Brooke Karzen Promoted to Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming and Development, Warner Horizon Television
In this role, Karzen will continue to work closely with Darnell and serve as WHTV’s top unscripted executive, responsible for all creative affairs, development, current programming and matters related to the company’s original television series and content. Karzen will continue to spearhead the development and production of unscripted programming and collaborate with powerhouse executive producers such as Mike Fleiss, Mark Burnett and key talent brands including Ellen DeGeneres’ A Very Good Production, LeBron James’ SpringHill Entertainment and Steve Harvey’s East 112th Street Productions.
Mike Darnell said: “Brooke is an amazing executive. She manages all aspects of one of the busiest production companies in the business and leads an incredible team. We are lucky to have her, and this promotion is long overdue.”
A 15-year veteran of the company, Karzen has perhaps been most closely associated with “The Bachelor” franchise since inception, having overseen executive producer Mike Fleiss’s long-running flagship program “The Bachelor” (TV’s #1 unscripted program among Adults 18–34 for the 2014–15 season) as well as highly successful brand extensions “The Bachelorette” (which concluded its 11th season this summer) and “Bachelor in Paradise” (which recently concluded its second season). Karzen was also instrumental in bringing music competition series “The Voice” (executive produced by Mark Burnett) to NBC; the program now ranks as television’s #1 unscripted series among Adults 18–49 and 25–54.
In addition to those long-running franchises, Karzen has shepherded the rollout of several new series from WHTV, including “500 Questions,” the genius game show from Mike Darnell and executive producer Mark Burnett, for ABC, which was recently renewed for a second season; the upcoming comedy/variety series “Little Big Shots,” from executive producers Ellen DeGeneres and Steve Harvey, for NBC; and new dating series “Love at First Kiss,” from “The Bachelor” creator Mike Fleiss, for VH1. Other recent WHTV series include “America’s Best Dance Crew” for MTV and “Repeat After Me,” an unscripted comedy series for ABC from DeGeneres’ A Very Good Production, which aired in spring 2015.
Karzen joined the company in 2000, working for Telepictures Productions as Vice President, Programming, and Senior Creative Executive for primetime series. She moved from Telepictures to Warner Horizon Television in 2006 and was promoted to Senior Vice President, Alternative Programming, in 2008.