Brad Schwartz Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

The CW that audiences see when they tune in this fall won’t look like the CW of years past – but it also won’t look like the CW that new owner Nexstar actually intends to offer consumers moving forward.In a move similar to its broadcast competition, the CW released a fall schedule meant to be practically immune to the effects of the ongoing writers strike. It’s an acquisition-heavy lineup that’s a mix of comedies (Canadian sitcoms including “Children Ruin Everything” and “Run the Burbs”), dramas (former AMC series “61st Street”) and unscripted fare (the salvaged HBO Max hit “FBoy Island”). The only potential hiccup would be a strike-related production delay for “All American,” one of two CW shows that new network president Dennis Miller and entertainment president Brad Schwartz have decided to keep moving forward.As much as Schwartz doesn’t like the perception that there is anything wrong with an acquisition, he and Miller told Variety that isn’t the center of their scheduling strategy, but rather a path they had to take this first year because of production uncertainties.Here, Variety speaks with Schwartz and Miller about the network’s plans for adult dramas, programming to Black audiences following the success of “All American,” going hard on unscripted with “FBoy Island,” and the path to making the former Paramount/Warner Bros. Discovery-owned channel profitable for Nexstar.

The CW held its first upfront week meeting with the press since the Nexstar acquisition closed last year, presenting a schedule heavy on foreign acquisitions and unscripted fare. Brad Schwartz, president of entertainment for The CW, took questions after the presentation alongside network president Dennis Miller. They laid out their plans for the network going into its new era, how the acquisitions play into their overall strategy, and the future of scripted development at the network. Read on for Variety‘s takeaways from the event. Superheroes Flying Off into the Sunset?

With a light-hearted, feel-good lineup of programming that includes The Spencer Sisters and Sullivan’s Crossing on the schedule for fall, the addition of dating show FBoy Island to the CW’s 2023-2024 schedule feels more than just a little incongruous.

The CW revealed three more unscripted series after presenting its fall schedule.

The CW programming chief Brad Schwartz took a gentle swipe at the network’s previous business model as he revealed its fall schedule.

The CW’s fall primetime schedule, we’re getting a true look at what the Nexstar era of The CW entails. The network’s new schedule only includes two returning scripted originals — Season 6 of “All American” and Season 4 of “Walker.” The network’s typical youth-focused programming has been replaced by seven new and more adult-oriented originals. Say goodbye to DC superheroes and cute fashion dramas and hello to half-hour comedies about raising kids.

BreAnna Bell Courtney B. Vance’s thriller, “61st Street” has landed at The CW. Brad Schwartz, The CW’s president of entertainment, shared the announcement on Friday. The drama follows the story of promising high school athlete who gets swept up in a corrupt Chicago criminal justice system. The first season of “61st Street” will air on The CW in Fall 2023, with the second season making its television debut in 2024. Aunjanue Ellis (“When They See Us,” “King Richard”) Mark O’Brien (“City on a Hill,” “Blue Bayou”), Holt McCallany (“Mindhunter,” “Lights Out”), Tosin Cole (“Doctor Who,” “Hollyoaks”), Andrene Ward-Hammond (“Your Honor,” “Manifest”) and Bentley Green (“Snowfall,” “Sweet Magnolias”) join Vance among the cast.

EXCLUSIVE: The CW has picked up both seasons of 61st Street, the dramatic thriller starring Courtney B. Vance and Aunjanue Ellis in partnership with AMC Networks which canceled the series amid the company’s cost-cutting drive in January.

The CW Network has renewed “Walker” for a 13-episode fourth season that will air in the 2023-2024 broadcast season. The series, which is a reimagining of the long-running show “Walker, Texas Ranger,” stars Jared Padalecki (“Supernatural”) as Cordell Walker, a widower and father of two with his own moral code, who returns home to Austin, Texas, after being undercover for two years.

Nexstar CEO Perry Sook says the Hollywood community has “responded” to the company’s overhaul of The CW, and sports rights conversations have been “steady” since the company started airing LIV Golf this year.

A Canadian comedy from the exec producer of Schitt’s Creek is heading to The CW.

The CW is partnering with CTV and Fremantle on Sullivan’s Crossing, a drama series based on Robyn Carr’s bestselling book.

The CW has always had a thing or two for an international acquisition and it seems that this strategy is continuing under new ownership.

EXCLUSIVE: Cyle Zezo, who oversaw alternative programming at The CW, is leaving the broadcaster.

