TV in 3: Friedlander’s Amazon Goals Revealed; TV Studio Scorecard
Plus: Vin Diesel’s Upfronts onstage overshare
I wrote about the recent growth in broadcast, the death of vanity production deals, interviewed Bravo and Peacock reality chief Frances Berwick, and reported on how A24 is reshaping TV. I’m lesley.goldberg@theankler.com
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TGIF and congratulations to those of us who survived another insane round of Upfronts. Special shout-outs to my Ankler colleagues Sean McNulty for his great recaps/analysis of each presentation in the Wakeup, Elaine Low for her big-picture look at the winners and losers, and the entire team behind Ankler Agenda for this fantastic in-person wrap-up.
For my own contribution to the Upfronts of it all, I’m reading the tea leaves of Peter Friedlander’s first presentation as head of Amazon’s Prime Video TV business, and how Vin Diesel wasn’t totally wrong about the number of Fast & Furious TV shows in the works for Peacock. Then, after my in-depth look at the growing number of shows on the Big 4 networks, I have the number-by-number breakdown of which TV studios are winning the surge.
Before I jump into all that, some un-Upfront-related news: Cross Keith Cox’s name off Paramount’s potential org chart from hell. One of the key architects of the Taylor Sheridan universe has opted to not renew his contract at the company after an impressive 20-year run that yielded the Yellowstone franchise plus Darren Star hits Emily in Paris and Younger. Cox, who successfully transitioned TV Land into a home for originals with such fare as Hot in Cleveland, is expected to join Chris McCarthy’s company, Creative Partner Studios, which has a deal at NBCUniversal, where he will reunite with the former Paramount co-CEO, Sheridan and other producers including Star.
Now, a look at those NYC shindigs and the studio slates.