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Showtime is reshuffling its executive ranks, with Gary Levine on board as senior creative advisor to the network and Jana Winograde leaving, studio boss Chris McCarthy announced today.Both were former co-presidents of entertainment at Showtime, the news comes after the company’s final Rebranding and Consolidation Coming later this year with Paramount+.
As Co-Presidents, both Levine and Winograde are responsible for developing and overseeing all aspects of Showtime Networks programming, spanning all genres including comedy, drama, improv, documentaries and films. The latter also oversees the company’s production, programming, commercials, casting, scheduling, research and home entertainment, and serves as a liaison for ViacomCBS worldwide distribution. She works closely with the network’s Marketing, Creative, Digital Media, Acquisitions and Entertainment Communications departments on all programming-related matters.
In light of Showtime’s integration with Paramount+, McCarthy noted that many of the functions Winograde currently oversees — including commercial affairs, production, operations and casting — will be managed centrally, and as such, she will be leaving.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better partner than Gary Levine, and working with him and our entire creative team has been a masterclass in quality content,” Winograd said in a memo to staff, which you can read below full text. “Showtime’s commitment to the highest level of excellence is unparalleled, and the unique culture of this company encourages us to take risks, whether it’s with new voices, bold visionaries or diverse storytelling. As a business, we’ve succeeded, We created groundbreaking entertainment, and we had a blast!”
Under Levine’s creative leadership, Showtime produced such hits as “Dexter,” “The Chi,” “Shameless,” “Homeland,” “Billions,” Sacha Baron Cohen’s “Who Is America,” “Weeds,” “The Affair” Wait for the show. ‘Ray Donovan’, ‘Nurse Jackie’, ‘Series’, ‘The L Word’, ‘Black Monday’, ‘The Tudors’, ‘Penny Scary’, ‘California’, ‘Circus’, “Desus and Melo,” “Escape from Dannemora,” “Twin Peaks,” “Your Honor,” and the return of “Yellow Jackets.”
Winograde joined Showtime in 2017 as President of West Coast Business Operations, where he is mainly responsible for the development of new business models and content monetization at home and abroad. Previously, she spent 23 years at ABC Entertainment in various senior roles, most recently as Executive Vice President of Business Operations.
Prior to Showtime Networks, Levine served as President of Icebox, a pioneering Internet entertainment company, and also led the development of Warner Bros. Television, Witt-Thomas Productions and ABC dramas, producing several memorable Primetime series, including “Western” Wing,” “Blossom” and David Lynch’s original “Twin Peaks.” “
Read McCarthy’s full account below:
Gary Levine
Gary approached me because after over 22 years overseeing all of SHOWTIME’s original programming, he was ready to use his powerful creative skills in a more focused way. I’m delighted to announce that Gary will report to me as SHOWTIME’s Senior Creative Consultant. Gary has been a creative force at SHOWTIME for nearly two decades, helping to birth and sustain the quality of some of the most iconic television series including DEXTER, BILLIONS, THE CHI, HOMELAND, THE L WORD, NURSE JACKIE, CALIFORNICATION, SHAMELESS, WEEDS, YELLOWJACKETS, YOUR HONOR and many others, that’s why I’m so glad he’ll be here for the next chapter of SHOWTIME.
Gary’s interests are many, including his love of theater and his part-time job as cantor at a synagogue. His office displays a small but clearly valuable collection—including a shovel from his former ABC colleague emblazoned with one of Gary’s famous quotes, “Let’s dig.” Anyone who’s ever worked with Gary will tell you that he’s very personable — but he wants to cut to the chase and “dig deep” when it comes to work. I’m delighted that he’s now able to delve into several important shows and franchises in a more focused manner while continuing to advise me and the leaders of Showtime.
Gary has probably contributed more to SHOWTIME than anyone in the history of the web. He left an undeniable mark, and I’m thrilled to have him here as we create the next generation of programming.
Jana Winograd
With the integration of SHOWTIME across the company, many of the functions that Jana currently oversees, including commercial, production, operations and casting, have been centralized and, as such, Jana will be leaving.
During her six years here, Jana has been a passionate supporter of SHOWTIME. Her talented and steady leadership has helped grow the business and our partnerships with the creative community. Along with Gary and the creative team, Jana has been instrumental in driving us to many major wins, including recent critically acclaimed series, DEXTER: NEW BLOOD, YELLOWJACKETS and YOUR HONOR.
Jana is not only a deft steward of the SHOWTIME brand, her strategic acumen has also increased the network’s national and international profile. Perhaps most importantly, how much Jana has dedicated to the SHOWTIME family, mentoring junior staff and maintaining an open door policy for colleagues at all levels is evident. Without a doubt, she has been a support and inspiration to everyone at SHOWTIME.
On a personal level, I am especially grateful to Jana for her thoughtful and warm partnership over the past few months. Jana has played a key role in positioning SHOWTIME as a brand, studio and streaming service to continue to thrive.
I will provide an update shortly on our organization’s new unified leadership structure. In the meantime, please join me in congratulating Gary on her new role, thanking Jana for her many contributions, and wishing her continued success in the years to come.
Thanks,
Chris
Find Winograde’s instructions to employees below:
Hello everyone,
As most of you know, I’m leaving Showtime after an amazing six years. When I came to Showtime after 23 years at ABC, it was hard to imagine feeling the same commitment, passion and belonging at another company. But the contagious culture of collaboration, hard work, and sparking creativity, combined with the opportunity to play a key role in transforming our business model, made my years at Showtime some of the best of my career.
Perhaps the most exciting thing is that David Nevins and Showtime gave me the opportunity to spread my wings. As President of Entertainment, I’ve transformed from a corporate executive curious about the creative process to someone fully involved in the development and production of groundbreaking, bold shows. I couldn’t have picked a better partner than Gary Levine, working with him and our entire creative team has been a master class in quality content. Showtime’s commitment to the highest level of excellence is unparalleled, and the company’s unique culture encourages us to take risks, whether it’s with new voices, bold visionaries or diverse storytelling. As a business, we’re successful, we create groundbreaking entertainment, and we have fun!
I know that when I look back on my years at Showtime, I’ll be forever proud of the stories we told and the way we told them, and I’ll thank everyone who taught me so much. But, most of all, I’m grateful to work with the incredible people who created the game-changing Showtime. You are not only the best team in the business, but the best people.
with affection,
Yana
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