Hannibal Classics Sets Cast For Nic Cage Pic … 
Hammond On Cannes: Robert Redford’s Brave New Role … 
Hot Trailer: Jennifer Aniston And Jason Sudeikis’ … 
Warner Bros Tells Space Story, From The Bra Designers Who … 
Brad Pitt’s Plan B Banner Promotes Jeremy Kleiner To … 
Hot Trailer: ‘Don Jon’ 
Billy Crystal-Starring Comedy From Matt Nix & Larry … 
RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Dancing With The Stars’ … 
Hammond On Cannes: A New Day Comes To The Fest As HBO and … 
Cannes: Fleming Reflects And Finds Talented Trio A Breath … 
Hot Trailer: ‘Man Of Steel’ 
Former Digital Domain CEO & Auditors Sued For Fraud By … 
ABC’s ‘Nashville’ Undergoes Production … 
CBS Wins Season & Ties Sweep In Demo; ABC Tops Adults … 
Alki David Agrees To End Name Games With Aereo And Barry … 
Next-Gen Xbox One Unveiled With Content Including … 
Cannes: Weinstein Co Acquires Keanu-Reese Sci-Fi Pic … 
Hot Trailer: ‘The Wolverine’ 
Ang Lee Departs FX Pilot ‘Tyrant’ 
How Many Times Does Seth MacFarlane Have To Say No To The … 
Cannes: Stanley Weiser To Script ‘Three Graves … 
After a long sting at CBS TV Studios, veteran drama showrunner Ken Sanzel has inked an overall deal with Universal Television. Under the two-year pact, Sanzel will develop, executive produce and supervise new projects for Universal. The former New York City cop, who was a member of the Decoy Squad in the NYC Transit Police Department, currently serves as executive producer/showrunner on the CBS/CBS Studios midseason drama NYC22, executive produced by Robert De Niro. Before that, Sanzel spent several years as executive producer/showrunner on the CBS/CBS Studios long-running drama Numbers. “Ken is a talented showrunner and possesses all the skills to create and sustain a hit show,” Universal TV’s EVP Bela Bajaria said. “Additionally, having had a prior life in the NYPD, Ken brings a unique, authentic, fresh perspective to everything he does.” Sanzel, repped by UTA and manager Jeff Field, previously created the series Jonny Zero and wrote and directed the cult CW pilot Nomads. This is the latest in a string of overall deals signed by Universal TV in the past couple of months as the studio is beefing up its talent roster.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
Loading ...
Wish Ken the best, and hope can break out of the journeyman showrunner mold. I’m a fan of NYC-22.
Other than the fact that he never has created and sustained a hit show, Ken possessing all the skills to create and sustain a hit show sure makes this overall good in my book.
True he has all of the skills to sustain a hit. He just hasn’t sustained said “hit.” Ken writes/produces programmable tv which NBC desperately needs right now. Smart move Bela if Ken can get along with the team.
Ken is one of my favorites in the business! He is an incredible talent. This is very well deserved! Congrats Ken!
Ken was forced off BLUE BLOODS because, well, he’s just not good. For a guy who was actually a cop, you’d think some unique voice would come out…NYC22 is a derivative of a derivative cop show with nothing unique,new, or fresh being told…
Right on. While I think Ken is smart, he allows his ego to get in the way. He was negative on this from the start and took the Richard Price tone out of the series. You can’t blame Ken, but did not seem like he tried very hard on NYC 22.
I’ve met Ken twice while working on “NYC 22″, as an bg extra, and he’s a good guy. Anyone here who thinks he’s no good is typing out of their rear. “Numb3rs” ran a good six seasons (Ken started on the second) and he had a falling out on “Bloods” because Selleck wanted it to be a “family-friendly” cop show. Excuse me, if I trust the ex-cop to run a cop show.
Hey BG extra — take it from someone on the inside…. It was less Selleck’s creative demands and more of Ken’s ego. Hear it also bit him in the ass with Mangold Rosenthal and Price on NYC22 pilot — but with mangold out of the picture he was able to do what he wanted with the series. Hit showrunner he’s not, but if you need average, then Ken’s your guy. NBC needs anything at this point.