or


[05/01/12 - 04:02 AM]
Michael Wright Named President, Head of Programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM)
Most recently, Wright was executive vice president, head of programming, for TNT, TBS and TCM.

[via press release from Turner]

Michael Wright Named President, Head of Programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM)

Michael Wright has been promoted to President, Head of Programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). In this elevated role, Wright will continue to oversee all programming and scheduling for TNT and TBS, along with original programming for TCM and original content for all three networks' digital extensions. Wright is based in Los Angeles and reports to Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks.

During Wright's ten years at Turner, he's been responsible for multiple programming successes across the networks. For TNT, his notable achievements include The Closer, basic cable's #1 series for five consecutive years; Rizzoli & Isles, which took over the top spot when it premiered in 2010; and last year's #1 new series on basic cable, Falling Skies.

For TBS, Wright was instrumental in the acquisition of The Big Bang Theory. He was also part of the team that recruited Conan O'Brien and brought his critically acclaimed late-night hit to TBS. By crafting a successful lineup that includes The Big Bang Theory, CONAN and Family Guy, Wright and his department have helped elevate TBS to rank as basic cable's #1 network among young adults in 2012.

For TCM, Wright has led development on several acclaimed documentary series and specials that have served to expand the network's already stellar reputation as an authority on the art and history of cinema. Projects include the Emmy(R)-nominated Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood, the TCM Night at the Movies franchise and TCM Presents AFI's Master Class - The Art of Collaboration.

Wright has also forged strong creative partnerships with some of the industry's most revered talents, including Steven Spielberg, David E. Kelley, Frank Darabont, Dean Devlin, John Wells, Jamie Tarses, Vince Vaughn and Bill Haber, to name a few.

"Michael Wright has been an essential factor in the success of TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies," said Koonin. "Michael's relationships with creative talent, his eye for storytelling, his deep understanding of each network's unique brand voice and his ability to assemble and lead an extraordinary team have all combined to empower us within the industry. Michael is a great programmer and partner, and I look forward to working with him on shaping the multi-screen future of our business."

Wright's promotion comes as TNT and TBS are significantly expanding their original programming slates. For TNT, that includes the return of five original series and the launch of four new series over the next five months, while for TBS, it means the debut of three new scripted comedy series this year. Both networks are heavily involved in development of new series, as well, working with producers like Frank Darabont, David E. Kelley and Mark Burnett. In addition, TNT and TBS are shifting from premiering originals only in the summer and winter to a year-round model.

Most recently, Wright was executive vice president, head of programming, for TNT, TBS and TCM. He was promoted to that post in 2008. "I've worked at Turner for a decade, and the company continues to be a place where people are passionate about creating great programming," Wright said. "This is a fast-changing, dynamic industry, and I'm excited about building on the strengths of our networks."

Wright, who joined TNT in 2002, was named senior vice president of original programming for the network in 2004. His duties expanded to include TBS in 2005 and TCM in 2007.

Prior to joining Turner, Wright served as vice president of movies and miniseries for CBS Productions and CBS Entertainment. He supervised production of some of CBS' highest-rated and acclaimed television movies.

Wright is a board member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the American Film Institute. He serves as secretary for the Hollywood Radio & Television Society Board of Trustees. Wright holds a bachelor's degree in theater arts from the UCLA College of Fine Arts.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.





  [may 2012]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· BIG BANG THEORY, THE (CBS)
· CLOSER, THE (TNT)
· FALLING SKIES (TNT)
· FAMILY GUY (FOX)
· RIZZOLI & ISLES (TNT)





[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.