or


[09/14/04 - 12:00 AM]
CBS Entertainment Forms Executive Team for Primetime Series with Promotions for Three Key Programming Executives

[via press release from CBS]

CBS ENTERTAINMENT FORMS EXECUTIVE TEAM FOR PRIMETIME SERIES WITH PROMOTIONS FOR THREE KEY PROGRAMMING EXECUTIVES

Wendi Trilling Promoted to Executive Vice President, Comedy Development

Laverne McKinnon To Head Drama Development

David Brownfield Elevated to Senior Vice President, Current Programming

Newly-named CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler has put together her executive programming team for primetime series, promoting Wendi Trilling to Executive Vice President, Comedy Development, handing the reigns of drama development to Laverne McKinnon and elevating David Brownfield to Senior Vice President, Current Programming.

Trilling was the programming executive responsible for developing and championing CBS's signature comedy, EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND, while also developing the Network's most successful comedies, including Monday night hits THE KING OF QUEENS (now a Wednesday success), STILL STANDING and, most recently, TWO AND A HALF MEN, the 2003-2004 season's most watched new comedy.

Under Trilling's auspices, this season CBS will launch the comedies LISTEN UP, starring Jason Alexander and Malcolm-Jamal Warner, as well CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE with John Goodman and Jean Smart.

"Thanks to Wendi's development skills, CBS has the top-rated comedy block (Monday night) on television,� said Tassler. "Having worked alongside her for several years now, I am constantly impressed by her comedic intuition and her ability to work with creative talent to turn a concept into a hit. Wendi's talents have helped make CBS America's Number One network and I'm thrilled to work with her in this new capacity."

Trilling has been Senior Vice President, Comedy Development at CBS since June 2000. She joined CBS in 1990 in the Current Programs Department. She was named Manager of Comedy/Drama Series Development in 1992 and named Associate Director, Comedy Development in 1993. She was promoted to Director of Comedy Development in 1994 and was named a Vice President in 1997.

McKinnon, who was upped to Senior Vice President, Drama Development, in April 2004, will assume Tassler's former position as head of CBS's drama development department.

Working with Tassler, McKinnon played a key role in developing some of television's most critically-acclaimed and commercially successful dramas, including last season's most watched new drama, COLD CASE; the Emmy-nominated JOAN OF ARCADIA; CSI: MIAMI; NCIS, and WITHOUT A TRACE.

For the upcoming season, McKinnon was involved in the development of CLUBHOUSE, dr. vegas and the highly anticipated CSI: NY.

�Laverne is a gifted executive who has been at my side for the development of some of CBS�s biggest hits," said Tassler. "She has a remarkable ability to identify strong material and to communicate and collaborate with writers and producers in a way that nurtures a project from script to pilot to successful series. With Laverne running the department, we have an executive that brings the talent, track record, passion and stability to continue CBS�s reputation for being the destination of choice for top drama projects.�

McKinnon has been Vice President, Drama Series Development, since May 2001. Prior to that, she held the position of Director, Drama Development since May 2000. From July 1988 to May 2000, McKinnon had been Director, Current Programming. She joined CBS in 1996 as Director, Children�s Programs.

Prior to joining CBS, McKinnon was Vice President, Creative Affairs, at Klasky Csupo, Inc., where she oversaw the development and sale of all television and feature projects for the Emmy Award-winning producers of �The Simpsons� and �Rugrats.� From 1991-1993, McKinnon worked in the television packaging department at Triad Artists.

Brownfield, Vice President, Current Programs since June 2003, has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Current Programs, assuming the position previously held by David Stapf, who was named President, Paramount Network Television last week.

In his position, Brownfield will run the current programming department and work with the producers of CBS's primetime comedy and drama series to maintain the quality and direction of the Network's established hit programs.

Brownfield, who joined CBS in 2001 as Director, Current Programming, most recently worked on COLD CASE, WITHOUT A TRACE and the new drama, CLUBHOUSE.

�David is one of the most impressive executives that I�ve ever worked with," said Tassler. "He has terrific communication skills and knows how to work with producers in a manner that serves the network, facilitates the creative process and creates an environment for programming to succeed," said Tassler. "David�s creativity, experience, professionalism and insight will be invaluable to me as we seek to program the next generation of hits that will sustain CBS�s momentum and grow our audience.�

Prior to joining CBS, Brownfield was a co-producer and writer on the comedy "Boy Meets World" (1998-2000). Before that, he was a development and current executive at ABC (1993-1997) where he helped develop "The Drew Carey Show" and "Lois & Clark: the New Adventures of Superman."

From 1989-1982, Brownfield was in the current programming department at Paramount Television. He began his career as a sports producer at KHJ-TV Los Angeles (now Viacom-owned KCAL).





