Showtime Promotes Zoe Rogovin to Senior Vice President of Programming

Joe Otterson TV Reporter A+E Studios has signed a first-look deal with Foster Driver and Zoë Kent’s Driver+Kent Media. Under the deal, Driver+Kent will develop and produce projects for A+E Studios across all platforms for sale globally and domestically. “Foster and Zoë come to the table with an eye for stories that are relevant, speak to a global audience and showcase the complexities of the world we live in,” said Tana Nugent Jamieson, executive vice president of creative affairs for A+E Studios. “Their eclectic film and television backgrounds combined with their passion for vibrant and inclusive storytelling make them ideal partners for us at A+E Studios. We’re excited to be in business with Driver+Kent Media and look forward to what’s ahead.”

As part of the restructuring, the WGA East Council now consists of 20 members: 12 writers who work in film, television and streaming; five writers from online media, and three from broadcast and cable news media. In addition, each of these three sectors will have a vice president representing them in leadership.

Sara David, running unopposed, has been elected vice president of the WGA East representing online media members, and Kathy McGee beat two other candidates to become vice president representing members working in the broadcast/cable/streaming news sector.

A trip to Italy sends Zoe Saldana‘s life in unexpected directions thanks to love in the trailer for Netflix’s new limited series From Scratch.

Does love have the power to transcend family and cultural differences? According to Tembi Locke, it totally does, and “From Scratch,” a new limited series from Netflix, is out to prove that point. READ MORE: Netflix Fall Film Calendar: ‘White Noise,’ ‘Bardo,’ & ‘Pale Blue Eye’ With Christian Bale Dated For December Based on Locke’s memoir of the same name, the eight-episode mini-series stars Zoe Saldaña as an American student abroad in Italy who falls hard for a Sicilian chef.

David S. Cohen Senior Editor, Features Turning a piece of filmed entertainment into a cultural phenomenon is both an art and a science, say marketers.  But in the 2020s, the science has turbocharged the art.  Variety spoke to two marketing gurus who promoted such blockbusters: Pia Chaozon Barlow, executive VP of HBO and HBO Max originals marketing, who aims to recapture the magic of “Game of Thrones” with spinoff “House of the Dragon”; and Marc Weinstock, Paramount’s president of global distribution and marketing. Paramount has opened five features at #1 in 2022, culminating with “Top Gun: Maverick,” which has grossed more than $1.4 billion.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Paramount Global has likely explored the idea of a bundled product that includes Showtime and Paramount+ with cable and satellite distributors, the company’s top executive said, as it continues to mull over the best way to package its various products for consumers. “We should have that conversation,” Paramount CEO Bob Bakish said during remarks at an investor conference held by Goldman Sachs. “It’s not like we have made a decision.” The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Paramount might consider discontinuing its Showtime streaming service, in favor of shifting its content to Paramount+. But Bakish suggested the company had not made a commitment to that model, even as it explores all kinds of bundles of its streaming assets. Paramount operates Paramount+ and Showtime, which both hinge on subscribers, and Pluto, which is free and ad-supported.

In the latest sign of companies looking to streamline their brands in an increasingly streaming-centric world, Paramount Global has explored discontinuing Showtime streaming service and folding its content into the Paramount’s flagship Paramount+ offering.

Geena Davis is gushing about more than her Emmy. On Monday, ET spoke with the actress after she took home the Governors Award, where she dished about working withZoë Kravitz andChanning Tatum in  “He, you know, was incredible,” Davis said about working with Tatum. “All the things that I saw him shoot.” As for Kravitz, who makes her directorial debut with the film, Davis noted that “Zoe was amazing."  “She’s a phenomenal director.

UTA announced new roles for two senior leadership members, promoting Jay Sures to vice chairman while naming David Kramer as president. The pair had served together as co-presidents of the company since 2017.In addition to his roles in building UTA’s television group, Sures oversees UTA’s news, speakers, and culture and leadership practices, while also representing a wide roster of talent. He was inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2016.The company did not specify what new responsibilities Kramer would assume as solo president.

Brie Larson had a busy weekend at the 2022 D23 Expo!

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor If the past few years and months have proven one thing, it’s the importance of voting in the United States. While Census Bureau’s estimates confirmed that 2020 voter turnout was the highest in nearly 30 years — 66.8%, 5 points higher than 2016 — the forthcoming midterm elections, which traditionally have much lower turnout than presidential ones, are vitally important as well. In that spirit, Lizzo, who released her stellar second major label album “Special” over the summer, has joined forces with the nonprofit, non-partisan voter-engagement organization HeadCount to encourage her fans to get out to the polls and make their voices heard this election season.

Chester Zoo announced that it will close for a day following the death of the Queen. The zoo told visitors it will be open on Friday (September 9) but has confirmed a closure in the coming days.

Former Las Vegas Raiders president Dan Ventrelle is heading to WWE as executive vice president of talent, the company announced Thursday. Maurice F.

FX has tapped Chika Chukudebelu Igwilo as senior vice president of development. In her role, she will lead development of new projects for the network, reporting to presidents of Original Programming Gina Balian and Nick Grad.“I’m thrilled to take on this new role at FX, which has created one of the boldest brands in TV and one devoted to supporting their artists’ highest ambitions,” Chukudebelu Igwilo said in a statement.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Chika Chukudebelu Igwilo has joined FX as senior vice president of development Chukudebelu Igwilo joins FX from HBO Max, where she most recently served as vice president of original programming, drama. In her new role, she will report to Gina Balian and Nick Grad, co-presidents of original programming at FX. “Chika is an extraordinarily talented creative executive with a proven track record of discovering and nurturing talent and guiding projects to success in an incredibly competitive environment,” said Grad and Balian. “We are honored to add such a gifted creative executive to our development team, building on the strength of the team to continue FX’s tradition of fearless storytelling.”

Zoe Rogovin, who has spearheaded docuseries such as We Need To Talk About Cosby, has been promoted at Showtime.