CBS Announces Next Wave Of Promotions

CBS's new Entertainment President Nina Tassler wasted no time in assembling her executive programming team in charge of primetime series.

The Futon Critic reported that Tassler promoted Wendi Trilling to Executive Vice President in charge of comedy development, Laverne McKinnon to Drama Development, and David Brownfield to Senior Vice President in charge of current programming. This annoucement follows up that of Tassler's own promotion to CBS Entertainment President by about a week (story).

Trilling developed and maintained the hit CBS comedy Everybody Loves Raymond during her tenure as Senior Vice President, Comedy Development at CBS. She also developed the comedies The King of Queens, StilL Standing and Two and a Half Men.

Tassler praised Trilling's development of the Monday night block of comedies that precedes CSI: Miami. "Thanks to Wendi's development skills, CBS has the top-rated comedy block (Monday night) on television,” Tassler said of Trilling. "Having worked alongside her for several years now, I am constantly impressed by her comedic intuition and her ability to work with creative talent to turn a concept into a hit. Wendi's talents have helped make CBS America's Number One network and I'm thrilled to work with her in this new capacity."

Former Vice President, Drama Series Development McKinnon will step into Tassler's old position of the head of CBS's drama department. McKinnon helped Tassler to develop CBS dramas such as CSI: Miami, Cold Case, Without a Trace and Navy NCIS. McKinnon has also helped develop this fall season's most anticipated drama, CSI: New York.

Tassler has faith that McKinnon will continue to develop quality dramas for the network. "Laverne is a gifted executive who has been at my side for the development of some of CBS’s biggest hits," she commented. "She has a remarkable ability to identify strong material and to communicate and collaborate with writers and producers in a way that nurtures a project from script to pilot to successful series. With Laverne running the department, we have an executive that brings the talent, track record, passion and stability to continue CBS’s reputation for being the destination of choice for top drama projects."

Brownfield moves from the position of Vice President, Current Programming to Senior Vice President, Current Programming. He steps into the position previously occupied by David Stapf, who was promoted last week to President of Paramount Network Television. Brownfield will be in charge of maintaining CBS's current dramas and comedies.

"David’s creativity, experience, professionalism and insight will be invaluable to me as we seek to program the next generation of hits that will sustain CBS’s momentum and grow our audience," Tassler said of Brownfield. Brownfield has worked on CBS shows such as Cold Case, Without a Trace and this fall's Clubhouse.

To read the original report, please visit The Futon Critic!

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