Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres is extending her relationship with the Warner Bros. Television Group by signing a multiyear exclusive deal with Warner Bros. Television.
Under this new deal, DeGeneres and A Very Good Production will develop and serve as an executive producer on television projects with different production divisions of WBTVG, including scripted primetime programs for Warner Bros. Television, scripted and unscripted broadcast and cable series for Warner Horizon Television, and syndicated programming with Telepictures Productions, which produces the Emmy Award-winning “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” And, as DeGeneres has proven her reach in social media as a leader on Twitter, with over 5 million followers (5,370,602 as of 10.20.10), and with over three million Facebook followers, Warner Bros. will also have a first -look deal with DeGeneres on social media and other digital gaming ideas.
The deal was announced today by Hilary Estey McLoughlin, President, Telepictures Productions, and Peter Roth, President, Warner Bros. Television.
“I’m so happy to be expanding my relationship with Warner Bros. It’s kind of becoming a family affair. My brother works on the lot and fingers crossed, my mother’s up for the role of Charlie Sheen’s love interest on ‘Two and a Half Men.’ So this is really working out,” said DeGeneres.
“Ellen is an incredible partner to Telepictures and Warner Bros. and has great taste and producing instincts. We are looking forward to having someone of Lauren’s caliber on board and to collaborating with both of them to expand her brand,” said Estey McLoughlin.
DeGeneres has named Lauren Corrao to the position of President at A Very Good Production.
“Ellen is an inspiration and a pioneer both personally and professionally and I’ve always been a huge fan of hers. I feel incredibly lucky to be charged with capturing her brand as a producer and building this company together from the ground up,” said Corrao.
Most recently, Corrao held the post of President, Original Programming and Head of Development for Comedy Central, where she was responsible for the development and supervision of all original programming on Comedy Central. Corrao joined Comedy Central in 2002 as Senior Vice President, Original Programming and Head of Development, and was instrumental in developing ratings-winners such as “The Sarah Silverman Program,” “RENO 911!,” “Important Things with Demetri Martin,” “Mind of Mencia,” “Drawn Together ” and “Chappelle’s Show.” Corrao was promoted to Executive Vice President, Original Programming and Development in 2005 and was named President, Original Programming and Development in 2007.
Prior to joining Comedy Central in 2002, Corrao and her partner Peter Tolan secured a production deal at Touchstone Television where she served as Executive Producer on several projects, including the critically acclaimed series “The Job” starring Denis Leary. Previously, Corrao spent four years at Fox Broadcasting Co. serving as Vice President of Comedy Development and Vice President of Alternative and Late Night Development, where she helped develop such hits as “That ’70s Show,” “MADtv” and “King of the Hill.” Corrao began her television career at MTV where she rose to the rank of Vice President and Executive Producer and began the network’s first non-music program development department.
(Source: Warner Bros. Television)
