Okay, folks, this is the guy we all wrote letters to back in 2005, the stinker who cancelled you-know-what. If the picture comes through all I can say is . . . is he twelve years old?
McPherson signs new ABC deal
Exec inks new multi-year pact with network
ABC Entertainment prexy Steve McPherson is sticking with the Alphabet net. McPherson has inked a multi-year deal with ABC that keeps him in charge of the net's successful entertainment division.
Move follows weeks of speculation over whether McPherson would remain with the network, where he helped bring about one of the biggest primetime comebacks in recent TV history.
With his contract set to expire this summer, industry wags have been gossiping for months over whether McPherson would remain with the net or search for opportunities elsewhere. Disney brass were said to be eager to finalize McPherson's new contract prior to the net's upfront presentation Tuesday; otherwise, talk of McPherson's future might have overshadowed the network's message.
Widely seen as a maverick in the biz, McPherson kept everyone guessing -- including Disney -- for some time. But deal was finalized Thursday, just five days before McPherson is set to take the stage and introduce ABC's fall sked at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall.
Disney/ABC Television Group co-chairman Anne Sweeney announced McPherson's pact late Thursday.
"Steve is one of the most influential programmers of his generation," Sweeney said. "Under his leadership ABC has become a primetime powerhouse. His ability to identify talent and develop successful shows is second to none, and that, combined with his marketing savvy, has helped turn ABC Entertainment around."
Ultimately, insiders said he stands to earn a huge salary bump at ABC. But terms of the deal were not disclosed, including what may be in the offing for McPherson down the road.
"I feel really fortunate to get the opportunity to continue on with the phenomenal team I have at ABC Entertainment, and look forward to building on our success together," McPherson said.
Under McPherson, ABC went from fourth place to a solid second (behind "American Idol"-fueled Fox) and has won the November sweep among adults 18-49 over the past three years.
ABC has also been shoveling money into the network under McPherson's watch. