EXCLUSIVE: Colin Davis, Head of Scripted Originals for the Roku Channel, is leaving Roku’s free ad-supported streaming service to affix Sony as EVP of Comedy Growth at Sony Footage Tv Studios. Davis, who begins Could 1, will oversee growth of comedies for all platforms, reporting to Jason Clodfelter, Co-President of Sony Footage Tv Studios.
Davis succeeds Glenn Adilman, who exited as EVP and head of comedy growth within the studio’s November government restructuring below new Sony Footage TV Studios President Katherine Pope. Based mostly on the Culver Metropolis lot, Davis will lead a workforce that features Jennifer Gerstenblatt, Frank Ochoa, and Jackie Wertheimer who function SVP of Comedy Growth, VP of Animation, and Supervisor of Comedy Growth, respectively.
“We’re thrilled to have Colin be part of our Sony Footage Tv Studios household,” mentioned Clodfelter. “His ardour and understanding of tv are infectious, and he embodies an entrepreneurial spirit that’s important in right this moment’s panorama. His huge relationships are simple, and we’re lucky to have Colin on the helm of our Comedy Growth workforce.”
Davis’ rent follows a slew of latest appointments and promotions outlined by Pope in a employees memo this afternoon as she continues to construct out her government workforce. They consists of producer Dara Weintraub (Mad Males, Higher Issues), who has joined the studio as SVP of Manufacturing. Ali Roland, who labored for Pope at Spectrum Originals, has come on board as VP of Drama Growth on Lauren Stein’s workforce. Colleen Pepin and Jessica Casey have been promoted to Administrators of Drama Growth.
Moreover, Vanessa Harvey has lately joined SPT as VP BA Admin Operations, additionally from Spectrum Originals; Brittany (Britt) Storms has joined SPT Advertising and marketing, main the brand new Gross sales Advertising and marketing division; and Belle Isidron has come on board as Director of Casting Administration from NBCUniversal
Morgana Cabrera-Rosenberg has been promoted to SVP, Present Programming; Kevin Kelly to SVP, Model Advertising and marketing & Inventive; Steve Russo to SVP, Enterprise Affairs; Lily Parrish and Jimmy Haas to Director, Present Programming; and Pope’s assistant, Becca Flynn, to Supervisor, Inventive Affairs.
As Head of Scripted Originals for the Roku Channel, Davis spearheaded the streamer’s transfer into unique programming and shepherded the manufacturing and rollout of such sequence because the reboot of Reno 911! and Die Harter starring Kevin Hart in addition to the award-winning breakout movie Bizarre: The Al Yankovic Story, which he greenlighted.
Earlier than Roku, Davis led scripted programming for the short-form streaming service Quibi, and spent 4 years in comedy growth at Turner the place he most notably championed Search Celebration. Davis began his tv profession at Fox Broadcasting Co.
“SPT has lengthy been a house for high-quality, groundbreaking comedies,” Davis mentioned. “I’m so proud to affix Katherine, Jason, and their groups, to honor the nice legacy of the previous, embrace the alternatives within the current, and assist construct a vivid future for comedy tv.”
Sony’s present TV comedy slate consists of The Afterparty for Apple TV+ and Cobra Kai for Netflix, in addition to the upcoming Platonic for Apple TV+, Sausage Celebration: Foodtopia for Amazon, Twisted Metallic for Peacock, The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh and Clear Slate for Freevee, and Hoagie Bros. at Fox.
Sony TV retreated from broadcast comedy below the earlier regime, with the departing The Goldbergs as its final remaining broadcast half-hour. Whereas admitting that “comedy tends to be tougher on a funds and deal foundation and never promote as nicely overseas,” Pope harassed in an interview with Deadline final month that the studio stays dedicated to the style.
“We have now a very good comedy streaming enterprise that we’re persevering with to construct. We have now a superb grownup animation enterprise that we’re persevering with to construct. So, we’re not pulling away from comedy,” she mentioned. “We’re simply making an attempt to be actually deliberate and considerate about what we’re doing, what we’re spending time on and why.”
