Exclusive: MGM Television is cementing its move into premium factual programming with a new partnership with Imax documentary producer and distributor K2 Studios.
The Hollywood studio will co-produce eight premium documentary TV series with K2, which specializes in producing nature, wildlife, science and adventure programming.
The deal also includes distribution of K2 library content and a first-look deal for new K2 content.
The partnership comes after MGM revealed its push into factual documentaries and specials last year with a new division based out of London run by EVP Richard Bedser.
The first K2 release of the MGM partnership will be Sam Neill-narrated Sea Lions: Life By A Whisker, which will continue its rollout this summer as theaters reopen post-Covid.
K2 Studios President Mark Kresser will oversee all production and distribution for Imax/giant-screen markets and will executive produce the initial eight TV series in partnership with David Gross’s Definition Studios,...
The Hollywood studio will co-produce eight premium documentary TV series with K2, which specializes in producing nature, wildlife, science and adventure programming.
The deal also includes distribution of K2 library content and a first-look deal for new K2 content.
The partnership comes after MGM revealed its push into factual documentaries and specials last year with a new division based out of London run by EVP Richard Bedser.
The first K2 release of the MGM partnership will be Sam Neill-narrated Sea Lions: Life By A Whisker, which will continue its rollout this summer as theaters reopen post-Covid.
K2 Studios President Mark Kresser will oversee all production and distribution for Imax/giant-screen markets and will executive produce the initial eight TV series in partnership with David Gross’s Definition Studios,...
- 7/2/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
On the heels of John Nogawski's departure as CBS Television Distribution president, there's been another shake-up at the division. Aaron Meyerson, Ctd's president of programming and development and Nogawski's No. 2, is now exiting the company. THR Poll: Daytime Viewers More Likely to Watch Steve Harvey Than Katie Couric Amid the restructuring, Maureen FitzPatrick and Joe Ferullo have been appointed to senior vp programming and development positions. Nogawski hired Meyerson in January 2011, replacing Terry Wood, who had stepped down three months earlier. But two weeks ago, CBS announced that Nogawski was departing the company as part of a
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- 10/17/2012
- by Kimberly Nordyke
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Veteran producer Maureen FitzPatrick and CBS Television Distribution’s Joe Ferullo will share the new Svp of Programming and Development title at CBS’ syndication division, which is undergoing a restructuring following the recent exit of CBS TV Distribution President John Nogawski, whose responsibilities have been taken over by Armando Nuñez, resident of CBS Studios International. In a similar fashion, FitzPatrick and Ferullo, who will report to Nuñez, are taking over the duties of president of programming and development Aaron Meyerson, who is leaving. FitzPatrick most recently was Svp Comedy Development at FremantleMedia North America, where she developed, sold and produced scripted live-action and animated adult comedies for cable networks. She recently was executive producer of Gsn’s new game show Pyramid, which debuted last month, and her extensive daytime credits include stints on Ellen, The Newlywed Game and Whose Line Is It Anyway? Ferullo, previously VP Programming and Development, is...
- 10/16/2012
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
CBS is off the sex discrimination hook with the man who was suing them. Daysun Perkins last week dropped his lawsuit against CBS Corp and CBS Television Distribution after reaching a confidential settlement with the network last month. On August 28, he requested (read it here) that La Superior Court dismiss the case he filed in March. A hearing on Perkins’ request is set for October. “We have no comment except to say that the parties have resolved the case to the mutual satisfaction,” a CBS Television Distribution spokesperson told Deadline. Perkins, currently Gsn’s Executive Director for Original Programming and Development, sued CBS alleging he had been told the network had to hire a woman for a position he had applied for. According to the civil suit, Aaron Meyerson, the President of Programming and Development at CBS TV Distribution, told Perkins in March 2011 that despite his qualifications he “would not...
- 9/4/2012
- by DOMINIC PATTEN
- Deadline TV
Freelance journalist Dominic Patten is a Deadline contributor Update, 7:50 Pm: ”We haven’t seen the complaint and can’t comment on the specifics,” a CBS spokesperson told Deadline, “but the claim as we understand it is without merit and will be vigorously defended.” Previous: CBS is being sued for sexual discrimination by man who says he was told the network had to hire a woman for the position. The lawyer for Daysun Perkins filed a 12-page civil suit against CBS Corporation and CBS Television Distribution today in La County Superior Court. According to the suit, Aaron Meyerson told him in March 2011 that he “would not be hired” for the position of VP of Development because of his gender. “I gotta go girl,” Perkins’ suit claims Meyerson, who is President of Programming and Development at CBS TV Distribution, said. “This job is not worth getting a sex change over.” Perkins,...
