ABC Family's Paul Lee taking over ABC
David
Paul Lee to replace Steve McPherson at ABC
BY JAMES HIBBERD & KIM MASTERS
In a tremendous executive shakeup, Steve McPherson is stepping down at
ABC, while ABC Family chief Paul Lee is taking his place.
McPherson has severed his deal with Disney, whose ABC entertainment
division he has run for six years. Last year he took control of ABC
Studios as well, a shakeup that resulted in the departure of studio
chief Mark Pedowitz.
"I want to thank the wonderful team of individuals who have worked
with me throughout my time [at ABC] and wish them nothing but the
best," McPherson said in a statement. "I will be announcing my future
plans shortly which will include a new entrepreneurial venture in the
spirits business. While I will continue with my ongoing wine business,
I'll also reveal plans for my involvement in a new media company."
Insiders are citing Lee as McPherson's replacement, though ABC has yet
to make a formal announcement. Lee will control both the entertainment
department and the studio.
Lee has been at ABC Family since 2004 and has helped reinvent the
network with original programming such as "Secret Life of the American
Teenager" and "Greek," as well as branded events like "25 Days of
Christmas."
Though McPherson was credited for ordering last season's breakout
comedy hit "Modern Family" (which rival studio 20th Century Fox TV
produced) he's had a modest track record in recent years for finding
successful shows. ABC routinely develops more programs than any other
major broadcaster, yet has had difficulty following up on aging hits
like "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" -- all of
which McPherson helped develop while president of Touchstone TV.
Last season, the network tied NBC in the ratings for third place,
averaging a 2.7 among adults 18-49.
“They haven’t really done anything major since 'Housewives,' 'Lost'
and 'Grey’s,' and none of those shows generate a lot of money going
into syndication," said a rival executive. "There’s a performance
failure the last few years. They’ve covered up a lot with 'Grey’s' and
'Desperate Housewives' and 'Dancing with the Stars.' But it’s a very
hollow schedule at this point. There are no hits on the horizon. And
while 'Modern Family' has done well, it’s not like any of their other
comedies that are close to being hits. They spend money like drunken
sailors—on talent, on development. For what they’re spending, you’d
expect bigger results.”
Insiders also cited McPherson's temperament. The executive is said to
have thorny relationships with other top executives, particularly with
Disney/ABC TV Group president Anne Sweeney.
"He just doesn’t play well with others," noted one industry insider.
Another former insider put it more harshly: “Why? Totally on
background? Because he's f--king insane! The guy’s had one hit in five
years. I didn’t see Bob Iger living with it much longer. And [Iger]
hated his development. All of it."
McPherson's departure has been rumored for months, and even the most
consumer-focused of publications began to suspect something was awry
when the executive canceled the network's traditional upfront
presentation press conference last May. Since, McPherson has gone
quiet, thought that's hardly unusual for the press-averse executive.
Rumors began to intensify this week after McPherson didn't return to
the office following a vacation.
"Going into May was very unpleasant this year," said one insider.
"There was a lot of second guessing. Obviously there has been a rift
there [with Sweeney] for some time. I don't think he respects her.
She's been deft at moving people out .. and started chipping away. Bob
[Iger] was a defender of Steve. Bob thought he was a handful, but
talented."
Sources say McPherson was vacationing in Maine (and has now returned)
and may have gotten wind of ABC talking to Lee, then decided to break
ties early with Disney -- unexpectedly leaving the company before the
network's upcoming Television Critics Association press tour session.
"My guess is he caught wind of some conversations with Paul Lee," one
insider said. "I think he said, `Enough.' He saw the bus coming. He's
enjoying his vacation. He wasn't in turmoil. He has not been happy [at
ABC] for quite some time."
The move comes on the eve of the semi-annual TV press tour, which
begins Wednesday with CBS. On Sunday, ABC will have its executive
session.
"Are they going to have Paul Lee up there?" one insider asked. "He's
an articulate guy. I suppose he'll put his tap shoes on."
Given that the removal of an entertainment executive before the fall
season signals dissatisfaction with the upcoming slate, it will likely
be an awkward press tour for the network as it attempts to rally media
enthusiasm for McPherson's final crop of ABC shows.
WQ IV
> http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/07/steve-mcpherson-resigni...
>
> Paul Lee to replace Steve McPherson at ABC
> BY JAMES HIBBERD & KIM MASTERS
>
> In a tremendous executive shakeup, Steve McPherson is stepping down at
> ABC, while ABC Family chief Paul Lee is taking his place.
>
> McPherson has severed his deal with Disney, whose ABC entertainment
> division he has run for six years. Last year he took control of ABC
> Studios as well, a shakeup that resulted in the departure of studio
> chief Mark Pedowitz.
>
> "I want to thank the wonderful team of individuals who have worked
> with me throughout my time [at ABC] and wish them nothing but the
> best," McPherson said in a statement. "I will be announcing my future
> plans shortly which will include a new entrepreneurial venture in the
> spirits business.
Does he mean he's going to get drunk?
> While I will continue with my ongoing wine business,
> I'll also reveal plans for my involvement in a new media company."
