Television
May 1, 2007
Bryn Freedman Named Co-Executive Producer Of “TMZ”
(May 1, 2007 - Burbank, CA) — Telepictures Productions has named award-winning television producer and journalist Bryn Freedman to the post of co-executive producer of “TMZ,” the new, first-run daily television series based upon TMZ.com, the #1 entertainment news destination on the Internet. The announcement was made today by “TMZ” Executive Producers Harvey Levin and Jim Paratore.
In her new position, Freedman will manage the day-to-day responsibilities of the entertainment news magazine, overseeing all aspects of the production of the series, leading to its premiere on September 10, 2007. She joins Levin and Paratore at the helm of the new program, which has been cleared for launch in 95% of the country by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. “TMZ” will debut on the Fox Television Stations and has also been sold to stations from the following groups: Sinclair, Tribune, Cox, CBS, McGraw-Hill, LIN, Clear Channel, Media General, Cascade, ACME, Raycom, Landmark and The New York Times, among others.
In addition to announcing Freedman’s appointment, Telepictures has named Charles Latibeaudiere as supervising producer of “TMZ,” tapped Lee Brownstein as the show’s director, and named Dana DeMars the executive in charge of production.
“This team has the creativity and experience to make ‘TMZ’ great TV,” said Levin.
“I couldn’t be more excited about the team that we’ve put together for ‘TMZ’ on TV,” said Paratore. “Bryn’s journalism background, Charles’ hands-on experience producing a daily TV magazine, Lee’s knowledge of new technology and Dana’s managerial prowess are exactly what we need to create a compelling television version of TMZ.”
Award-winning Freedman comes to “TMZ” with more than 25 years of experience as a journalist, producer, reporter, anchor and author. Most recently, she served as executive producer of “Intervention,” the two-time Prism Award-winning documentary series which profiles people trying to overcome dependence on drugs or alcohol, or other compulsive behavior. The show was honored with “The President’s Award,” given by the Entertainment Industries Council, Inc., to a production that “not only raises awareness (about drugs and alcohol) but leaves behind a legacy.”
Throughout her career, Freedman has served in a variety of positions in all aspects of broadcast news. She was deputy bureau chief for ABC News in Los Angeles, and she also worked closely with Barry Diller, then Chairman and CEO of USA Broadcasting, to develop a variety of projects, including “The Times USA,” a daily news program targeting 18-34-year olds. She is also a founding member of International World Television’s “The Real News,” a non-profit international news network created by print, broadcast and online journalists to produce independent news and documentary programs across broadcast and online platforms.
Freedman came to Los Angeles as an on-camera investigative reporter for Fox Entertainment News and Twentieth Television’s nationally syndicated series “EDJ” (“Entertainment Daily Journal”). She also served as an on-air correspondent for Fox News, covering national politics, science and the courts for the Los Angeles bureau of Fox News Channel. Prior to that, she worked for WTXF-TV in Philadelphia, where she was named Best News Reporter by Philadelphia Magazine. Freedman is also an accomplished author, having co-written "In Eddie’s Name," a critically acclaimed nonfiction account of a 1994 murder case in Philadelphia which exposed critical failings of the city’s 911 emergency response system.
Supervising producer Latibeaudiere has spent the last eight years at “Extra,” the pop culture news magazine strip produced by Telepictures. Since 1998, he has served as senior producer, supervising and producing the daily version of “Extra.” For the two years prior, he produced the hourlong weekend edition of the program, after being promoted from segment coordinator. Before joining “Extra,” Latibeaudiere worked at KTVK-TV in Phoenix, then the ABC Television Network affiliate, where he served as producer of the nightly 10:00 pm newscast.
Brownstein brings a broad range of skills to his role as director on “TMZ.” His diverse background includes experience in showrunning, producing, programming, writing, marketing and advertising & promotion. Brownstein has worked at NFL Films as a cameraman and editor, winning an Emmy® for his work on the “Road to the Super Bowl” special. He is one of the original producer/directors for MTV Sports and worked on Michael Moore’s “TV Nation.” In music programming, Brownstein worked with Clear Channel to develop, produce and direct the concert series “Levi’s Presents: Live at the Fillmore,” featuring recording artists Coldplay, Jessica Simpson, Linkin Park, Pete Yorn, Train and others. He also directed a triple platinum-selling home video for Nick Lachey and 98 Degrees. In reality television, he has produced series for E! Entertainment Television, Live Planet, MTV2 and MSN. In advertising & promotion, Brownstein has helmed numerous projects and image campaigns for a variety of networks, including ABC, NBC, MTV, CNBC, MSNBC and Animal Planet. He has been honored with several Emmy®, Monitor and Telly Awards for creative excellence.
Before joining “TMZ,” DeMars was co-executive producer of “Road Rules 2007: Viewers’ Revenge,” “The Bad Girls Club” and “One Ocean View.” Before that, she has been executive in charge of production and/or production manager on more than a dozen series, including “Starting Over,” “Good Day Live,” “Divorce Court,” “Win Ben Stein’s Money.”
“TMZ” will be produced in Los Angeles by Harvey Levin Productions, Inc., and paraMedia, inc., in association with Telepictures Productions, and distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. “TMZ” is the first entertainment news magazine that will cover Hollywood as it really is…and celebrities as they really are. While other shows wait on the red carpet for photo-ops, “TMZ” will go the places where stars work, live and play. Every day, “TMZ” will take viewers on a ride through a world where the reality is even more fascinating than the hype. Attitude, humor and energy will be the personality of “TMZ” on TV.
Telepictures Productions is one of the industry’s top producers of first-run programming for the syndication marketplace and a leader in the production and distribution of entertainment news on the Internet. It currently produces five nationally syndicated strips: the second season of “The Tyra Banks,” a one-hour, daily talk show serving as a young woman’s guide to life, hosted by Tyra Banks; the fourth season of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” winner of three consecutive Daytime Emmy® Awards for Outstanding Talk Show and two for Outstanding Talk Show Host; the eighth season of the hour-long court series “Judge Mathis”; the 13th season of the pop culture news magazine strip “Extra”; and talk show “The Dr. Keith Ablow Show.” Telepictures also produces the legendary weekly variety show “Showtime at the Apollo.”
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