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EXCLUSIVE: Expect an announcement in the next days that Morgan Wandell, the SVP of drama development at ABC Studios, is going to run Brothers & Sisters and Eli Stone and Dirty Sexy Money producer Greg Berlanti's hot company under a new multi-million dollar and multi-year development deal there. But here's what won't be in the press release: that Wandell was supposed to get the job of ABC Studios EVP of development being vacated by Julia Franz. He didn't because ABC Entertainment topper Steve McPherson blocked it.
McPherson has always had an issue with Wandell, I'm told, but it's more than a personality conflict. My sources say the two butted heads on shows. Then McPherson was royally pissed when he passed on Wandell's development of Criminal Minds and The Ghost Whisperer only to see Wandell sell the shows to CBS. Good for Wandell, but bad for McPherson's network. (Here's the pot calling the kettle black, because when McPherson was head of Touchstone TV, the predecessor to ABC Studios, he sold CSI to CBS when ABC passed.
Don't get me wrong: I like McPherson. I find his emotionalism endlessly amusing even if he's had difficulty growing hits behind ABC's top-rated series. (I loved it when he tore NBC's Ben Silverman a new asshole for betraying their mutual pal Kevin Reilly.) But let's face it, McPherson has had a bug up his ass about ABC Studios for some time, which is why in his recent contract negotiation he asked to run that entity as well or threatened to leave. But this was nixed by the big boss, co-chair of Disney Media Networks and prez of Disney-ABC Television Group Anne Sweeney, and McPherson stayed put and signed a new deal in May. Now McPherson and Mark Pedowitz uneasily co-exist. (Actually, they hate each other -- except when they're bonded in their mutual disdain for Sweeney, who's not fond of them either. Something along the lines of that old saying that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend". This is why I so love Hollywood...)
Wandell's No. 2, Channing Dungey, is likely to replace him. As for Franz, who's married to ICM prez Chris Silbermann, exiting is her idea. She came back from maternity leave two weeks ago and is staying through the end of the year to ease the transition. Pedowitz, meanwhile, has begun meeting with lots of people. I hear he's already had face-to-faces with Peter Traugott, prez of TV production at Brillstein Entertainment Partners; Karey Burke, the former EVP of all development at NBC who now runs Ashton Kutcher's hot company; Gene Stein, who has an overall deal at ABC Studios and was formerly the head of comedy development at CBS; and Steve Stark, the former head of Kelsey Grammar's very successful Gramnet Productions.
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Let me get this straight.
This McPherson fellow passed on Ghost Whisperer and Criminal Minds, and sold CSI to Alliance/Atlantis-CBS, and he’s still in a position of authority?
And all that hatred buzzing the corporate halls like mosquitoes of loathing can’t possibly be good for the company. Because then everyone’s too busy sticking knives into each other to do their jobs.
Gene Stein is a class act who Pedowitz/ABC Studios would be lucky to get.
McPherson can’t develop half hour comedies. He’s notorious for approving pilots based on concept and talent and then he himself doesn’t give pilot writers notes on the actual scripts until the week of production.
His underlings do, of course, and so the scripts get to a certain place for the table read (usually a strong place.) And then McPherson deems it time to get involved, gives huge notes — notes that contradict his underlings– and causes huge rewrites, all within the week of production (even though he’s had months to give his input.) The result… no MAJOR hit comedies under his watch. What a great system!
Anyone who approves a show like “Cavemen” should have been let go from their positions. I don’t know if it was Julia Franz or Stephen McPherson but I do find Mr. McPherson making some bonehead decisions especially letting go “Criminal Minds” to CBS. But as someone said before this is the “estrogen network”.
MICHELLE: Before you comment, you might want to tell the FULL story. Start by showing us a broadcast network that has had bang-up success with comedy development in the past few years? NBC can barely drag 7 million viewers a week to THE OFFICE and 5 million to 30 ROCK. BIG BANG THEORY and HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER are middling hits at best for CBS. FOX? Zip. The CW? Zip. I’ll sacrifice another crappy sit-com on ABC if they keep delivering great dramas like LOST, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, UGLY BETTY, BROTHERS & SISTERS, PRIVATE PRACTICE, GREY’S ANATOMY, DIRTY SEXY MONEY and PUSHING DAISIES. That is the single best line-up of scripted dramas on television and ALL are on ABC. You obviously don’t like Steve McPherson. Fine, don’t work for him.
