Former ABC Exec Vicki Dummer Joins Warner Bros. Television as Head of Current Programming

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNina L. Diaz will now head up unscripted and adult animation for Paramount Plus, Variety has learned exclusively.The promotion was announced by Chris McCarthy in a memo to MTV Entertainment Group staffers on Thursday, which can be read in full below.Diaz will now serve as chief creative officer for unscripted entertainment and adult animation at Paramount Plus, while remaining CCO and president of content for MTV Entertainment Group.

CBS News is bringing a little of the NFL to its morning show, hiring former football player Nate Burleson as one of the three co-hosts of “CBS This Morning”.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMelanie Frankel is exiting her role as head of comedy for ABC Signature, Variety has learned.According to an individual with knowledge of the situation, Frankel’s departure is amicable. She first assumed the top comedy role at the studio in October 2019 (when it was still known as ABC Studios) after having been vice president of current series since 2015.

football player Nate Burleson as one of the three co-hosts of “CBS This Morning.”Burleson has been host of “Good Morning Football” on the NFL Network and, since 2017, an analyst on “The NFL Today,” CBS' Sunday afternoon studio show during the season. He will continue in the CBS football role.He will team with Gayle King and Tony Dokoupil on “CBS This Morning” starting next month.

As many have expected, it appears AMC Theatres has agreed with Warner Bros. to collapse the theatrical window from almost 90 days to 45 days when the studio begins doing exclusive theatrical releases again in 2022.

EXCLUSIVE: Religion of Sports, the venture founded by Gotham Chopra, Michael Strahan, and Tom Brady, is ramping up its audio business with the hire of NPR exec Steve Nelson.

EXCLUSIVE: Dick clark productions has tapped veteran ViacomCBS executive Fonda Anita as EVP of Production. She will be responsible for physical production for all of dcp, including the company’s vast portfolio of live televised entertainment events.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJen Statsky has extended her overall deal with Universal Television.Statsky is the co-creator, co-showrunner and executive producer of the HBO Max comedy series “Hacks.” The series, which she created alongside collaborators Lucia Aniello and Paul W.

Director Chad Stahelski is a busy man, he’s currently shooting “John Wick 4” in Germany with Keanu Reeves back in the lead role, and Lionsgate already has plans for “John Wick 5.” But he’s lining up even more beyond the world of ‘Wick.’ Deadline reports that Warner Bros. and Stahelski are teaming to develop a new incarnation of the 1979 novel “Shibumi” written by Trevanian (“The Eiger Sanction“) with the possibility that it could turn into a directing vehicle.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterRamón Rodríguez has been cast in a lead role opposite Aubrey Plaza in the Hulu drama pilot “Olga Dies Dreaming,” Variety has learned.The show is based on the yet-to-be-released novel of the same name by Xóchitl Gonzalez. It was ordered to pilot at the streamer back in April.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPoppy Liu has joined the cast of “Dead Ringers” at Amazon, Variety has learned.She joins previously announced series lead Rachel Weisz and recently announced cast member Michael Chernus. The series was announced at the streaming service in August 2020 with a straight-to-series order.

CBS has hired Jon Koa as EVP, Comedy Development following the departure of veteran exec Julie Pernworth.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJon Koa has joined CBS Entertainment in the role of executive vice president of comedy development, Variety has learned.Koa takes over the role from longtime CBS executive Julie Pernworth, who announced her departure from the company back in June. Koa joins CBS from Condé Nast Entertainment, where he was senior vice president of scripted television.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDeWanda Wise has been cast in the upcoming Showtime series adaptation of the Lisa Taddeo novel “Three Women.”Wise joins previously announced cast member Shailene Woodley.

Warner Bros. Television has hired former ABC exec Vicki Dummer as EVP & head of current series programming as part of a restructure of its team.

Channing Dungey has hired Vicki Dummer, one of her former top lieutenants at ABC, as head of current programming for Warner Bros. Television Group.In her new role, Dummer will be responsible for managing creative affairs for all current scripted series produced by WBTV across all platforms, including HBO Max, external streaming services, premium and basic cable channels, and the five U.S.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJai Courtney has been cast in the Amazon series “The Terminal List” opposite Chris Pratt, Variety has learned.The series follows James Reece (Pratt) after his entire platoon of Navy SEALs is ambushed during a high-stakes covert mission. Reece returns home to his family with conflicting memories of the event and questions about his culpability.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA scripted series about Vince McMahon and his federal steroids trial is in the works from WWE and Jason Blum’s Blumhouse Television, Variety has learned.Currently titled “The United States of America vs. Vince McMahon,” the series will be the first scripted portrayal of McMahon and many legendary figures of the WWE.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMichael Chernus has signed on to star alongside Rachel Weisz in the “Dead Ringers” series currently in the works at Amazon.The series was announced at the streaming service in August 2020 with a straight-to-series order. It is a modern update of the 1988 David Cronenberg film of the same name.