or


[10/03/05 - 12:00 AM]
The WB Network to Blend Comedy and Alternative Programming Development

[via press release from The WB]

THE WB NETWORK TO BLEND COMEDY AND ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMMING DEVELOPMENT

Burbank, CA October 3, 2005

TRACEY PAKOSTA AND KEITH COX TO OVERSEE JOINT DEPARTMENT

In an innovative new approach to program development, The WB Network will blend its comedy and alternative programming departments into one entity, Comedy and Alternative Programming Development, it was announced today by David Janollari, The WB's president, entertainment.

The new department will be helmed by two WB development veterans, Tracey Pakosta, executive vice president, comedy and alternative, and Keith Cox, executive vice president, comedy and alternative. Director of comedy development Tal Rabinowitz, along with Eliot Goldberg, vice president, alternative programming, and Jennifer Levi, director, alternative programming, will also be part of the realigned unit. Rabinowitz, Goldberg and Levi will report to both Cox and Pakosta.

�As we've seen first hand with �Beauty and the Geek� and elsewhere on the TV landscape, there's a fine line between comedy and reality programming, and melding these two departments will create more opportunity for us to find big, funny hit shows, whether they're scripted or not,� said Mr. Janollari. �Tracey and Keith are two of the best executives in town, proven leaders with great taste and credibility in the creative community, and this is an out-of-the-box way to make our network�and development process�more agile, flexible and successful. Along with Tal Rabinowitz, Eliot Goldberg and Jennifer Levi, integral members of our development group, we believe both comedy and alternative development will benefit and flourish.�

Pakosta has been with The WB since 1995 when she began as an assistant to Susanne Daniels, president, entertainment. She worked her way through the comedy department before becoming co-executive president, comedy development in 2003. She was instrumental in the development of the network's highest-rated comedy, �Reba,� as well as �What I Like About You,� �Living with Fran� and �Blue Collar TV.� Pakosta also spearheaded development for the new Mutchnick-Kohan comedy, �Twins,� as well as upcoming midseason offerings �Modern Men� and �Misconceptions.�

Cox joined the network in 2001 and, as head of the alternative programming department, bought and developed the hit reality shows �Beauty and the Geek� and �The Surreal Life.� Prior to that he spent three years with The Greenblatt Janollari Studio as senior vice president, creative affairs, where he was part of the team that developed the acclaimed drama �Six Feet Under,� the hit comedies �One on One,� �The Hughleys� and the cult pilot �Heat, Vision and Jack,� starring Jack Black. He began his career as director of programming as part of the team that launched the FX network before a lengthy stint as director of comedy development at Warner Bros. Television, where he developed several shows for NBC's powerhouse Thursday night line-up with Bright-Kauffman-Crane, as well as �The Jamie Foxx Show� and �Baby Blues� for The WB.





  [october 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· BABY BLUES (WB)
· BEAUTY AND THE GEEK (CW)
· BLUE COLLAR TV (WB)
· HUGHLEYS, THE (UPN)
· JAMIE FOXX SHOW, THE (WB)
· LIVING WITH FRAN (WB)
· MISCONCEPTIONS (WB)
· MODERN MEN (WB)
· ONE ON ONE (UPN)
· REBA (CW)
· SIX FEET UNDER (HBO)
· SURREAL LIFE, THE (VH1)
· TWINS (WB)
· WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU (WB)





[12/12/25 - 01:46 PM]
ID Sets January Return for "People Magazine Investigates," Featuring More Ripped from the Headlines Cases That Captivated the Nation
The new season premieres Monday, January 12 at 9:00/8:00c on ID, with new episodes airing weekly.

[12/12/25 - 01:31 PM]
Hallmark Expands the Universe of "When Calls the Heart" with Prequel Series "Hope Valley: 1874" Starring Bethany Joy Lenz, Benjamin Ayres and Jill Hennessy
The eight-episode series begins production next week in Vancouver, BC and will premiere in March 2026 exclusively on Hallmark+.

[12/12/25 - 10:05 AM]
Meet the 14 Contestants Competing on "Fear Factor: House of Fear," Premiering Wednesday, January 14th at 9/8c on FOX
Dropped into an unforgiving, remote location, a group of strangers will live together under one roof, and face mind-blowing stunts, harrowing challenges and a twisted game of social strategy where trust is fleeting - and fear is a weapon.

[12/12/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: What's Coming in Early 2026 - "Shrinking," "Monarch," "Hijack" & More - Apple TV
Also on tap are "The Last Thing He Told Me" and "Eternity."

[12/12/25 - 09:06 AM]
Crave Greenlights "Heated Rivalry" Season 2, While Global Momentum Continues
Also confirmed today, HBO Max U.S. and Australia, and NEON (Sky New Zealand), who already exclusively stream Season 1 in those respective markets, have all committed to the streaming rights for a second season.

[12/12/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Best Medicine" Season 1 Official Trailer (Starring Josh Charles) - FOX TV
Dr. Martin Best leaves his career as a Boston surgeon to become the general practitioner in the quaint East Coast fishing village where he spent his childhood summers.

[12/12/25 - 08:09 AM]
HBO Max Rolls Out In-App Curated Channels for Fan-Favorite Series and Genres in the U.S.
Designed for an effortless streaming experience, this feature enables users to seamlessly enter a continuous feed of curated episodes from fan-favorite titles, making it easier than ever to find an episode of their favorite programming.

[12/12/25 - 06:01 AM]
Apple TV Announces Season Two for Acclaimed Thriller "Down Cemetery Road"
Season two reunites Zoë Boehm (Emma Thompson) and Sarah Trafford (Emma Wilson) chasing down another twisted mystery.

[12/12/25 - 05:00 AM]
Video: HBO Max Brand Spot Teases 2026 Original Programming Slate with Never-Before-Seen Footage and First Looks
Including exclusive first looks on HBO Max social accounts, the spot underscores HBO Max's commitment to delivering high quality, must-see stories that inspire, entertain, and spark conversations around the globe.

[12/11/25 - 03:15 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in All Key Target Demos
The series also saw gains on the same week last year in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49.

[12/11/25 - 11:58 AM]
Lifetime to Kick Off 2026 with Three New "Ripped from the Headlines" Movies
Kate Beckinsale, Scott Eastwood, Katie Cassidy, Luke Humphrey, Chloe Lanier, Dillon Casey, and Maddy Hillis are among the featured talent.

[12/11/25 - 11:22 AM]
A&E's New Series "Crime in Progress" Follows the Evolution of Investigations Told Exclusively Through Raw Footage Premieres January 1 at 10pm ET/PT
The story of each crime is woven together through raw, unfiltered video from the point of view of officer body cam and surveillance footage for a first-hand look at justice in action.

[12/11/25 - 11:01 AM]
New Netflix Doc Series About Jonestown Dives Into One of the Deadliest Mass Murders in American History
From Emmy-nominated director J.M. Harper comes a three-part documentary series about the events and ideas leading up to the Jonestown massacre.

[12/11/25 - 10:32 AM]
Lola Petticrew Will Join the World of "Assassin's Creed" Alongside Toby Wallace in the New Live-Action Series Adaptation of Ubisoft's Best-Selling Video Game Franchise
Netflix confirmed the news on social media this morning.

[12/11/25 - 10:31 AM]
Video: "Breakdown: 1975" - Official Trailer - Netflix
This documentary explores how a turbulent era gave rise to iconic movies like "Taxi Driver," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Network."