CBS ANNOUNCES ITS "NEW" DRAMA DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Christina Davis and Robert Zotnowski have been promoted to Senior Vice Presidents, Drama Series Development, CBS Entertainment, jointly overseeing the Network's drama department, and Yelena Chak joins as Director, Drama Development, it was announced by Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment.

The appointments of CBS's new drama development team come on the heels of a bold and innovative development season that saw the fall additions of CANE, VIVA LAUGHLIN, MOONLIGHT and the mid-season series SWINGTOWN.

Davis and Zotnowski were also involved in the development of CBS's deep roster of sophomore hits including CRIMINAL MINDS, GHOST WHISPERER and THE UNIT, as well as the freshman dramas JERICHO and SHARK.

Davis and Zotnowski have operated as a team since they were simultaneously named Vice Presidents, Drama Series in May 2005.

"I've watched Robert and Christina grow from promising young programmers to talented, skilled and accomplished development executives," said Tassler. "Without question they are two of the brightest young programming minds in our business with the talent and relationships in the community to take our drama development to even greater heights."

Prior to her promotion to Vice President, Drama Series in May 2005, Davis had been Director, Drama Series Development, CBS Entertainment, since 2002. She started in the CBS drama series department in 1997 as assistant to then drama head Nina Tassler, rising through the ranks from supervisor (1999-2000), to manager (2000-2002) and director (2002-2005). Before joining CBS, Davis worked in drama series development at Warner Bros. Television (April 1996-Aug. 1997).

Since joining CBS, Davis has been involved in the development of CSI, CSI: MIAMI, CSI: NY, WITHOUT A TRACE (bringing series creator Hank Steinberg to the Network), COLD CASE, THE UNIT, GHOST WHISPERER and, most recently, JERICHO.

Zotnowski made the transition from the Network's current programming department to drama development in May 2005 when he was named Vice President, Drama Series Development. In that position, he was involved in the development of the hit dramas CRIMINAL MINDS and, most recently, SHARK.

He had been Vice President, Current Programs, CBS Entertainment, since Aug. 2003 responsible for overseeing CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, CSI: MIAMI, CSI: NY, EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND and TWO AND A HALF MEN.

Previously, he was Director of Current Programs from June 2000-Aug. 2003. Zotnowski joined CBS in Aug. 1998 as Manager of Current Programs, where he worked on all CBS comedies.

Chak joins CBS from Jerry Bruckheimer Television where she's been since Oct. 2005 and most recently as Director of Television, overseeing day-to-day operations for WITHOUT A TRACE and "Close to Home" among other programs.

From May 2004-Sept. 2005, Chak was a member of the NBC Universal Network comedy development department. Prior to that (June 2003-May 2004), she was an assistant to the Vice Presidents of Comedy Development at NBC Entertainment.

Chak got her start in the entertainment business at United Talent Agency as an agent-trainee in the television literary department.