- 3/28/2012
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Oprah Winfrey is gone from daytime TV, but the scramble to fill the void she's leaving is starting to feel like the last big giveaway she'll ever do.
Anderson Cooper, you get a talk show! Katie Couric, you get a talk show! Bethenny Frankel, you get a talk show! And now, "Survivor" host Jeff Probst, you get a talk show!
CBS Television Distribution announced Monday (June 27) that it's developing a daytime show with Probst for fall 2012. Couric's ABC show is also set to launch then, while Cooper hits the daytime air this fall and Frankel's project is at the pilot stage.
"I'm fascinated with human nature and thrilled that this show will allow me the opportunity to connect with real people and explore their stories on a personal level," Probst says. "As I continue with 'Survivor,' I am excited to extend my relationship with CBS with this new...
Anderson Cooper, you get a talk show! Katie Couric, you get a talk show! Bethenny Frankel, you get a talk show! And now, "Survivor" host Jeff Probst, you get a talk show!
CBS Television Distribution announced Monday (June 27) that it's developing a daytime show with Probst for fall 2012. Couric's ABC show is also set to launch then, while Cooper hits the daytime air this fall and Frankel's project is at the pilot stage.
"I'm fascinated with human nature and thrilled that this show will allow me the opportunity to connect with real people and explore their stories on a personal level," Probst says. "As I continue with 'Survivor,' I am excited to extend my relationship with CBS with this new...
- 6/28/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Jeff Probst -- no stranger to daytime since he often fills in on Live with Regis and Kelly — has signed a deal with CBS for a daytime program, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"Anyone who has seen Jeff on Survivor knows how he connects with people and has an instinct that makes him a natural and compelling host for daytime," said Aaron Meyerson, CBS president of programming and development. "Whether it's a newsmaker of the day, a celebrity or ordinary folks, Jeff will go further than typical discussion."
Read More >...
"Anyone who has seen Jeff on Survivor knows how he connects with people and has an instinct that makes him a natural and compelling host for daytime," said Aaron Meyerson, CBS president of programming and development. "Whether it's a newsmaker of the day, a celebrity or ordinary folks, Jeff will go further than typical discussion."
Read More >...
- 6/27/2011
- by Robyn Ross
- TVGuide - Breaking News
After seven years as co-anchor/anchor of syndicated entertainment newsmagazine The Insider, Lara Spencer will exit to join Good Morning America in May as lifestyle anchor. Based in New York, she will cover issues like family, parenting, health, fitness and work/life balance and will be involved in the morning program's entertainment and celebrity coverage. In addition, Spencer will contribute to ABC News' Nightline. Spencer started off on Wabc-tv in New York and worked for Gma as a national correspondent for four years before going to The Insider in 2003. Last year, Spencer was considered the lead candidate to succeed retiring Mary Hart on The Insider's sister newsmagazine Et, but the job eventually went to Nancy O'Dell. "Lara and I have incredible memories together, so it's bittersweet to say goodbye," The Insider/Et executive producer Linda Bell Blue said. "We respect her decision to accept this exciting opportunity and...
- 3/17/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Aaron Meyerson, who helped develop such shows as “Paris Hilton: My New Bff,” and “Tori and Dean," has been named president of programming and development at CBS Television Distribution. He'll replace Terry Wood, who helped launch shows including "Dr. Phi" and "Rachael Ray." Meyerson will be responsible for all first-run development and will oversee such shows as "Entertainment Tonight," "Judge Judy," and "Rachael Ray." “Having developed hit shows for Oxygen and MTV, Aaron brings a new sensibility to the syndication marketplace. He comes to us with a fresh set of eyes, knowledge of...
