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
Universal Television has promoted several members of its burgeoning programming ranks and added one new senior-level executive to its roster.
Erik Rechsteiner has been boosted to Svp Current Series and NBCUniversal International exec Kristen Del Pero has been brought over to Universal TV as Svp Current Series and International Development.
The moves come as Universal has reached 40 series currently ordered to production, most in the studio’s history.
“I’m extremely proud of the unprecedented growth at Universal Television over the last three years,” division president Pearlena Igbokwe said in a press release. “It gives me great pleasure to recognize those executives who have helped make it possible and will continue to advance our studio.”
Del Pero and Rechsteiner will report to JoAnn Alfano, Evp Current Series and International Development.
Universal also promoted three director-level execs: Brittany Little, to VP Drama Development; Brian Salb to VP Current Series; and Megan Macmillan to VP Comedy Development.
Erik Rechsteiner has been boosted to Svp Current Series and NBCUniversal International exec Kristen Del Pero has been brought over to Universal TV as Svp Current Series and International Development.
The moves come as Universal has reached 40 series currently ordered to production, most in the studio’s history.
“I’m extremely proud of the unprecedented growth at Universal Television over the last three years,” division president Pearlena Igbokwe said in a press release. “It gives me great pleasure to recognize those executives who have helped make it possible and will continue to advance our studio.”
Del Pero and Rechsteiner will report to JoAnn Alfano, Evp Current Series and International Development.
Universal also promoted three director-level execs: Brittany Little, to VP Drama Development; Brian Salb to VP Current Series; and Megan Macmillan to VP Comedy Development.
- 10/4/2019
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Universal Television has promoted Erik Rechsteiner to senior vice president of current series and brought on Kristen Del Pero as senior vice president of current series and international development.
Del Pero and Rechsteiner will both report to JoAnn Alfano, Universal TV’s executive VP of current series and international development.
“I’m extremely proud of the unprecedented growth at Universal Television over the last three years and it gives me great pleasure to recognize those executives who have helped make it possible and will continue to advance our studio,” said Pearlena Igbokwe, Universal TV president, in a statement.
Rechsteiner has worked on “The Good Place” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” for the duration of their runs, and oversees NBC’s “Superstore” as well as new comedy “Sunnyside,” in addition to a new comedy from Tina Fey and Robert Carlock that stars Ted Danson as the mayor of Los Angeles. He also handles NBC drama “New Amsterdam.
Del Pero and Rechsteiner will both report to JoAnn Alfano, Universal TV’s executive VP of current series and international development.
“I’m extremely proud of the unprecedented growth at Universal Television over the last three years and it gives me great pleasure to recognize those executives who have helped make it possible and will continue to advance our studio,” said Pearlena Igbokwe, Universal TV president, in a statement.
Rechsteiner has worked on “The Good Place” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” for the duration of their runs, and oversees NBC’s “Superstore” as well as new comedy “Sunnyside,” in addition to a new comedy from Tina Fey and Robert Carlock that stars Ted Danson as the mayor of Los Angeles. He also handles NBC drama “New Amsterdam.
- 10/4/2019
- by Elaine Low
- Variety Film + TV
Universal Television has given title bumps to its two senior comedy development executives. Jim Donnelly has been promoted to Evp, Comedy Development, and Dan Shear to Svp, Comedy Development.
Shear joined Uni TV as VP Comedy in 2014, Donnelly came on board as Svp in 2015. Donnelly has headed the studio’s comedy department for the past couple of years.
“The talent level at our studio is second to none and the promotions of Jim and Dan are reflective of the work they have done to help get us to where we are today,” said Uni TV President Pearlena Igbokwe. “Our development team has set an industry standard and looking at our array of broadcast, cable and streaming partners, the industry agrees. I am thrilled that these gifted executives will continue to help guide our studio for the foreseeable future.”
Rounding out Uni TV’s comedy development team is Megan Macmillan, who was recently promoted to director.
Shear joined Uni TV as VP Comedy in 2014, Donnelly came on board as Svp in 2015. Donnelly has headed the studio’s comedy department for the past couple of years.
“The talent level at our studio is second to none and the promotions of Jim and Dan are reflective of the work they have done to help get us to where we are today,” said Uni TV President Pearlena Igbokwe. “Our development team has set an industry standard and looking at our array of broadcast, cable and streaming partners, the industry agrees. I am thrilled that these gifted executives will continue to help guide our studio for the foreseeable future.”
Rounding out Uni TV’s comedy development team is Megan Macmillan, who was recently promoted to director.
- 9/21/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
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