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)





[11/15/24 - 11:44 AM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Halloween Week Scares Up Season Highs in Total Viewers and Households
Thursday's Halloween celebration "Only HALLOWEEN in the Building," featuring the annual fan-favorite costume contest, was the show's top telecast in both Total Viewers (2.396 million) and Households (1.64 rating) in seven months.

[11/15/24 - 11:01 AM]
Video: NBC's New Hit Comedy "St. Denis Medical" Boosts Fan Engagement by Dropping First Episode on TikTok and YouTube Today
Building on the series' rave reviews and tremendous momentum that saw 87 million video views leading up to premiere night, NBC is expanding the show's reach by gifting viewers the first episode for free on both platforms through December 1.

[11/15/24 - 11:00 AM]
"Special Forces: World's Toughest Test" Returns for Season Three with an Epic, Edge-of-Your-Seat Five-Week Event Featuring 2-Hour Mega Episodes Premiering Wednesday, January 8
Each week, the two-hour super charged episodes will feature household names enduring some of the harshest, most grueling challenges from the playbook of the actual Special Forces selection process.

[11/15/24 - 10:14 AM]
"Dancing with the Stars" 500th Telecast Is Top Entertainment Program of the Night in Adults 18-49
In addition, the milestone episode ranked as the No. 1 telecast on Tuesday night in Women 18-34 (0.92 rating) and Women 18-49 (0.95 rating), as well as Teens 12-17 (0.29 rating) and Adults 25-54 (0.93 rating).

[11/15/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Kylie Cantrall Is Back as Red in New Music Video "Red Christmas" Available Now on Disney+ and YouTube
Cantrall originated the character in this summer's smash hit Disney Original movie "Descendants: The Rise of Red," becoming Disney+'s most-watched Live Action Original Movie since "Hocus Pocus 2" with over 33 million views in just 12 weeks.

[11/15/24 - 09:00 AM]
AMC Networks' "Best Christmas Ever" Returns with Month-Long Celebration of the Holidays Beginning November 30
With over 550 hours of holiday programming, AMC's jolly lineup has something for everyone in the family.

[11/15/24 - 08:31 AM]
The Country Music Association and ABC Celebrate Country Music's Biggest Night with Special Programming Leading Into "The 58th Annual CMA Awards"
Country music fans will have a front-row seat to their favorite country music stars starting this weekend.

[11/15/24 - 08:04 AM]
ABC News Announces Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Special Hosted by Luke Bryan Ahead of the 2024 CMA Awards
"Vegas Lights & Country Nights: Countdown to the CMA Awards - A Special Edition of 20/20" will air Tuesday, November 19, at 10:01 p.m. EST on ABC.

[11/15/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "The New York Times Presents: Weight of the World" - Official Teaser - FX
As GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic soar in popularity for weight loss, this film follows three people on their own GLP-1 journeys and explores how decades of diet culture and society's relentless pursuit of thinness paved the way for their rise.

[11/15/24 - 05:31 AM]
Conan O'Brien to Host 97th Oscars
"America demanded it, and now it's happening: Taco Bell's new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I'm hosting the Oscars," said O'Brien.

[11/15/24 - 03:02 AM]
Video: "Seven Doors" - Main Trailer - Netflix
All hail the king. "Seven Doors" will open December 13. Only on Netflix.

[11/15/24 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "1992" - Official Trailer - Netflix Spain
An enraged serial killer, mysteriously linked to Expo 92 in Seville, burns his victims alive in this series directed by Álex de la Iglesia.

[11/14/24 - 02:02 PM]
Video: "Second Chance Stage" - Official Trailer - Max
Your dream is waiting. "Second Chance Stage" premieres November 28 on Max.

[11/14/24 - 01:23 PM]
Video: Paramount+ with Showtime Presents Key Art and All-New Featurette Revealed for Showtime's "The Agency"
The highly-anticipated espionage political thriller features a star-studded cast, including 2x Academy Award nominee Michael Fassbender and series regulars Jeffrey Wright, Jodie Turner-Smith, Katherine Waterston, John Magaro, Alex Reznik, Andrew Brooke, Harriet Sansom Harris, India Fowler, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Reza Brojerdi and Richard Gere.

[11/14/24 - 12:41 PM]
Celebrity Heroes Take On Superstar Villains in Quest to Conquer the Kitchen in "Worst Cooks in America Celebrity Edition: Heroes vs. Villains"
Returning mentor Chef Jeff Mauro welcomes newcomer Chef Antonia Lofaso to transform these culinary disasters into cooking masters with each leading their own team of meal-making misfits.