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)





[10/14/26 - 04:10 PM]
Nebraska Volleyball Serves Up a Big Saturday on FOX
Nebraska's 3-0 win averaged 945,000 viewers on FOX.

[10/14/26 - 03:50 PM]
Indiana's Win Over Nebraska Scores 6,734,000 Viewers on FOX
"Big Noon Saturday" peaked at 9,623,000 viewers.

[10/14/26 - 03:04 PM]
"College GameDay" Continues Record Pace as ESPN College Football Delivers Historic Week 6 Audiences
ABC scored its most-watched college football tripleheader of the season with 8.5 million viewers, led by Georgia-Alabama (12.2 million) and Oklahoma-Texas (9.8 million) - both record-setting rivalry audiences.

[10/14/26 - 02:50 PM]
26,697,000 Viewers for "America's Game of the Week" Highlight FOX NFL's Week 5
Said coverage was the most watched telecast of the week on any network.

[10/14/26 - 02:44 PM]
FOX Scores Most-Watched LCS Game 1 on Any Network Since 2005
10,719,000 viewers tuned in Sunday night for NLCS Game 1 on FOX and FOX Deportes.

[10/14/26 - 02:10 PM]
E! and USA Sports Announce "Live from the Orange Carpet: WNBA Finals" Hosted by Lilly Singh
The one-hour special will air live on Monday, October 19 at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT from Chase Center in San Francisco.

[10/14/26 - 12:32 PM]
With "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2," "Bass X Machina" and "Blue Eye Samurai" Season 2, Netflix Brings More Action to Animation Fans
Highlights include: Joel Kim Booster, Sherry Cola, and Jonathan Pryce join Season 2 of "Blue Eye Samurai," coming January 2027.

[10/14/26 - 12:31 PM]
Video: "Allen" - Official Teaser - Netflix
Something extraordinary is coming back.

[10/14/26 - 12:01 PM]
Apple TV Renews "Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed" for Season Two
"We are delighted to continue the story of 'Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed' and deeply grateful to Apple and our incredible cast and crew," said David J. Rosen, creator and showrunner. "This is all pretty amazing for a show whose title came from a spam email."

[10/14/26 - 11:31 AM]
Top 10 Most-Watched Prime Original Films & Series for the Week of October 5
"Carrie," "Neagley," "Reacher," "Off Campus," and "Sterling Point" led all original series worldwide.

[10/14/26 - 10:08 AM]
Thrilling BMF Championship Leads Stacked Card in Final UFC Event of 2026
UFC 335: Oliveira vs. Lopes takes place Saturday, December 12 from Las Vegas with the main card starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT on Paramount+.

[10/14/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Cold Case Files: Murder In Paradise" - Official Trailer - Hulu
Even in paradise, no secret stays buried forever.

[10/14/26 - 10:01 AM]
"NBA on Prime" Tips Off Second Season with Exclusive Coverage of Eastern Conference Finals for First Time, Marquee Roster of On-Air Voices, and AI-Powered Broadcast Innovations
Prime Video's postseason coverage extends deeper than ever with the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament returning in April exclusively, select first- and second-round playoff games, and Prime's first-ever exclusive presentation of the Eastern Conference Finals.

[10/14/26 - 10:00 AM]
Nine Bakers Are Ready to Whisk Up Some Holiday Magic on Season Two of the Five-Week Baking Competition Series "Next Level Baker" Airing Thurs., Nov. 19 at 9/8c on FOX and Next Day Hulu!
Only one baker will rise to the top, winning $50,000 and a HexClad prize package.

[10/14/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art - Hulu's "The Mob"
Hosted by Parker Posey, "The Mob" is a high-stakes reality competition series that sends a group of celebrities to a lavish Italian villa where they will shake down, hustle and whack their way to win up to $250,000 in cash prizes.