EXCLUSIVE: In a matter of days, one first-year ABC drama series has surpassed the other for the title of strongest series debut in two years among both the 18-49 demographic and total viewers.
04.11.2022 - 22:07 / deadline.com
Disney Branded Television has promoted Alyssa Sapire to SVP, Development, Series and Strategy at Disney Junior.
Sapire, previously SVP, Original Programming, has been acting in the role since March, succeeding Joe D’Ambrosia who left to join Sony Pictures TV. The promotion has now been made permanent.
In the top programming post, Sapire serves as the creative lead for Disney Junior content, encompassing strategic oversight of development, current and acquired programming for linear and streaming. She will also work closely with Disney Media Entertainment and Distribution to identify, develop and advance Disney Junior franchise opportunities.
Sapire has solidified her senior leadership team. Kim Berglund has been tapped as VP of development with oversight of all series, specials and shorts in development, including identifying new creative talent. Diane Ikemiyashiro and Lori Mozilo will both serve as VP of current series. The two will co-lead, each having oversight on any projects in production, working closely with partners across The Walt Disney Company on continued franchises.
“Alyssa is a dedicated champion of the power of storytelling and the absolute right leader for the Disney Junior brand,” said Disney Branded Television President Ayo Davis, to whom Sapire reports. “She has assembled a best-in-class team and developed an incredibly strong content slate with one overarching goal: to create magical, memorable stories that provide joy, stoke curiosity and live in the hearts of young audiences everywhere.”
Sapire first joined Disney in 2016. During her tenure, she has helped to build a diverse slate for Disney Junior that includes Young Jedi Adventures, a partnership with Lucasfilm and their first series for
EXCLUSIVE: In a matter of days, one first-year ABC drama series has surpassed the other for the title of strongest series debut in two years among both the 18-49 demographic and total viewers.
EXCLUSIVE: WME has signed award-winning filmmaker Alysa Nahmias and her production company AJNA Films for representation.
There are more stories from Sofia the First coming to Disney Junior. A spinoff series from creator Craig Gerber is in development as part of his overall deal with Disney Branded Television.
EXCLUSIVE: Echo Lake Entertainment has signed actress Alisa Wainwright (Raising Dion) for management in all areas.
Playbill, the monthly magazine that serves as official programs for Broadway, most of Off Broadway and other arts institutes, is signing off Twitter for good, citing the platform’s “greatly expanded” tolerance for “hate, negativity, and misinformation.”
Whoopi! Academy Award-winning actress-turned-television host Whoopi Goldberg has been a beloved (and sometimes controversial) star for decades.
Team high school sweethearts? Kristin Cavallari and Stephen Colletti’s former Laguna Beach costars are just like Us — with many of them shipping the exes.
EXCLUSIVE: MPI Original Films and BET have added to the cast of their feature Kemba, inspired by the life of criminal justice reform advocate Kemba Smith, with Michelle Hurd (Star Trek: Picard), Sean Patrick Thomas (Till), Siddiq Saunderson (Wu-Tang: An American Saga) and June Carryl (Helstrom) signing on for roles. Nesta Cooper will lead the cast of the film directed by Kelley Kali, which is currently shooting in Atlanta, as previously announced.
While Buying Beverly Hills fans may still be shipping Alexia Umansky and Joey Ben-Zvi, Kyle Richards‘ daughter actually has a longtime boyfriend outside of the Netflix series.
Britney Spears has regret over her past actions towards Alexa Nikolas.
Nick Cannon has confirmed he is expecting another baby with Alyssa Scott. Last month, the model took to Instagram to share that she was pregnant, nearly a year after the death of her and the TV host's son Zen. Tragically, the little boy passed away at five months old in December 2021 after being diagnosed with brain cancer.
Let the rain fall down — and stir the pot! Laguna Beach alum Alex Murrel broke down her high school love triangle with Jason Wahler and Jessica Smith, teasing that it wasn’t as real as viewers thought.
EXCLUSIVE: We have heard that Aaron Eckhart is now the lead of Bee Holder and Concourse Media’s spy action thriller movie Chief of Station, which is being directed by Jesse V. Johnson.
Sir Horace Ové, the pioneering filmmaker nicknamed the Godfather of Black British filmmaking, has had a $57,000 Film and TV Charity grant named after him to help people from ethnic minority backgrounds navigate their way through the industry.
Elon Musk, who just took over Twitter in a $44 billion leveraged buyout, sought to allay fears about the direction of the social media company by saying it is forming a content moderation council.