CBS Television Studios has promoted comedy executive Alec Botnick to lead its animation efforts.
Botnick, who's been part of the studio's comedy team since 2015, will now have the title of Senior Vice President (SVP), Comedy Development and Head of Animation. His promotion marks the first time CBS TV Studios has had a dedicated animation executive.
In the new post he will supervise the studio's current animated projects — the forthcoming animated Star Trek series aimed at kids on Nickelodeon, Showtime's Our Cartoon President, and CBS All Access' Star Trek: Lower Decks — as well as all future development. Botnick will continue to report to Kate Adler, Executive Vice President (EVP) of Comedy Development for CBS TV Studios.
"Alec has proven to be a huge asset not only to our department, but to the company as a whole," said Adler. "I am constantly impressed by his versatility, character, knowledge of the marketplace, and the number of phone calls he can make in one day. Our hope is that with the news of his expanded responsibilities, people will stop calling him 'Alex.'"
Showtimes 'Our Cartoon President'
Botnick's promotion comes about a year after CBS TV Studios started production arm CBS Eye Animation. The David Stapf-run studio plans to expand its offerings with the help of former 20th TV and Cartoon Network animation executive Katie Krentz, who inked an overall deal there in early 2018.
"You can do five animated shows for the price of one live-action drama," Krentz told THR when CBS Eye Animation launched. "The hope is one of those animated shows pops and becomes a big success with not only viewers but also merchandising."
Botnick originally joined the studio in 2015 as VP of comedy development and was promoted to Senior VP in 2018. Prior to that he worked as an agent in the television literary department at WME. He began his career in the mail room at Endeavor. Since joining CBS TV Studios’ comedy department, Botnick helped supervise the development of shows such as American Vandal and Dead to Me for Netflix; No Activity for CBS All Access; Man With a Plan, The Neighborhood, The Unicorn, Carols’ Second Act and the upcoming Broke for CBS; as well as the upcoming Diary of a Female President for Disney+.
CBS TV Studios first got into animation with the Showtime series Our Cartoon President, which was spawned from a recurring bit on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The studio is also currently prepping two animated Star Trek shows — one for Nickelodeon (Nickelodeon Star Trek) from Kevin and Dan Hageman and the upcoming Star Trek: Lower Decks for CBS All Access from Rick and Morty head writer Mike McMahan.
Deadline first reported the news of Botnick’s promotion.
The news comes as CBS and Viacom are set to combine into one company, ViacomCBS, Inc.
Congrats on your promotion, Alex.. erm, I mean, Alec! :)
More Nick: Nickelodeon's 'Star Trek' Series Won't Talk Down to Its Younger Audience!
Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Variety.
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