UPDATE: I already reported this months ago, and then gave more details weeks ago. So today’s ABC announcement is ridiculously anticlimactic. But, of course, the shakeup would finally be announced while I was out of the office. Now, here’s more: I’m also told by sources that Carolyn Cassiy, AJ Marcantonio, Heather Roth, Brian Harvey, Liz Dickler and Jodie Platt were all let go. Safe are Patrick Maguire, Kelly Lugenbeihl, and Amy Hartwick. Dana Gotlieb is joining ABC Media Studios’ comedy department. Zack Olin is going to the ABC network comedy department. As expected the shakeup was brutal. As I expected, Steve McPherson distanced himself. And Barry Jossen was out of town. One source tells me people were summoned to Jossen’s office where a Human Resources exec observed while Jossen fired them over the phone.
Completing a process begun in January, ABC Entertainment Group President Stephen McPherson today announced the Group’s final organizational structure. Effective immediately, Business Affairs, Business Development, Casting, Program Planning, Scheduling and Distribution will be managed as integrated areas, while ABC Entertainment and ABC Studios retain separate creative teams, with each combining development and current programming roles.
In making the announcement, Mr. McPherson said: “The new organization will strengthen our position as a top quality content engine and promote a healthier business model to sustain it. The structural changes we have put in place ensure a cohesive vision from a creative, production and business standpoint, and will make us a stronger, more efficient team more seamlessly focused on common goals.”
With this announcement, Mr. McPherson outlined the following structure:
Jeff Bader, executive vice president, ABC Entertainment Group, Planning, Scheduling & Distribution, continues as ABC Entertainment’s senior executive in charge of primetime and late-night program planning and scheduling. Beyond these network-specific duties, Mr. Bader will be responsible for facilitating and coordinating global programming, distribution and windowing strategies for all ABC Entertainment Group programs across all platforms, both domestic and international. Directly reporting to Mr. Bader are Vice President, Broadcast Program Planning and Scheduling, Steve Kern; Vice President, Multiplatform Programming and Scheduling, Wendell Foster, and Executive Director, Program Planning and Scheduling, Catherine Korda.
Barry Jossen, executive vice president, ABC Entertainment Group, Studio Creative and Production, will provide strategic direction, leadership and oversight to creative and production at ABC Studios. Directly reporting to Mr. Jossen are Senior Vice President, Drama Series, Josh Barry, who moves over from Drama Development at the network; Senior Vice President, Comedy Series, Kevin Plunkett; Senior Vice President, Production, Gary French; Senior Vice President, Post-Production, Paula Warner, and Vice President, Music, Dawn Soler.
Suzanne Patmore-Gibbs, executive vice president, ABC Entertainment Group, Network Scripted Creative, will provide creative direction, oversight and management of the network’s entire primetime Scripted Creative group, which includes drama development/current programming, comedy development/current programming, and made-for-television movies and miniseries. Directly reporting to Ms. Patmore-Gibbs in her new role are Senior Vice President, Drama, Channing Dungey, who moves over from a comparable role at the studio; Senior Vice President, Comedy, Samie Falvey, and Senior Vice President, Movies, Miniseries and Acquisitions, Quinn Taylor.
Mia Rondinella, vice president, ABC Entertainment Group, Business Planning and Development, will identify growth opportunities and develop business strategies, supervise the activities of the business licensing and merchandising team and provide counsel and analysis on key strategic initiatives. Directly reporting to Ms. Rondinella are Rosalie Villapando, vice president, Business and Franchise Development, and John Hanna, executive director, Merchandising.
Jana Winograde, executive vice president, ABC Entertainment Group, Business Affairs and Administration, will oversee deals, agreements and general business related to the development and acquisition of all primetime and late-night programming, marketing and ABC.com. Additionally, Ms. Winograde will provide business oversight of the development and production of network, cable and syndicated programming and the licensing of such programming to distributors and exhibitors. She also oversees the business elements of the Music Department, which sets music policy and handles music licensing and administration. Directly reporting to Ms. Winograde are Howard Davine, executive vice president, ABC Entertainment Group, Studio Business Affairs; Jennifer Mayo, senior vice president, ABC Entertainment Group, Network Scripted Business Affairs; Kerry Kennedy, vice president, ABC Entertainment Group, Alternative Series Business Affairs; and, Peter DiCecco, senior vice president, Disney/ABC Television Group, Music-Business & Legal Affairs.
Senior Vice Presidents Vicki Dummer and John Saade continue in their current roles as co-heads of Alternative Series, Specials And Late-Night at the network; Keli Lee continues in her current role as executive vice president, Casting; and Executive Vice Presidents Mike Benson and Marla Provencio continue in their current roles as co-heads of Marketing, all reporting to Mr. McPherson, but taking on ABC Entertainment Group titles.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.


Why is Fourth place NBC not having any heads roll or being reorganized? I don’t even hear rumblings.
This is exactly what McPherson needed to do — shake up the tree to cover his own ass. After a piss poor year of development, ABC doesn’t have much to look forward to as TV SEASON starts back in the Fall. Oh wait — there will be more BACHELORETTE…ok, maybe things are looking up.
Remember when they use to fire under-achievers in Hollywood?
What a shame. Carolyn Cassidy and Brian Harvey are two of the best and brightest in the business. I’m sure they will land on their feet quickly.
This is pathetic + Jossen outta be ashamed of the way he handled this: “One source tells me people were summoned to Jossen’s office where a Human Resources exec observed while Jossen fired them over the phone.”
Now’s the time to cancel Jimmy Kimmel Live, while you still have the muscle!!!
Seriously, that show is pretty awful. Trim the fat, ABC. Literally.
Damn Gina! at “One source tells me people were summoned to Jossen’s office where a Human Resources exec observed while Jossen fired them over the phone.”
seems to me they need to fire some freaking vice presidents…..
Gosh it all sounds so wonderful. Whoever wrote this press release should be given a raise and promoted. I can’t wait to see even more stupid reality shows in the fall they’re all so marvelously entertaining. You can’t beat ABC reality programming no sir don’t even try to beat it. LOST should be cancelled and turned into a reality show with celebrities and regular people stuck on an island together. Come on McPherson put that on the air and cancel LOST nobody understands it and it’s taking up valuable airtime.
Uh Jake?
December 8, 2008. Black Monday? Ring a bell?
Disney is low on cash so this move is easier than making money.
Let me get this straight. Barry Jossen fired people by phone??? Well, guess he’s truly become a “Disney” guy now….must be great with creatives!
One source tells me people were summoned to Jossen’s office where a Human Resources exec observed while Jossen fired them over the phone.
Class act.
Boy, Steve-O missed a huge opportunity to re-org the Marketing team, starting with Benson. Steve, have you been looking at your air recently? The ABC House of stars? Yikes. Or, “…making room for comedy…”, it’s just all so very bad, uncreative.
Liz Dickler is a good person and will hopefully land on her feet. Somebody monetize the web already! TV is dying a slow and painful death.
This is the big shake up at ABC? what 6 people are gone? That’s it? months and months of speculation and not to be insensitive, but basically all the same people are there but they’re just reporting to new people. Stephen and Barry, the music is playing, please continue to rearrange the chairs on the titanic! dont let us disturb you as we all watch!
And yet they keep Brian Frons who has systematically destroyed their daytime lineup.
A lot more than 6 people were let go. They wouldn’t tell us the numbers on Thursday, but it was a large number of people. Nikki, do you have more info on the numbers or percentages?
Is this why ABC changed their research guru as well?