> Insiders are citing Lee as McPherson's replacement, though ABC has yet
> to make a formal announcement. Lee will control both the entertainment
> department and the studio.
>
> Lee has been at ABC Family since 2004 and has helped reinvent the
> network with original programming such as "Secret Life of the American
> Teenager" and "Greek," as well as branded events like "25 Days of
> Christmas."
Oh, no. ABC now runs the risk of devolving from a woman's network to
a toddler network.
>
> Though McPherson was credited for ordering last season's breakout
> comedy hit "Modern Family" (which rival studio 20th Century Fox TV
> produced) he's had a modest track record in recent years for finding
> successful shows. ABC routinely develops more programs than any other
> major broadcaster, yet has had difficulty following up on aging hits
> like "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" -- all of
> which McPherson helped develop while president of Touchstone TV.
> Last season, the network tied NBC in the ratings for third place,
> averaging a 2.7 among adults 18-49.
>
> “They haven’t really done anything major since 'Housewives,' 'Lost'
> and 'Grey’s,' and none of those shows generate a lot of money going
> into syndication," said a rival executive. "There’s a performance
> failure the last few years. They’ve covered up a lot with 'Grey’s' and
> 'Desperate Housewives' and 'Dancing with the Stars.' But it’s a very
> hollow schedule at this point. There are no hits on the horizon. And
> while 'Modern Family' has done well, it’s not like any of their other
> comedies that are close to being hits. They spend money like drunken
> sailors—on talent, on development. For what they’re spending, you’d
> expect bigger results.”
Spending money like drunken sailors? No wonder McPherson is going
into the spirits business.
>
> Insiders also cited McPherson's temperament. The executive is said to
> have thorny relationships with other top executives, particularly with
> Disney/ABC TV Group president Anne Sweeney.
The backroom shenanigans of which never make for frontroom great TV,
as ABC has so ably demonstrated since 2004. Even though ABC has
sucked for most of the last two decades.
>
> "He just doesn’t play well with others," noted one industry insider.
> Another former insider put it more harshly: “Why? Totally on
> background? Because he's f--king insane! The guy’s had one hit in five
> years. I didn’t see Bob Iger living with it much longer. And [Iger]
> hated his development. All of it."
He should've fired the guy at least 2 seasons ago.
>
> McPherson's departure has been rumored for months, and even the most
> consumer-focused of publications began to suspect something was awry
> when the executive canceled the network's traditional upfront
> presentation press conference last May. Since, McPherson has gone
> quiet, thought that's hardly unusual for the press-averse executive.
> Rumors began to intensify this week after McPherson didn't return to
> the office following a vacation.
It was the drinking, you know. Probably out with Ben Silverman and
his doping at night clubs and on yachts.
>
> "Going into May was very unpleasant this year," said one insider.
> "There was a lot of second guessing. Obviously there has been a rift
> there [with Sweeney] for some time. I don't think he respects her.
> She's been deft at moving people out .. and started chipping away. Bob
> [Iger] was a defender of Steve. Bob thought he was a handful, but
> talented."
Never confuse handful with talented.
>
> Sources say McPherson was vacationing in Maine (and has now returned)
> and may have gotten wind of ABC talking to Lee, then decided to break
> ties early with Disney -- unexpectedly leaving the company before the
> network's upcoming Television Critics Association press tour session.
> "My guess is he caught wind of some conversations with Paul Lee," one
> insider said. "I think he said, `Enough.' He saw the bus coming. He's
> enjoying his vacation. He wasn't in turmoil. He has not been happy [at
> ABC] for quite some time."
I guess that's why sitcoms on the network have been hard to come by,
then.
>
> The move comes on the eve of the semi-annual TV press tour, which
> begins Wednesday with CBS. On Sunday, ABC will have its executive
> session.
>
> "Are they going to have Paul Lee up there?" one insider asked. "He's
> an articulate guy. I suppose he'll put his tap shoes on."
>
> Given that the removal of an entertainment executive before the fall
> season signals dissatisfaction with the upcoming slate, it will likely
> be an awkward press tour for the network as it attempts to rally media
> enthusiasm for McPherson's final crop of ABC shows.
Skip the fall, I want to see what this guy comes up with in the
winter.
Obveeus
"David" <diml...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> In a tremendous executive shakeup, Steve McPherson is stepping down at
> ABC, while ABC Family chief Paul Lee is taking his place.
Right after Upfronts and such have already set next year's programming in
place. I guess this gives the 'new guy' a whole year to ease into the job
with the 2011 schedule being the first one he will have any control over.
If McPherson finds himself in another roll of controlling TV programming, I
hope it is with a cable channel. I'd like more Pushing Daisies, Better Off
Ted, Life on Mars, The Unusuals type programming without the burden of
having to maintain Castle or better sized ratings.
TMC
> http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/07/steve-mcpherson-resigni...
>
Steve McPherson quit yesterday as ABC was investigating multiple
harassment claims made by females executives against the ABC
entertainment president, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
McPherson's attorney, while not addressing any specifics, released a
statement saying: "It is not uncommon for high level executives to be
the subject of gossip and innuendo. That would include rumors of
internal situations which can easily be misinterpreted or
misrepresented."