You are viewing the archive: “Jeff Wachtel”

Publicists To Honor USA Network Co-Presidents McCumber & Wachtel

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Wednesday November 7, 2012 @ 1:14pm PSTTags: ICG Publicists, Jeff Wachtel, USA Network

USA Network co-presidents Chris McCumber and Jeff Wachtel will receive the Television Showman of the Year Award at ICG Publicists 50th Annual Awards Luncheon on February 22. The two jointly oversee strategic direction, programming and operations across all platforms for the network. Both joined USA in 2001 and became co-presidents ten years later. McCumber previously served as EVP of marketing, digital and brand strategy and also conceived and developed the Characters Welcome multiplatform brand for the network. Wachtel was most recently president, original programming USA. He also serves as co-head original content of Universal Cable Productions.

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TCA: Peter Tolan Drops Pants During Raucous ‘Rescue Me’ Farewell Panel

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Saturday August 6, 2011 @ 1:42pm PDTTags: Denis Leary, Jeff Wachtel, Peter Tolan, Rescue Me, Steven Pasquale, TCA Press Tour, Television Critics Association

Ray Richmond is contributing to Deadline’s coverage of TCA.

It was supposed to be a sober, nostalgic, reflective visit with Rescue Me writer-producer-star Denis Leary, showrunner Peter Tolan and castmates Steven Pasquale and Callie Thorne as the iconic FX firefighter hour wraps up seven seasons on Sept. 7, four days before the 10th anniversary of 9/11. What it turned into Saturday morning at TCA was the most raucous and entertaining panel of the 12-day event to date, as Leary and Tolan put on a show for critics bleary-eyed from the nonstop coverage that finally wraps Monday.

Things started to get crazy about halfway through the 30-minute panel, when Leary observed with his usual manic energy, “You guys have spent, what, three fucking weeks here talking to TV people and now you’re fuckin’ bored.” Tolan then picked up the ball and added, “I’m going to take my pants off.” That led into a fresh rant from Leary, who railed: “By the way, USA (Network) is fuckin’ raiding Rescue Me. (Steven) Pasquale’s shooting a pilot (Over/Under) for them. Callie (Thorne) is starring in a show (Necessary Roughness) for ‘em. I’m writing a pilot for ‘em.” Tolan: “I’m doing very mild janitorial work. … And working for just a few weeks as (USA programming chief) Jeff Wachtel’s fluffer.”

Shortly thereafter, to help boost the excitement of the festivities, Tolan stood and pulled down his pants to reveal very oddly colored briefs. Much laughter and applause ensued. A critic then tried to ask a serious question: Does Leary fear that his role on Rescue Me is one he will now always be identified with, perhaps to his detriment? Tolan decided to intercept that one: “When you say that Denis will be remembered for this part, I think you’re forgetting Operation Dumbo Drop.” The room roared. Read More »

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Jeff Wachtel And Chris McCumber Named USA Network Co-Presidents

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday March 16, 2011 @ 11:17pm PDTTags: Bonnie Hammer, Jeff Wachtel, NBCUniversal, USA Network
Nellie Andreeva

With Bonnie Hammer taking on a much larger portfolio following the NBC-Comcast merger, she is ceding control over day-to-day operations of NBCUniversal’s flagship cable network USA.

Hammer will continue to oversee … Read More »

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USA Network Re-Enters Reality TV Arena, Taps Head Of Alternative Programming

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday February 2, 2011 @ 2:00pm PSTTags: Jeff Wachtel, TV, USA Network, WWE Tough Enough
Nellie Andreeva

USA Network is now officially a reality player. After an extensive search, the top basic cable network has hired syndication and unscripted executive Heather Olander as SVP alternative programming. Olander, who has started this week, will oversee all … Read More »

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Mark Stern Upped To President At SyFy

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday January 13, 2011 @ 8:02am PSTTags: Dave Howe, Jeff Wachtel, Mark Stern, Syfy, Syfy Films, TV
Nellie Andreeva

Syfy’s EVP original programming Mark Stern has been named president. He continues to report to Dave Howe, President, Syfy and Chiller. Stern also co-heads original content for Universal Cable Prods. … Read More »

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USA’s ‘Burn Notice’ Prequel Starring Bruce Campbell Is A Go; Jeffrey Donovan To Direct

