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| -Signs, Portents, and the Weather- |
| ABC programming head exits; successor is a network TV first |
| 2016-02-18 |
| [BIGSTORY.AP.ORG] The head of the ABC Entertainment Group is departing amid low ratings, to be replaced by the first African-American to head a broadcast TV network. ABC Entertainment President Paul Lee has decided to leave, the network announced Wednesday. His successor is Channing Dungey, who has been ABC Entertainment Group's executive vice president for drama development, movies and miniseries, overseeing drama pilots and the launches of series. Dungey shepherded ABC hits including "Scandal," ''How to Get Away with Murder" and "Quantico." The changeover comes a year after Ben Sherwood became president of the Disney-ABC TV Group and after Lee's nearly six years as programming chief. "Channing is a gifted leader and a proven magnet for top creative talent, with an impressive record" of helping to create compelling and popular series, Sherwood said in a statement. "And she's the right color! But, really, we picked her because she's so talented!" Dungey is both the first black network programming chief and a rare female executive. Change has come faster for women than minorities in the TV executive ranks, with Jennifer Salke serving as NBC's entertainment president and, at Fox Television Group, Dana Walden sharing chair and CEO duties with Gary Newman. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 Dungey shepherded ABC hits including "Scandal," ''How to Get Away with Murder" and "Quantico." All with 'strong' female leads marginalizing male protagonists. Got a take on a 'Buffy' storyline for them. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2016-02-18 14:03 |
| #4 We may not have seen this exact movie, but we do know the modern Hollywood Magical Negro trope. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2016-02-18 10:42 |
| #3 Any other 'demographic' / 'special group' that this appointment satisfies that is not mentioned? |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2016-02-18 10:06 |
| #2 ...Interestingly, I've never seen any of those shows. I watch 'Agents of SHIELD' and my wife watches 'Once Upon A Time'. And we watch them on Hulu, not cable. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2016-02-18 05:38 |
| #1 The head of the ABC Entertainment Group is departing amid low ratings, to be replaced by the first African-American to head a broadcast TV network. Oh, yeah - I'm expecting a rebound in ratings any week now. |
| Posted by: Raj 2016-02-18 00:29 |