- 1/3/2011
- The Wrap
CBS Television Distribution president John Nogawski went outside the company and outside the syndication world for a successor to Terry Wood, president of creative affairs and development, who recently departed Ctd after 12 years. Aaron Meyerson, whose background is in cable reality TV, digital media and features, has been named president, programming and development for CBS TV Distribution. He will be responsible for all first-run development and will oversee Ctd’s current programming, including veterans Entertainment Tonight, Judge Judy and Rachael Ray. Nogawski acknowledged Meyerson's unorthodox background in his statement. “Having developed hit shows for Oxygen and MTV, Aaron brings a new sensibility to the syndication marketplace," Nogawski said. "He comes to us with a fresh set of eyes, knowledge of our core female audience and an acumen for creating new financial models for production." Meyerson joins Ctd from the digital media tech startup, Coincident TV, where he was a principal.
- 1/3/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
On the surface, it looked like another cost-cutting measure by a media company in the face of a prolonged recession -- MTV Networks' Music Group and Logo division on Tuesday trimmed 50-something jobs.
But at ratings-challenged MTV, which took the brunt of the layoffs, what may have appeared to be a budget cut was in fact a long-in-the works programming restructuring that created new development teams reporting directly to MTV president of programming Tony Disanto.
"It was not done for financial reasons, it was purely creative -- an overhaul of the organization to better meet the creative needs of MTV," Disanto said.
Seven executives, about half of MTV's development team under Disanto and his top lieutenant, Liz Gateley, were let go. Among those were senior vps Maira Suro, who oversaw for the channel's scripted efforts, and Aaron Meyerson, who shepherded a slate of unscripted series.
Under the new structure,...
But at ratings-challenged MTV, which took the brunt of the layoffs, what may have appeared to be a budget cut was in fact a long-in-the works programming restructuring that created new development teams reporting directly to MTV president of programming Tony Disanto.
"It was not done for financial reasons, it was purely creative -- an overhaul of the organization to better meet the creative needs of MTV," Disanto said.
Seven executives, about half of MTV's development team under Disanto and his top lieutenant, Liz Gateley, were let go. Among those were senior vps Maira Suro, who oversaw for the channel's scripted efforts, and Aaron Meyerson, who shepherded a slate of unscripted series.
Under the new structure,...
- 6/24/2009
- by By Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In an effort to ramp up its original programming, cable network Oxygen has boosted its programming budget and hired two senior vps to oversee development and marketing. Former Fox Television Studios executive Aaron Meyerson has been tapped as senior vp development and production, while Cynthia Ashworth has been named senior vp marketing. Both will report to Debby Beece, president of programming and marketing at the cable network. "We feel the timing is right for us to be more aggressive about developing, producing and marketing our original programming," Beece said.
- 3/29/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
To meet the growing demand for documentaries, Fox Television Studios has added a senior vp post to its nonfiction programming division. Aaron Meyerson will be promoted to the newly created position, in which he will oversee production for both the Foxstar and Natural History New Zealand units of the company. Both banners have experienced an explosion of new business from such networks as Discovery Channel, A&E and National Geographic Channel. "The business has grown to a point where we wanted someone to run it," Fox TV Studios president David Grant said. "Aaron is a pretty creative guy who is perfect for the job."...
- 10/22/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"Go Go Good Screenplay!" "Go Go Good Direction!" Rats, nothing happened.
Except for some young and undemanding moviegoers willing to overlook its abundant flaws, Disney's new family comedy "Inspector Gadget" won't have much success past a few decent weeks at the boxoffice, though it might go go far as a video release.
On initial inspection, "Gadget" -- a cross between "Get Smart" and "The Pink Panther", with lots of standard sci-fi, special effects-created stuff thrown in -- is too scattershot in its approach, too derivative in its story elements and characters (the snobbish villain straight out of a Bond or Austin Powers movie has a cat) and has just too clunky a superhero to catch on in any significant way with audiences.
It's also another wild swing in the career of star Matthew Broderick, who got great notices for "Election" this year after surviving the "Godzilla" backlash last year. Playing a dual role, the good-hearted lead and his evil incarnation RoboGadget, Broderick is well cast. But the screenplay credited to Kerry Ehrin and Zak Penn -- from Ehrin and Dana Olsen's story -- is an ungainly concoction of robocliches and unfunny supporting characters, while hot actor Rupert Everett is barely lukewarm as the diabolical villain.