Shadow and Bone.” The second season depicts Alina Starkov, played by Jessie Mei Li, on the run in an effort to bring down the Shadow Fold and save Ravka. However, General Kirigan (played by Ben Barnes) is also back and this time has an army of shadow monsters behind him. The Season 2 cast includes also includes Archie Renaux, Freddy Carter, Amita Suman, Kit Young, Danielle Galligan, Daisy Head, Calahan Skogman, Lewis Tan, Anna Leong Brophy, Jack Wolfe and Patrick Gibson. Eric Heisserer and Daegan Fryklind serve as showrunners and executive producers, with Leigh Bardugo as author and executive producer for the series. “Shadow and Bone” is also executive produced by Shawn Levy, Josh Barry, Dan Levine and Dan Cohen for 21 Laps Entertainment, Pouya Shahbazian (Loom Studios) and Shelley Meals.

UPDATED: The CW announced Friday that 100 Days To Indy, its upcoming motorsports docuseries, will premiere on Thursday, April 27 at 9 PM on the network.

Chris Spadaccini has been named Chief Marketing Officer for The CW Network, where he will oversee the network’s broadcast and digital marketing divisions. 

In what appears to be a new wave of layoffs, several senior scripted executives have left the broadcast network, including Gaye Hirsch, EVP, Development, who is departing after more than 15 years, and fellow CW veteran and head of department, Michael Roberts, who had been at the network (and its predecessor the WB) for 21 years, sources tell deadline.

The CW has confirmed Deadline’s scoop that Heather Olander is joining the network as its new unscripted chief.

The CW may be scaling back its scripted ambitions but it’s keeping All American.

As part of an ongoing demo target shift, The CW has given a green light to 100 Days To Indy, a new sports documentary series about the road to the Indianapolis 500.

The CW has set 8 PM, Wednesday, February 8 for the premiere of the ninth and final season of The Flash. It will be followed at 9 PM by the midseason return of Kung Fu.

EXCLUSIVE: Before Nexstar appointed former Pop TV boss Brad Schwartz as President of Entertainment at The CW earlier this month, there was much talk that the network would bulk up its unscripted slate.

Nexstar CEO Perry Sook and execs of the nation’s biggest broadcaster said its imprimatur will be evident on The CW schedule for the 2023-2024 season with lower cost, broader appeal, and more unscripted fare and minimal content from former co-owners Warner Brothers Discovery and Paramount Global.

Nexstar grew revenue 9.7% for the September quarter to $1.29 billion for the three months ended in September, as the new CW owner cited growth in political advertising, distribution and digital revenue.

As Nexstar announced Wednesday morning, former Pop TV president Brad Schwartz is returning to the network executive ranks as President of Entertainment at The CW. Reporting to new CW president Dennis Miller, he will be starting at the network in two weeks as he winds down his current role as CEO of The Capra Project, a startup entertainment venture focused on “authentic stories of family, faith, joy and hope” which was launched last year with investment from Lionsgate, UTA, Blumhouse and Tyler Perry.

Brad Schwartz has been officially named as President, CW Entertainment.

EXCLUSIVE: The new iteration of The CW is starting to take shape.

EXCLUSIVE: The epic, years-long battle between Al Capone and Eliot Ness, who clashed on the biggest stage in the world on their way to becoming ultimate American enemies, is the subject of a new TV series in early development at Showtime, from Alex Kurtzman’s Secret Hideout, run by Heather Kadin, and CBS Studios where the company is based.

Brad Schwartz has departed Audible after just one month with the company, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. The Amazon-owned audiobook company tapped Schwartz to lead its push into original programming in June.

Dade Hayes, Dino-Ray Ramos After less than a month in the job, Brad Schwartz has exited as chief content officer of Amazon-owned digital audio platform Audible after a two-year-old sexual harassment and gender bias lawsuit resurfaced.The personnel move was confirmed by a person familiar with the situation after Bloomberg initially reported the news.In June, Schwartz had stepped down as president of PopTV to make the move to Audible, where he started June 15.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterAfter leaving Pop TV to join Audible as its chief content officer on June 15, Brad Schwartz has departed the Amazon-owned audiobook and audio entertainment company less than a month into his new role, Variety has learned.Audible declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding Schwartz’s exit, but according to Bloomberg, which first reported the news, Audible employees had discovered an old sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Pop Media Group and expressed

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterPop TV president Brad Schwartz is departing the land of cable television to join Audible, Amazon’s audiobook and audio entertainment company, as its chief content officer on June 15.“As Audible continues to expand its focus on premium audio storytelling and entertainment across all formats and genres, Brad’s highly successful track record, expertise and stellar relationships in the entertainment community will be integral to our aggressive content efforts and plans,”

By Nellie Andreeva

Pop TV is laying off multiple employees as Viacom and CBS continue to integrate following the merger of the two companies.

“One Day at a Time” Season 4 will premiere Mar. 24, while “Flack” Season 2 will premiere Mar. 13, Pop TV announced Monday.