Put up morgan’s picture, he’s gorgeous!!!
We never swear, but what kind if a–hole imbecilic comment is that, RTA – the “estrogen network?” Is that your “witty” way of saying ABC has shows geared to women? And what’s wrong with that? Women make 80% of household economic purchases. And what about it is geared towards women – because it has one show with “housewives” in the title, with women as the main players instead of in the background in bikinis like on that awful awful NBC? And what is a man themed show? Crime shows about victimized strippers? Yeah, that’s really great stuff. And why does a “testosterone network have more legitimacy? We are so sick of CSI, CSI, CSI. Criminal Minds can be good except for its redundant and tiresome storylines of female-abducted-sexully-tortured. The guys we know watch grey’s anatomy, though we never tuned in after eric dane stopped appearing in towels.
Point is, women are a majority, and women decide who buys what. Deal with the fact that women are empowered and not background dressing. The first ceo to get past his misogyny and exploit this reality will make a fortune. As it is, there’s little on tv or in movies of interest to many women who are not interested in, or sated by, an occasional wedding movie.
That company is going to kick ass. they have 3 shows on the air now, and with Morgan, they’ll end up with 5 or 6 by next year. if I were Gene Stein or Peter Trauggot, i’d say UNCLE too and go back to the exec side.
Ron H, leave Michelle alone. She speaks the truth. I was in on 2 of the ABC comedy pilot table reads this season and that exact scenario happened on both, both attributed to Mcpherson and his lack of communiciation. You logic on why Michelle should shut up is that other networks can’t launch comedies is flawed for two reasons. One just because NBC can’t do it, does that mean ABC should just throw up their hands and wave the white flag in defeat? No, of course not.
SEcondly your argument stated that Mcpherson should’nt be blamed for the failure to launch comedies, but should reap all the accolades for launching successful dramas. Sorry but you can’t have it both ways.
dear Ignorance,
Angry are we?
McPherson passed on one of the funniest half hour scripts from a major established comedy troika almost just to show that he was bigger than them. He made CAVEMEN instead and the rest is infamy. There are no strong comedy execs at any network, but he’s definitely the weakest link. Also, bipolar.
Ron H. hearts Steve M.
I saw it on his notebook.
truthsayer hearts Gene Stein.
Greg H. hearts Michelle L. (who IS right, so I heart them both)
What’s wrong with a little love in this loveless world?
Dear sam,
Morgan is a little gorgeous. Here’s the proof: He went to the only Claremont College that admits even slightly gorgeous guys – Claremont McKenna. The other 5 colleges there don’t allow them. Sorry, Pitzer and Harvey Mudd grads, but you know it’s true!
These comments sound like plants from Wandell (even the story does) and his friends.
Ron H. is totally, awesomely right. When you have a brilliant show like “According to Jim” that you can run multiple times a week, every week you don’t even need to TRY to improve your comedy slate.
You have to admire the way McPherson just sort of says “Screw you, Comedy!” All I need is Jim Belushi, and Jim Belushi, and Jim Belushi.
Gene Stein is a brilliant and kind development executive who comes up with script and story fixes which are specific and actionable. I’d hate to see us lose sight of that just because he’s not as physically beautiful as Morgan Wandell.
I’m glad to see people saying great things about Gene Stein. He is the nicest person I’ve met in the TV industry. And maybe the smartest. His book of short stories (it’s called Touch & Go) is also really good.
Funny, how everyone likes to point out that Steve McPherson made CAVEMAN, while forgetting to point out that he did launch the highest-rated new comedy of last season — SAMANTHA WHO?
I think that “Cavemen” is worth bringing up over and over again. It speaks volumes.
Mike — We get it. Gene Stein gave you a writing assignment once. For my money Gene Stein is talentless and contributes to the crap on ABC with his lame sitcoms. He is a real reason this industry is fertilizer.
Matteo what is “one of the funniest half hour scripts” that McPherson passed on? Also, McConkey (nice fake name) is right. McPherson should be getting more love here for Samantha Who? That show is the first comedy success ABC has had in many, many years. Also, I concur with the Gene Stein fans. He’s a writer so he knows how to give effective notes, not just notes to justify his job.
Caveman. The end.
i think morgan looks like a bad usc south-bay fratboy. and his lips are the same color as his face. i hate that.
and mcpherson’s main development strategy is to shit on things until they succeed, and then take credit for them.