or


[12/15/11 - 12:28 PM]
USA Network Names Melanie Frankel Vice President, Original Comedy Series
Frankel was most recently director of comedy for ABC Studios.

[via press release from USA]

USA NETWORK NAMES MELANIE FRANKEL VICE PRESIDENT, ORIGINAL COMEDY SERIES

LOS ANGELES - December 15, 2011 - Melanie Frankel joins USA Network as vice president, original comedy series, it was announced today by Bill McGoldrick, senior vice president, USA original scripted programming. Frankel will focus on comedy development and production, reporting directly to McGoldrick.

"As we aggressively expand our scripted portfolio to include half-hours, this is the perfect time to add an experienced comedy executive to our team," said McGoldrick. "We feel lucky to have found someone with Melanie's keen instincts, depth of experience and collaborative spirit as we create our own distinctive brand of comedy with the most talented minds in the genre."

Frankel was most recently director of comedy for ABC Studios where she was the primary studio executive for overall/script deals with Mark Gordon Company, Warren Littlefield Company, Stu Bloomberg, Mandeville, Coquette, Little Engine, Sally Bradford, Steven Cragg & Brian Bradley, Laurie Zaks/Beacon and Jennifer Weiner. She was also involved with developing and overseeing pilots ("Great State of Georgia," "How To Be A Better American," "This Little Piggy") in all aspects of production and served as the current executive for the CBS multi-cam comedy "Gary Unmarried." In addition, Frankel developed and set-up scripts at ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and ABC Family. Prior to ABC Studios, Frankel was at Grammnet Productions, where she served as manager of development and current, where she developed both comedy and drama pitches which sold to CBS, Comedy Central and CW. Frankel graduated with a BS from Syracuse University.

As part of the network's expansion into comedy, USA greenlit two pilots - THE UNTITLED DOUGLAS MCGRATH PROJECT and PAGING DR. FREED. Nathan Lane, Cheyenne Jackson, Ken Jenkins and Caroline Rhea will star in THE UNTITLED DOUGLAS MCGRATH PROJECT, a half-hour single camera comedy about an unlucky actor forced to move back home to take care of his dad. Lane and Douglas McGrath will executive produce the pilot from Universal Cable Productions, with a script from McGrath. In PAGING DR. FREED two brothers take over the reins of their father's medical practice after his untimely death. The half-hour comedy, from Fox 21, is written and executive produced by Michael Feldman. Katy McCaffrey and Brad Johnson will serve as producers.

USA Network is the #1 network in all of basic cable and is seen in over 102 million U.S. homes. A division of NBC Universal, USA is the cable television leader in original series and home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, acquired television series and entertainment events. The award-winning USA website is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.

USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.





  [december 2011]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· GARY UNMARRIED (CBS)
· HOW TO BE A BETTER AMERICAN (ABC)
· LOCAL TALENT (USA)
· PAGING DR. FREED (USA)
· STATE OF GEORGIA (ABC FAMILY)
· THIS LITTLE PIGGY (ABC)





[10/03/25 - 02:17 PM]
ESPN's Record-Setting '25 MLB Wild Card Series
Across eight games, the MLB Wild Card Series is averaging 4.4 million viewers, up 65% from last year.

[10/03/25 - 12:37 PM]
BET+ Sets October 23 Premiere for "Carl Weber's The Family Business" Season 6
The 10-episode season will premiere with two episodes, followed by one episode weekly, with the finale on Thursday, December 18.

[10/03/25 - 12:07 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Continues to Shatter Records - Growing Two Weeks in a Row Since Season Premiere for First Time Since 2005
Plus: "High Potential" hit a season high in Total Viewers (4.24 million), growing by double digits over the show's comparable third episode from last fall.

[10/03/25 - 10:57 AM]
Legends, Champions and Icons of October Highlight FOX Sports' Postseason Broadcaster Lineup
FOX Sports begins its Postseason coverage Saturday, October 4 at 4:00 PM ET on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One as the New York Yankees face the Toronto Blue Jays.

[10/03/25 - 10:05 AM]
All-New Season of "Gold Rush" Returns with High-Stake Risks and Land Fury on Friday, November 7 at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery
With only a few short months to mine, top bosses and rising underdogs collide in a race to claim new ground, move more dirt, and strike it rich.

[10/03/25 - 09:12 AM]
FOX Nation Secures Exclusive U.S. Rights to Docuseries "Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar"
The acclaimed series will make its anticipated U.S. debut on FOX Nation on Monday, October 6.

[10/03/25 - 08:02 AM]
TNT Sports to Be Exclusive Home of 2025 NLDS & NLCS
Both best-of-five NLDS series begin Saturday, October 4.

[10/03/25 - 08:01 AM]
TNT Sports Sets BIG EAST Men's College Basketball Schedule for Inaugural 2025-26 Season
TNT Sports' regular season BIG EAST men's basketball schedule will feature 40 appearances by St. John's, UConn, Creighton, Xavier, and Marquette, programs that each clinched berths in last season's NCAA Men's Tournament.

[10/03/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "27 Nights" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When a woman is admitted by her daughters to a psychiatric clinic for her carefree ways, an expert must judge if she is ill or simply wants to enjoy life.

[10/03/25 - 04:01 AM]
Video: "Steve" - Official Trailer #2 - Netflix
Over one intense day, the devoted head teacher of a last-chance reform school strives to keep his students in line while facing pressures of his own.

[10/03/25 - 03:02 AM]
Miguel Herran Will Play Poli Diaz in "El Porto the Vallecas," the New Film by Daniel Calparsoro for Netflix
Inspired by true events, the film follows the life of Policarpo "Poli" Díaz (Miguel Herrán), a young man from Vallecas who, despite a childhood marked by poverty and family violence, became a boxing legend in 1980s Spain, even fighting for the world lightweight title.

[10/03/25 - 03:01 AM]
Netflix Honors Jane Goodall with Posthumous Release of "Famous Last Words" Docuseries Following Her Passing
The series showcases reflective interviews with some of the world's most influential cultural figures, who agreed to sit down and discuss their legacy, and give their final words, with the understanding that it would only be shared with the world after they passed.

[10/02/25 - 04:09 PM]
ESPN Delivers the Most-Watched WNBA Semifinals Ever
Game 5 between the Indiana Fever and the Las Vegas Aces averaged 1.8 million viewers, peaking at 2.1 million.

[10/02/25 - 03:01 PM]
Video: "Twisted Wonderland" - Trailer - Disney+
Your favorite villains reimagined in ways you've never dared to dream.

[10/02/25 - 02:51 PM]
ESPN's Record-Setting Day One of MLB Wild Card Series
Coverage of Red Sox versus Yankees averaged 6.5 million viewers, peaking at 9.9 million.