ABC Signature head of creative affairs Tracy Underwood has been elevated to president of the Disney-owned TV studio.
Underwood, who has been at the studio since 2010, will be filling the role vacated in July by Jonnie Davis. Davis was named president of ABC Signature (then ABC Studios) in July 2019 in the wake of the 21st Century Fox-Disney merger.
Reporting to Eric Schrier, president of Disney Television Studios and global original TV strategy for Disney Entertainment, Underwood will now oversee all creative affairs, including the studio’s development of drama, comedy and limited series, as well as the current series slate.
Senior vice president of series Sydnee Rimes will continue to lead the current series team, now reporting into Underwood. Susan Lewis, senior vice president of drama development, and Danny Feldheim, senior vice president of comedy development, will continue to report to Underwood.
Underwood’s prior role will not be backfilled.
Underwood, who has been at the studio since 2010, will be filling the role vacated in July by Jonnie Davis. Davis was named president of ABC Signature (then ABC Studios) in July 2019 in the wake of the 21st Century Fox-Disney merger.
Reporting to Eric Schrier, president of Disney Television Studios and global original TV strategy for Disney Entertainment, Underwood will now oversee all creative affairs, including the studio’s development of drama, comedy and limited series, as well as the current series slate.
Senior vice president of series Sydnee Rimes will continue to lead the current series team, now reporting into Underwood. Susan Lewis, senior vice president of drama development, and Danny Feldheim, senior vice president of comedy development, will continue to report to Underwood.
Underwood’s prior role will not be backfilled.
- 12/5/2023
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
ABC Signature veteran Tracy Underwood has been elevated to President of the Disney Television Studios division. Underwood, most recently EVP of creative affairs for ABC Signature, is taking over the top post vacated by Jonnie Davis in July.
In her new position, Underwood will add oversight of current series to her current role overseeing development of drama, comedy and limited series, which will not be backfilled. Sydnee Rimes, SVP of Series and head of ABC Signature’s current series team, will now report into Underwood; Susan Lewis, SVP of Drama Development, and Danny Feldheim, SVP of Comedy Development, will continue to report into her.
Underwood’s promotion caps a lengthy search for Davis’ successor led by Eric Schrier, President of Disney Television Studios and Global Original TV Strategy for Disney Entertainment, to whom she will report. Outside candidates were considered, with Underwood emerging as the leading candidate by October.
While streamlining its content leadership,...
In her new position, Underwood will add oversight of current series to her current role overseeing development of drama, comedy and limited series, which will not be backfilled. Sydnee Rimes, SVP of Series and head of ABC Signature’s current series team, will now report into Underwood; Susan Lewis, SVP of Drama Development, and Danny Feldheim, SVP of Comedy Development, will continue to report into her.
Underwood’s promotion caps a lengthy search for Davis’ successor led by Eric Schrier, President of Disney Television Studios and Global Original TV Strategy for Disney Entertainment, to whom she will report. Outside candidates were considered, with Underwood emerging as the leading candidate by October.
While streamlining its content leadership,...
- 12/5/2023
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
ABC Signature has found its new comedy chief.
The Disney-owned studio has tapped former Paramount+ and CBS All Access exec Danny Feldheim as SVP, Comedy Development.
It comes eight months after Melanie Frankel, who was the studio’s previous head of comedy, decided to step down.
Feldheim was mostly recently SVP at Paramount+ and its predecessor CBS All Access, where he helped launch the Original Series division of the streamer working across both comedy and drama series. He was responsible for shepherding the streamer’s series such as Star Trek spinoffs Picard, Discovery, Lower Decks and Strange New Worlds as well as The Good Fight, The Stand, Guilty Party and upcoming series The Offer and Players. He also started CBS All Access’ push into comedy with No Activity and its move into documentaries with Console Wars.
Prior to that he was at Fox, where he worked in both the drama and comedy departments,...
The Disney-owned studio has tapped former Paramount+ and CBS All Access exec Danny Feldheim as SVP, Comedy Development.
It comes eight months after Melanie Frankel, who was the studio’s previous head of comedy, decided to step down.
Feldheim was mostly recently SVP at Paramount+ and its predecessor CBS All Access, where he helped launch the Original Series division of the streamer working across both comedy and drama series. He was responsible for shepherding the streamer’s series such as Star Trek spinoffs Picard, Discovery, Lower Decks and Strange New Worlds as well as The Good Fight, The Stand, Guilty Party and upcoming series The Offer and Players. He also started CBS All Access’ push into comedy with No Activity and its move into documentaries with Console Wars.
Prior to that he was at Fox, where he worked in both the drama and comedy departments,...
- 3/30/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Danny Feldheim has been named senior vice president of comedy development at ABC Signature. In the role, Feldheim will lead the studio’s comedy team and report to Tracy Underwood, who serves as executive vice president of comedy affairs.
He joins ABC Signature after most recently serving as senior vice president at Paramount Plus and CBS All Access, where he worked across comedies and dramas and was involved in launching the streamer’s original series division. He oversaw the expansion “Star Trek” IP including “Picard,” “Lower Decks,” “Discovery” and “Strange New Worlds,” as well as series including “The Good Fight,” “The Stand,” “Guilty Party,” “The Offer” and “Players.”
Feldheim has also held positions at Fox Broadcasting Company, Nickelodeon, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and ICM.
“So much of my love for storytelling comes from a decade’s long affinity for the Walt Disney Company and its incomparable range of platforms and brands,...
He joins ABC Signature after most recently serving as senior vice president at Paramount Plus and CBS All Access, where he worked across comedies and dramas and was involved in launching the streamer’s original series division. He oversaw the expansion “Star Trek” IP including “Picard,” “Lower Decks,” “Discovery” and “Strange New Worlds,” as well as series including “The Good Fight,” “The Stand,” “Guilty Party,” “The Offer” and “Players.”
Feldheim has also held positions at Fox Broadcasting Company, Nickelodeon, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and ICM.
“So much of my love for storytelling comes from a decade’s long affinity for the Walt Disney Company and its incomparable range of platforms and brands,...
- 3/30/2022
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
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