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.