both on the drama and comedy side. Miyares, who has background in both drama development and current programming, will report to Terence Carter, Evp Drama Development & Programming. “Beth is a gifted creative executive with years of experience shaping and growing hits, from both a network and studio perspective, which makes her the perfect fit to round out our drama leadership team,” Carter said. Miyares comes from CBS Television Studios, where she served as VP Drama Development and oversaw pilot development and production as well as series transition for Hawaii Five-o, Blue Bloods, Elementary, Beauty And The Beast and Reign. This marks her return to Fox, where she previously served as VP Current Programming,...
- 6/3/2014
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
It may not be for the job everybody is wondering about, but Fox announced two key hires on Tuesday. The broadcast network is expanding programming and development teams on both the comedy and drama side, adding executives from CBS Television Studios and Funny or Die. The additions come less than a week after entertainment chief Kevin Reilly announced his impending departure and just a few months after the network combined its development and programming divisions under expanded oversight for COO Joe Earley. Joining drama as senior vp programming is Beth Miyares, and Conor Welch assumes the role of vp comedy. Miyares, who hails from
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- 6/3/2014
- by Michael O'Connell
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fox Broadcasting Company has two new faces coming aboard, though one is already familiar. Programming executive Beth Miyares is returning to Fox in the role of senior vice president, Drama Development & Programming, and film executive Conor Welch joins Fox as vice president, Comedy Development & Programming. Miyares will report to Terence Carter; Welch will report to Suzanna Makkos. Also read: Dana Walden Doesn't Want Kevin Reilly's Job, Sets Sights on Bigger Fox Role (Exclusive) Miyares joins Fox from CBS Television Studios, where she served as vice president, Drama Development. At CBS Television Studios, she oversaw pilot development and production of “Hawaii 5-0,” “Elementary,...
- 6/3/2014
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
UPN has staffed up the vp ranks of its comedy and drama departments by promoting Steve Veisel to vp comedy development and appointing Rebecca Stay vp drama development. Additionally, Beth Miyares has been named director of current programs. Veisel, who was upped from director of comedy development, will continue to develop comedy programming for the network. "One of UPN's strengths over the past few seasons has been our comedies, and since joining UPN four years ago, Steve has played a key role in the development and success of virtually all of the comedies on our schedule," UPN entertainment president Dawn Ostroff said. This past development season, Veisel, who continues to report to senior vp comedy development Kim Fleary, helped shepherd the network's four new comedy series: "All of Us", "Eve", "Rock Me Baby" and "The Mullets". He also was involved in the development of UPN's midseason comedy "Game Over".
- 3/18/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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