NBC shakes up TV team

Jackson Bell

NBC, looking to maintain its prime-time dominance, has hired FX

network executive Kevin Reilly to be president of prime-time

development, it was announced this week.

Reilly, 40, will return to NBC Studios, where he had a hand in

developing such hits as “ER,” and “Homicide: Life on the Street.” As

president of entertainment at FX, Reilly was responsible for

developing “The Shield,” an award-winning drama series, and “Lucky,”

a critically acclaimed original comedy series.

Reilly will oversee all aspects of prime-time development at NBC,

including the network’s comedy and drama development teams and NBC

Studios in Burbank.

With such network staples as “Friends” and “Frasier” expected to

end next season after long runs, Reilly will be expected to develop

replacement hits to fill the void.

“I am thrilled that Kevin is returning home to NBC, where he had

so much great success in the formative years of his career,” NBC

President of Entertainment Jeff Zucker said in a prepared statement.

“Since then, he has clearly established himself as one of the best

and brightest programmers of his generation, and I am looking forward

to him developing the next generation of quality shows for the

network.”

Reilly will begin his new job when his FX contract expires later

this summer.

“His creative accomplishments are extremely impressive,” NBC

spokesman Curt King said of Reilly. “That is a person we want to have

-- forward-thinking in a progressive time.”

King confirmed news reports that NBC Studios President Ted Harbert

and Karey Burke, the executive vice president of development, will

both step down.