Television
May 31, 2007
Telepictures Productions Promotes Key Creative Executives And Expands Development And Programming Ranks
(May 31, 2007 - Burbank, CA) — Telepictures Productions, 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 with TMZ, has promoted longtime Telepictures executive Lisa Hackner to the newly created position of Executive Vice President, Creative Affairs, and made a series of other key promotions and appointments in the programming ranks, it was announced today by Hilary Estey McLoughlin, President, Telepictures Productions.
In her new post, Hackner will be responsible for overseeing all of Telepictures’ creative efforts regarding new program and content development for all distribution outlets. She will be responsible for the creation of new programming for Telepictures’ core first-run syndication business, and she will be charged with identifying ideas and talent for the digital space. Hackner will oversee Telepictures’ creative development and programming team, as well as producers with overall deals at the company. She will report to Estey McLoughlin.
In addition to Hackner, Sheila Bouttier and David McGuire have also been promoted, both to Senior Vice President, Programming and Development. Each will report to Hackner on development and will continue to be involved in all aspects of Telepictures’ current programming activities. Bouttier will continue to play a key role in overseeing “The Tyra Banks Show” and will work closely with Hackner in developing and executing new projects and content initiatives across multiple platforms.
McGuire will remain responsible for overseeing “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” which has been nominated for 12 Daytime Emmy® Awards this season. He will work with Programming Manager Leigh Collier to oversee “Judge Mathis,” “The People’s Court,” “Showtime at the Apollo” and new current programming. In addition, David will expand his role in managing the creative execution of product integrations for Telepictures’ shows.
At the same time, Emmy® Award-winning producer Lauren Blincoe has joined Telepictures as Vice President, Development, and Leigh Collier has been named Manager, Programming. Blincoe will work with Hackner in developing new first-run series and digital content, while Collier will serve as a current programming executive overseeing the long-running hit court series “Judge Mathis” and “The People’s Court,” as well as “Showtime at the Apollo.” Collier will also support the development team in identifying new projects, trends and market opportunities. She will report to McGuire on current programming and to Hackner on development.
“These are really well-deserved promotions, and I feel very fortunate to be working with the best and most dynamic team in the business. We couldn’t have a better person or executive than Lisa to lead and inspire our development team and producers,” said Estey McLoughlin. “Lisa, David and Sheila have all been instrumental to Telepictures’ success with their hands-on approach to creating, launching and overseeing our hit franchises. They will work together with Lauren and Leigh to find our next generation of hit shows.”
She added, “Telepictures will maintain its focus on growing and exploiting our core syndication business across multiple platforms while building on our new media success by tapping into our production expertise and infrastructure to build breakthrough brands and destinations for the digital space like TMZ that will migrate to television.”
Prior to her promotion, Hackner had been Senior Vice President, Development, since she rejoined Telepictures in June 2004 from Universal Domestic Television, where she had served as Executive Vice President for two years, overseeing development and current programming. Before joining Universal in 2002, Hackner had spent her entire career at Telepictures, starting at the company in 1990 as a receptionist and working her way up to Vice President, Development. While at Telepictures, Hackner has been a key member of the team responsible for developing many of the company’s hit shows, including “elimiDATE,” “Judge Mathis,” “Street Smarts,” “Jenny Jones,” “Change of Heart” and “The Tyra Banks Show.”
“Lisa is one of the most talented, creative and passionate executives and producers I have ever worked with. She has a great sensibility for what the buyers and viewers will respond to, fantastic relationships with producers and talent and an impeccable reputation in the creative and business community that will enable us to continue to attract the most marketable talent and projects,” said Estey McLoughlin.