Based on the 1980s cartoon created by Andy Heyward, Jean Chalopin and Bruno Bianchi, which was produced by French animation company DIC, "Gadget" is the feature debut of commercial director David Kellogg and boasts a few kooky special effects scenes with the endless array of devices implanted in the title character -- and his super-duper Gadgetmobile (voiced by D.L. Hughley), a Lincoln convertible with a funky mind of its own.
The film opens with security guard John Brown (Broderick), who lives with his niece Penny (Michelle Trachtenberg) and dreams of being a heroic cop, though he's been turned down by the police academy. One night at his job guarding a robotics research facility, however, he tries to thwart the elaborate robbery attempt of Sanford Scolex (Everett) and is seriously injured.
With the blessing of Pittsburgh-like Riverton City's obnoxious mayor (Cheri Oteri) and the official support of the police chief (Dabney Coleman), scientist Brenda Bradford (Joely Fisher) is allowed to finish the work of her murdered father (Rene Auberjonois) and transform Brown into the "future of law enforcement." From his hands and arms now come countless utensils and torrents of toothpaste, and his head sprouts helicopter blades when he says "Go go (device)."
Brown's transformation into Inspector Gadget leads to many frustrating, faintly amusing sequences where the walking hardware store loses control of his new endowments. He also has a crush on Brenda, and grows jealous the first time she's approached by Everett's evil mastermind. The romance is thankfully downplayed, but the same can't be said for the overall corny humor and hit-or-miss visual gags that never stop coming.
While Inspector Gadget is put in charge of rescuing cats with his extending arms, his nemesis creates a devilish twin (with Broderick having fun with facial ticks and looking cool in heavy makeup and film noir bad-guy attire).
When the bad superhero unleashes deadly gadgetry on the city and Brenda is faced with her scarily ditzy roboself, "Gadget" winds up for a round of unoriginal thrills, including take-offs of "Mission: Impossible", "Godzilla" and "Mary Poppins".
Andy Dick and Michael G. Hagerty manage to have a few memorable moments in the thankless roles of the henchmen, with the latter getting the biggest laugh in an end-credits scene. Stan Winston's animatronic creations and supervisor Richard Hoover's visual effects are spiffy but not enough to salvage this marginally entertaining project.
INSPECTOR GADGET
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Walt Disney Pictures presents
in association with Caravan Pictures
an Avnet Kerner/Roger Birnbaum/DIC production
Director:David Kellogg
Screenwriters:Kerry Ehrin, Zak Penn
Story by:Dana Olsen, Kerry Ehrin
Based on characters created by:Andy Heyward, Jean Chalopin, Bruno Bianchi
Producers:Jordan Kerner, Roger Birnbaum, Andy Heyward
Executive producers:Jon Avnet, Barry Bernardi, Aaron Meyerson, Jonathan Glickman, Ralph Winter
Director of photography:Adam Greenberg
Production designers:Michael White, Leslie Dilley
Editors:Thom Noble, Alan Cody
Costume designer:Mary Vogt
Special animatronic effects:Stan Winston
Visual effects supervisor:Richard Hoover
Music:John Debney
Casting:Amanda Mackey Johnson, Cathy Sandrich
Color/stereo
Cast:
Inspector Gadget/RoboGadget/John Brown:Matthew Broderick
Sanford Scolex:Rupert Everett
Brenda/RoboBrenda:Joely Fisher
Penny:Michelle Trachtenberg
Kramer:Andy Dick
Mayor Wilson:Cheri Oteri
Sikes:Michael G. Hagerty
Chief Quimby:Dabney Coleman
Gadgetmobile Voice:D.L. Hughley
Artemus Bradford:Rene Auberjonois
Running time -- 78 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
Except for some young and undemanding moviegoers willing to overlook its abundant flaws, Disney's new family comedy "Inspector Gadget" won't have much success past a few decent weeks at the boxoffice, though it might go go far as a video release.
On initial inspection, "Gadget" -- a cross between "Get Smart" and "The Pink Panther", with lots of standard sci-fi, special effects-created stuff thrown in -- is too scattershot in its approach, too derivative in its story elements and characters (the snobbish villain straight out of a Bond or Austin Powers movie has a cat) and has just too clunky a superhero to catch on in any significant way with audiences.