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday November 30, 2010 @ 1:25pm PSTTags: Bruce Campbell, Burn Notice, Burn Notice Prequel Movie, Comic-Con, Fox TV Studios, Jeff Wachtel, Jeffrey Donovan, Matt Nix, Mikkel Bondesen, Movies, TV, USA Burn Notice
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: USA has given a formal green light to the Burn Notice movie prequel starring Bruce Campbell, which will be directed by Burn Notice star Jeffrey Donovan. The two will also executive produce with Burn Notice creator Matt Nix, who … Read More »

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USA Network Picks Up 3 More Pilots

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday November 3, 2010 @ 1:00pm PDTTags: Cable TV, Jeff Wachtel, Over/Under USA Network, TV, TV Deals, TV Pilots, USA Network, USA Network Pilot, Wild Card USA Network
Nellie Andreeva

USA Network has handed out cast-contingent pilot orders to three more hourlong projects, Eden, about a resourceful young hotel concierge, Wild Card, about 2 very different lawyers in Las Vegas, and Over/Under, about an ex-day trader with a gambling problem who starts a new life. That is addition to the 3 pilots the cable network has in various stages of production or pre-production, Necessary Roughness, Common Law and A Legal Mind, bringing the total number of pilots to 6, the most ever for USA in a calendar year. ”The company is investing in our success,” said USA president of original programming Jeff Wachtel, who noted that USA is projected to top the cable ratings for a fifth year in a row despite increased competition. “We’re fighting to stay No.1, and we have to step up our game. You do that by building up your portfolio, pushing out with a little more volume and moving outside your comfort zone by pushing with genre and tone.” He said that all 6 new pilots have ”a little bit more bite, more edge to them but are still very much in our sweet spot.” Read More »

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USA To Expand Into Reality Programming And Bring Back ‘WWE Tough Enough’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday October 18, 2010 @ 9:42am PDTTags: Cable TV, Jeff Wachtel, Reality TV, Tough Enough, TV, Unscripted TV, USA Network, USA Network Reality Programming, USA Network Unscripted Series
Nellie Andreeva

USA Network continues its genre expansion with a big push in reality programming. The top basic cable network is close to ordering its first unscripted series in 5 years, WWE Tough Enough. It is also in the process of hiring a reality executive, and USA programming president Jeff Wachtel has been meeting with top reality production companies to talk about his plans in the arena. USA’s revival of Tough Enough actually came together separately from its current efforts in the unscripted area and stems from the network’ relationship with WWE through USA staple WWE Raw. Tough Enough, which features contestants competing for a contract with WWE, ran on MTV for 3 seasons, and in 2004 it moved to UPN where it aired for a season as part of SmackDown. On USA, it also is expected to run in tandem with USA’s WWE Raw series. Read More »

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USA Network Renews ‘Royal Pains,’ ‘Psych’, And ‘White Collar’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday September 27, 2010 @ 5:35pm PDTTags: Cable TV, Jeff Wachtel, Ratings, TV, TV Ratings, USA Network, USA Network Ratings, USA Network Renewals
Nellie Andreeva

After another successful summer of original scripted programming, USA Network has made more renewals: sophomore series Royal Pains and White Collar for a third season and veteran Psych for a sixth season. The Royal Pains‘ order is said to be for 18 episodes, while I hear Psych and White Collar are being picked up for 16 episodes each. The decision was made while the 3 series are still in production on their current seasons (White Collar wraps this week, while Royal Pains and Psych are filming their last couple of episodes) to give producers the opportunity to lock in key crew members. With the pickups, which follow similar renewals for Burn Notice and In Plain Sight (both picked up for 2 more seasons) and freshman Covert Affairs as well as a miraculous final season eight-episode pickup for Law & Order: Criminal Intent with original star Vincent D’Onofrio on board, the top basic cable network is bringing back its entire 7-series slate. ”To have such success with our existing series gives us a platform to experiment and push the envelope with our next generation of shows,” said USA’s president of original programming Jeff Wachtel. Read More »

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USA Network Prepping ‘Burn Notice’ Prequel

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday July 22, 2010 @ 2:59pm PDTTags: Bruce Campbell, Burn Notice, Burn Notice Prequel Movie, Cable TV, Comic-Con, Comic-Con Convention, Jeff Wachtel, USA Network
Nellie Andreeva

comicon 2010If you’re developing a prequel to your hit series Burn Notice built around Comic-Con fave Bruce Campbell, what better place to announce the plan than Comic-Con! That’s exactly what Jeff Wachtel, USA Network’s president of original programming, did at … Read More »

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