Desperate Development: Where Are the Hits?

The discussion was free-ranging and insightful when the Television Academy and its Professional Representatives Peer Group Executive Committee gathered a panel of industry notables for the second annual “behind closed doors” dialogue, October 27 at the Directors Guild of America.

Offering their views on the topic “Desperate Development: Where Are the Hits?” were Desperate Housewives creator-executive producer Marc Cherry, NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly, Paramount Network Television president David Stapf, Two and a Half Men executive producers Eric and Kim Tannenbaum and moderator Rich Frank, chairman of management company The Firm and a former Academy president.

The dialogue covered such issues as the search for the next hit sitcom; the importance of creating and writing programs out of personal passion and vision; the reality shows’ effect on audiences’ appetites for scripted comedy and drama, and the importance of diversity to reflect viewers’ lives.

Peer group governors Jody Simon and Beth Bohn hosted the evening.