It's also another wild swing in the career of star Matthew Broderick, who got great notices for "Election" this year after surviving the "Godzilla" backlash last year. Playing a dual role, the good-hearted lead and his evil incarnation RoboGadget, Broderick is well cast. But the screenplay credited to Kerry Ehrin and Zak Penn -- from Ehrin and Dana Olsen's story -- is an ungainly concoction of robocliches and unfunny supporting characters, while hot actor Rupert Everett is barely lukewarm as the diabolical villain.
Based on the 1980s cartoon created by Andy Heyward, Jean Chalopin and Bruno Bianchi, which was produced by French animation company DIC, "Gadget" is the feature debut of commercial director David Kellogg and boasts a few kooky special effects scenes with the endless array of devices implanted in the title character -- and his super-duper Gadgetmobile (voiced by D.L. Hughley), a Lincoln convertible with a funky mind of its own.
The film opens with security guard John Brown (Broderick), who lives with his niece Penny (Michelle Trachtenberg) and dreams of being a heroic cop, though he's been turned down by the police academy. One night at his job guarding a robotics research facility, however, he tries to thwart the elaborate robbery attempt of Sanford Scolex (Everett) and is seriously injured.
With the blessing of Pittsburgh-like Riverton City's obnoxious mayor (Cheri Oteri) and the official support of the police chief (Dabney Coleman), scientist Brenda Bradford (Joely Fisher) is allowed to finish the work of her murdered father (Rene Auberjonois) and transform Brown into the "future of law enforcement." From his hands and arms now come countless utensils and torrents of toothpaste, and his head sprouts helicopter blades when he says "Go go (device)."
Brown's transformation into Inspector Gadget leads to many frustrating, faintly amusing sequences where the walking hardware store loses control of his new endowments. He also has a crush on Brenda, and grows jealous the first time she's approached by Everett's evil mastermind. The romance is thankfully downplayed, but the same can't be said for the overall corny humor and hit-or-miss visual gags that never stop coming.
While Inspector Gadget is put in charge of rescuing cats with his extending arms, his nemesis creates a devilish twin (with Broderick having fun with facial ticks and looking cool in heavy makeup and film noir bad-guy attire).
When the bad superhero unleashes deadly gadgetry on the city and Brenda is faced with her scarily ditzy roboself, "Gadget" winds up for a round of unoriginal thrills, including take-offs of "Mission: Impossible", "Godzilla" and "Mary Poppins".
Andy Dick and Michael G. Hagerty manage to have a few memorable moments in the thankless roles of the henchmen, with the latter getting the biggest laugh in an end-credits scene. Stan Winston's animatronic creations and supervisor Richard Hoover's visual effects are spiffy but not enough to salvage this marginally entertaining project.
INSPECTOR GADGET
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Walt Disney Pictures presents
in association with Caravan Pictures
an Avnet Kerner/Roger Birnbaum/DIC production
Director:David Kellogg
Screenwriters:Kerry Ehrin, Zak Penn
Story by:Dana Olsen, Kerry Ehrin
Based on characters created by:Andy Heyward, Jean Chalopin, Bruno Bianchi
Producers:Jordan Kerner, Roger Birnbaum, Andy Heyward
Executive producers:Jon Avnet, Barry Bernardi, Aaron Meyerson, Jonathan Glickman, Ralph Winter
Director of photography:Adam Greenberg
Production designers:Michael White, Leslie Dilley
Editors:Thom Noble, Alan Cody
Costume designer:Mary Vogt
Special animatronic effects:Stan Winston
Visual effects supervisor:Richard Hoover
Music:John Debney
Casting:Amanda Mackey Johnson, Cathy Sandrich
Color/stereo
Cast:
Inspector Gadget/RoboGadget/John Brown:Matthew Broderick
Sanford Scolex:Rupert Everett
Brenda/RoboBrenda:Joely Fisher
Penny:Michelle Trachtenberg
Kramer:Andy Dick
Mayor Wilson:Cheri Oteri
Sikes:Michael G. Hagerty
Chief Quimby:Dabney Coleman
Gadgetmobile Voice:D.L. Hughley
Artemus Bradford:Rene Auberjonois
Running time -- 78 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
- 7/23/1999
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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