‘Hacks’ Co-Creator Jen Statsky Extends Overall Deal With Universal Television

EXCLUSIVE: The Wire writer/producer George Pelecanos, who has had an informal home at HBO for nearly two decades, has made it official with a recently signed two-year overall deal. Under the pact, Pelecanos will develop and produce original content for the network.

EXCLUSIVE: Writer and producer Lauren Ashley Smith (A Black Lady Sketch Show) is expanding her relationship with CBS Studios, signing an overall deal with the studio. Under the pact, Smith will be creating comedies for network/streaming on all platforms.

Director-producer DeMane Davis (Queen Sugar, Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam CJ Walker) is expanding her relationship with Warner Bros. Television Group with an overall deal. Terms were not disclosed, but WBTVG confirms it is an exclusive, multiyear agreement.

EXCLUSIVE: Westbrook‘s Red Table Talk franchise is expanding with an overall deal with iHeartMedia to launch the Red Table Talk Audio Network.

The Witcher creator Lauren Schmidt Hissrich is expanding her relationship with Netflix with a multi-year overall deal. Under the pact, Schmidt Hissrich will write and produce scripted series content and other creative projects for the streaming giant. The deal was announced during Netflix’s TCA session Thursday.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Witcher” showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich has signed a multi-year overall deal with Netflix.Under the deal, Schmidt Hissrich will write and produce scripted series content and other creative projects for the streaming service.“I am so thrilled to have found my home at Netflix, and can’t wait to continue what’s been an incredibly fulfilling creative partnership,” Schmidt Hissrich said.

EXCLUSIVE: Superstore and American Auto creator Justin Spitzer has signed a big new four-year overall deal with the studio behind the NBC comedy series, Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

EXCLUSIVE: Writing duo Jordan Reddout and Gus Hickey (Mixed-ish, Grown-ish) are expanding their relationship with ABC Signature. The longtime writing partners have signed a multi-year overall deal with ABC Signature and have sold their first project under the pact — half-hour comedy Significant Others to ABC.

“King of the Hill,” has his first two projects in active development at the studios: an animated longform movie and an adult animated series. He is also assisting on other various series development.Cenac is the second creator to sign an overall cross-studio deal with WBA and CNS, following the pact “Looney Tunes Cartoons”executive producer and showrunner Pete Browngard made with the WarnerMedia entities.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeComedian, producer and writer Wyatt Cenac (“Wyatt Cenac’s Problem Areas”) has sealed a new multi-year exclusive overall deal spanning across both Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios.Cenac, who got his start in animation as a writer on “King of the Hill,” will develop and produce original animated programming at both shingles for preschool, kids, adult and family.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAuriel Rudnick has signed a three-year overall deal with Paramount Television Studios, Variety has learned exclusively.“I am excited to bring the kind of stories to life that I believe have long wanted to be told, and I am especially excited to be doing this with the phenomenal team at Paramount Television Studios,” Rudnick said.

Deadline (Netflix did not comment when asked by TheWrap).Kemp will retain an executive producer role on the “Power” spinoffs, which are all in various stages of production. The agreement is similar to that of Shonda Rhimes and “Grey’s Anatomy,” when she left ABC for Netflix back in 2018.

Power player Courtney Kemp has joined forces with Netflix.

Dale Mehmet had an emotional reunion with his mum and family after he arrived back from the villa to Glasgow. Dale, who left the show along with Abi in a double elimination, flew back to Edinburgh airport before heading back to the family home.

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.

Avi Issacharoff and Lior Raz’s Faraway Road Productions have renewed their overall television deal with Netflix and will work with the streamer to develop and produce original programming.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJustin Simien has signed an overall deal with Paramount Television Studios.Under the deal, Simien and his Culture Machine banner will develop premium television series for the studio for broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms.

EXCLUSIVE: Dear White People creator Justin Simien is getting into business with Paramount Television Studios. The multi-hyphenate director, writer and producer has signed a three-year overall deal with the studio. Under the pact, he’ll develop premium television series aimed at various platforms via his Culture Machine production company.

Christina Ham, who was recently a supervising producer on HBO’s Westworld, has struck an overall deal with UCP.

Sierra Teller Ornelas is staying with Universal Television. The co-creator, executive producer and writer of Peacock’s Rutherford Falls has extended her overall deal with the studio behind the series. Under the new pact, Ornelas will continue to develop new projects for UTV, a division of Universal Studio Group, to live on various platforms.