  [september 2004]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· BOY MEETS BOY (BRAVO)
· CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE (CBS)
· CLUBHOUSE (CBS)
· COLD CASE (CBS)
· CSI: MIAMI (CBS)
· CSI: NEW YORK (CBS)
· DREW CAREY SHOW, THE (ABC)
· EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND (CBS)
· JOAN OF ARCADIA (CBS)
· KING OF QUEENS, THE (CBS)
· LISTEN UP (CBS)
· NCIS (CBS)
· STILL STANDING (CBS)
· TWO AND A HALF MEN (CBS)
· WITHOUT A TRACE (CBS)





[11/26/24 - 12:03 PM]
Netflix Top 10 Week of Nov. 18: "The Merry Gentlemen" and "A Man on the Inside" Take the Top Spots
Season 2 of the animated series "Arcane" laid siege to #2 (6.4M views), while Season 1 took #5 with 2.2M views.

[11/26/24 - 11:44 AM]
TNT Sports to Debut "Evolve and Flex" with Lance Fresh Friday, Dec. 6, on truTV and Max
The show is hosted by sports-lifestyle expert Lance Fresh and features candid conversations with guests to discuss how life's events have contributed to their sense of style.

[11/26/24 - 11:19 AM]
MGM+ Announces 2025 Premiere Date for "NFL Icons" Season Four
In the upcoming fourth season, the docuseries will feature Pro Football Hall of Famers Joe Montana, DeMarcus Ware, Kurt Warner and Gale Sayers.

[11/26/24 - 10:24 AM]
Video: "Rogue Heroes" (MGM+ 2025 Series) Season 2 Tease
"Rogue Heroes" is a dramatized account of how the world's greatest Special Forces unit, the SAS, was formed under extraordinary circumstances in the darkest days of World War Two.

[11/26/24 - 10:09 AM]
Video: Acorn TV Releases Official Trailer for Second Season of Hit Australian Drama, "Darby and Joan"
The new season debuts with a two-episode premiere, exclusively on Acorn TV, on December 30, followed by weekly episodes through January 27.

[11/26/24 - 10:01 AM]
ABC News Studios Announces Fourth Season of Hit True-Crime Series "Wild Crime," Streaming Dec. 5 Only on Hulu
"Wild Crime: Eleven Skulls" delves into the haunting 2012 disappearance of Samantha Koenig, an 18-year-old Anchorage barista last seen leaving her place of work with an unknown man on a dark winter night.

[11/26/24 - 08:32 AM]
Bravo Greenlights "Vanderpump Rules" Season 12 with a New Group of SUR-vers
In addition, "Vanderpump Rules" will celebrate the past decade of heartbreaks, friendship rifts and scandals with a retrospective special highlighting the past 11 seasons.

[11/26/24 - 08:30 AM]
Video: Paramount+ and Nickelodeon Reveal Teaser, First-Look Images and Premiere Date for "Henry Danger The Movie"
"Henry Danger The Movie" will be available to stream in the U.S. on Paramount+ Friday, January 17, and premiere on Nickelodeon that same day at 7 p.m. (ET/PT).

[11/26/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Makayla's Voice: A Letter to the World" - Official Teaser - Netflix
Makayla is a teenage girl who has spent her life grappling with a rare form of autism that rendered her essentially nonverbal until her parents, filled with unwavering belief in their daughter's potential, embarked on a transformative journey to discover the true depth of Makayla's inner world.

[11/26/24 - 08:01 AM]
HBO Announces Ian Bonhote & Peter Ettedgui's Award-Winning "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story," Debuting December 7 on HBO and Max
The critically acclaimed film had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and recently won six Critics Choice Documentary Awards.

[11/26/24 - 08:00 AM]
HGTV Greenlights Gutsy Las Vegas Renovation Series "Sin City Rehab" (wt) Starring Indomitable Designer Alison Victoria
The eight-episode series will document Alison, best known for her Emmy-nominated series "Windy City Rehab," taking the biggest gamble of her career as she expands her successful design business out West.

[11/26/24 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Manny" Season 2 - Release Date Announcement - Netflix
A busy executive hires a cowboy to care for her kids in a moment of panic. Little does she know he'll challenge her views of gender roles - and of love.

[11/26/24 - 06:58 AM]
"The Talk" Series Finale to Air Live on Friday, December 20
Over the show's 15 season run, "The Talk" will have aired 2,993 episodes, garnered over 70 awards/nominations, promoted over 10,800 guests, gifted over $103 million in giveaways, and welcomed over 250,000 audience members.

[11/26/24 - 06:01 AM]
"Star Wars: Skeleton Crew" Will Debut Early - Watch the Two-Episode Premiere Streaming December 2 Only on Disney+!
Look for new weekly episodes every Tuesday starting at 6 p.m. PT on December 10.

[11/26/24 - 06:01 AM]
Paramount+ Sets December 9 Premiere for Docuseries on American Soccer Star Christian Pulisic
The first episode will premiere in December, while episodes two and three will premiere in January.