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Oprah Insider Lisa Erspamer Out At OWN
In light of the sudden departure of OWN’s EVP of production and development Lisa Erspamer, the struggling cable network, a co-venture between Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo and Discovery Communications, has enlisted the help of 16-year Discovery Communications veteran Rita Mullin. On an interim basis, Mullin, currently SVP of Content Strategy for Discovery Fit & Health, will work with OWN’s team on programming and development while continuing in her role at Discovery Fit & Health. OWN’s programming is being overseen by network president Sheri Salata and Winfrey. Mullin brings to OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network what the network’s brass had been lacking: extensive series and cable network experience. Before joining Discovery Fit & Health, Mullin was head of TLC’s East Coast development team and responsible for developing several of the network’s top-rated series, including Jon & Kate Plus 8, 19 Kids And Counting, The Little Couple, Four Weddings and Sister Wives. This marks a homecoming for Mullin who, before her stint at TLC, served as VP of development for the Discovery Health Channel, which was replaced by OWN. Her current full-time employer, Discovery Fit & Health, was the result of the merger of Discovery Health and FitTV following the launch of OWN. OWN is facing an uphill ratings battle as it has not been able to outperform its predecessor, Discovery Health, despite its marquee brand and a $300 million investment from Discovery Communications.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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Great. More reality garbage. Reality TV seems to be losing its luster, anyway.
If you’re trying to keep up with the revolving door at OWN, here’s a snapshot:
*Former Regency President, Robin Schwartz, resigns as president of OWN in April of 2009 after less than ten months at OWN.
*Former MTV president, Christina Norman, dismissed as CEO of OWN in May of 2011–four months after OWN premieres.
*Peter Liguori, COO of Discovery, out as interim CEO of OWN November 2011 months before he was scheduled to leave
*Former Lifetime topper Suszanne Daniels brought in to help reshape network. Whereabouts: Unknown
*Former 18-year Harpo vet & Co-EP of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Lisa Erspamer, and most recently Chief Creative Officer (CCO) until Oprah decided she wanted to be both CCO & CEO this summer…gone yesterday.
How ironic now that Rita Mullen, the former development head of Discovery Health, the channel that Discovery CEO David Zaslav killed to make room for OWN, is now coming in to save OWN.
If the “Making of OWN” were a reality show on that same network, could that be the hit that the network needs to survive?
ADVICE: Rita, if things start going “south,” just ask for Seal Team 6.
Seriously my gosh what the heck IS going on behind the scenes over there? Robin S, GREAT – talented executive, but never understood that hire for start-up cable net OWN. And the list goes on from there of misplaced personalities and/or skillsets. I’d pay money to watch Peter Liguori and Oprah at dinner. By themselves. No one else. For one hour. Both lovely but together? Yikes. I really hate to see OWN fail but as a loyal, avid Oprah supporter I must admit — the network continues to vastly mis-step and I was optimistic but now I’m not even sure it can survive. It is sad because Oprah really DID want to create something different entertaining and a learning experience for the audience, the trouble is – that’s Noggen not OWN with high ad rates unfortunately and I think we all can see one person can not carry an entire cable channel. Whatever happens Oprah will be fine. My one piece of advice to Oprah and staff – and please may I not get hit by a lighting bolt while typing this: stop the “preachy” I personally love it however, it’s not very broad and takes the broadcasting out of … well… broadcasting. I can hear the remotes clicking across the country turning off OWN when Oprah goes into some of these preaches. I actually like it and learn a lot from her. But what Oprah and staff really REALLY need to understand: people are tired, they’ve worked all day, the economy sucks, they want to come home, spent time with their families, be entertained by television and zone out in front of television, her synidcated show worked because she personally was so joyous fun and entertaining we didnt realize we were learning at the same time. Her development crew would be remiss if they didnt keep in mind at the end of the day… people don’t want to be directly, directly preached to guys. They’ve got that ALL day long, especially during these hard times the majority of the folks in this country are having right now. So put down your fork at The Grill and get to some regular folks so you can more properly take the temperature of the country because you all are misreading it deeply with this programming. And yes… I have drunk the Oprah Koolaid… it’s purple and I love it. Wish Own would work but I think in this current climate the have about a season and a half more of tries.
It seems to me that Discovery is telling the people at OWN to stop wasting their money and get their act together, or else. It’s about time.
Well… Rita has a nice smile.
She doesn’t look jaded or bitter, yet.
Oh I can see the line up for OWN’s primetime now that Discovery is running programming on OWN:
1) Say Yes to this Mess
2) 19 CEO’s…and Counting
3) Fake Boss
With over $350M sunk in this venture, you didn’t think Discovery was going to let “toddlers and tiaras” continue to run this network?
Well this ought to get Rita out the door too. Shes no programming genius. She greenlit garbage like “Dan Ho” and “Sarah Snow”..who? Exactly. She happened to get lucky with Jon and Kate. This is nothing more than a Haill Mary pass that’ll probably send Mullin into retirement. She hasnt done squat with Fit and Health
Totally agree. TLC and Health have been doing trash television for years in order to succeed. I doubt she can do well when the standards are raised as they are on Oprah.