A 17-year veteran of Telepictures Productions, McGuire most recently served as Vice President, Development, since May 2003, overseeing the launch of virtually every first-run series and pilot the company has produced during his tenure, including “The Tyra Banks Show.” He has also served as the creative executive on “Hardly News,” an interactive comedy-news-game-hybrid produced for Bud.tv by Telepictures for Studio 2.0, the digital production division of the Warner Bros. Television Group. David began his career at Telepictures on the production side at “Jenny Jones,” serving for 10 years in such varied roles as Supervising Line Producer, Associate Director, Post Producer, Post Production Supervisor and Post Production Coordinator, as well as the show’s current programming executive. Prior to joining the executive ranks, he was a producer with an overall deal at Telepictures Productions, serving in a variety of posts, including a stint as the Coordinating Producer on “elimiDate.” Prior to Telepictures, McGuire worked in production at KTLA Sports, “Not Necessarily the News,” CBS News, “Comic Relief,” the AFI Tribute programs, “Celebrate America’s Soul” and “Sunday Night with King.”
“David has proven himself a versatile programming executive and producer with extraordinary project and people management skills, and he has been invaluable to our success,” said Estey McLoughlin.
Bouttier had been Vice President, Programming, at Telepictures since June 2004. Before that, she served as Vice President, Development, Universal Domestic Television. In addition to Universal, she also worked in development at Buena Vista Productions and as a producer for Telepictures’ “elimiDate.” Bouttier was also Manager of Television at John Wells Productions, worked at FOX Broadcasting in comedy, and began her television career as a producer for “The Jerry Springer Show.”
“Sheila has been pivotal to the successful launch and first two seasons of ‘The Tyra Banks Show,’ which has been renewed for two more years and has been nominated for six Daytime Emmy® Awards, including Outstanding Talk Show and Host. She has exceptional producing, programming and creative instincts, is a great collaborator with producers and has been integral to our development efforts,” said Estey McLoughlin.
Blincoe has most recently been the Senior Supervising Producer of the Emmy®-nominated “The Tyra Banks Show” since June 2006. Prior to “Tyra,” she was a Supervising Producer on “elimiDATE” and “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” where she won two Emmys®. She has also served as a Producer on a number of series, including “George & Alana,” “The Pat Bullard Show,” “The Dennis Prager Show,” “Leeza” and “The Mo Gaffney Show.” Blincoe also previously held the position of Vice President, Artist Development, at Tonos.com.
“Lauren has been a part of the Telepictures family as one of our best producers. She has proven herself to be a prolific idea generator and creative leader and executor who works very well with talent. This is the logical progression of her career, and we are thrilled to have her continue to contribute to the company as a creative executive,” said Estey McLoughlin.
Collier served as Manager, Media Research, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, before segueing to Telepictures in her current role. Prior to joining the Studio, Collier worked as a Senior Analyst of Program Planning and Research at Comedy Central, as well as a Program Analyst at Universal Television Group. She began her career as a Casting Associate at Collins Casting.
“Leigh’s research background gives her a keen understanding of the television audience and what and why they want to watch, which will serve her and us very well in our development and programming efforts,” said Estey McLoughlin.
For the upcoming 2007-08 season, Telepictures, an industry-leading and Emmy® Award-winning producer of syndicated programming, is producing six nationally syndicated strips. The season includes the freshman season of “TMZ,” the half-hour series that will bring the TMZ.com brand to television, expanding upon the website’s mission as a 24-hour-per day, seven-day-per week entertainment news destination providing a fresh, unfiltered look at celebrities and their real lives; the third season of “The Tyra Banks Show,” a one-hour, daily talk show serving as a young woman’s guide to life, hosted by Tyra Banks; the fifth 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 ninth season of the hour-long court series “Judge Mathis”; the 11th season of “People’s Court”; the 14th season of the pop culture newsmagazine strip “Extra”; and the legendary weekly variety show “Showtime at the Apollo.” Additionally, Telepictures will produce “CW Now,” a new half-hour series premiering on The CW Network this fall which blends news and entertainment to create the ultimate source for everything that’s hip, hot and happening right now in the world of young adults.
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