
EXCLUSIVE: Imagine Television is staying put at 20th Century Fox TV but its president David Nevins is exiting after 8 years. Nevins’ contract was up and I hear he couldn’t come to an agreement with the studio, which pays for Imagine TV’s overhead. There had been rumblings for the past couple of months about the future of Nevins at Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine TV, which he joined as president in 2002. The company had a solid upfront showing, securing two key renewals, for freshman Parenthood and sophomore Lie To Me, and landed one new series, Friends With Benefits on NBC. (Imagine has one more series on the air, DirecTV/NBC’s Friday Night Lights). Nevins’ deals with 20th TV were usually made at the time of Imagine TV’s renewals. I hear Imagine TV was just picked up for another two years, but after coming close to a new contract with 20th TV, Nevins and the studio ultimately couldn’t agree on terms. I also hear Nevins already has a new gig lined up but will stay on at Imagine, which he is leaving on very good terms, to help with the transition.
Nevins joined Imagine in 2002 after spending 10 years as a programming executive at NBC and Fox, rising to EVP programming at Fox. At Imagine, he also oversaw such series as 24 and Arrested Development.
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I heard Mitch Hurwitz left Sony partners to team with his old Exec Prod partner Nevins for new shingle.
One of the true good guys. Smart, creative, protects his writers/producers/directors. Some company will gain a great asset. Such a loss for Imagine.
Nevins is a good guy with a lot of integrity. He made that place a viable tv entity even before he arrived there by championing such fare as 24. He’ll land on his feet.
Not that Nevins isn’t a perfectly swell exec and producer and did very well by Imagine TV, but it was absolutely a ‘viable tv entity’ well before he got there; its first year out of the gate Imagine got three pilots shot and all three got on the air. There were articles about its unprecedented success, and not just in the trades. Nevins for sure has kept the brand alive and solid but he was handed a pretty happening division.
Another extra layer being shed.
Yup. He’s a classy dude. Never much of a “yeller” though. Sometimes you gotta yell in this business.
I’ll echo all the sentiments above. When I was a twenty-something nobody with no produced credits he treated me like my opinion/work mattered and fought to protect it. Very few people — in this town or anywhere — have the kind of integrity, intelligence and creativity this dude has. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next for him.
Finally got a chance to work with him after many years. He did not disappoint. Rare combination of commercial instincts, creative chops, persistence, class. Whoever lands him will be fortunate, as much top-flight TV talent will follow soon after!
I’m hearing Showtime.
Nevins is a smart, talented stand-up guy. People like that don’t usually last that long in Brian Grazer’s company of fluffers and yes-men. Kudos on getting out.
Oh come on, they haven’t had one commercial success since 24 and that was under Tony krantz. Lots of great talent management that added up to zero.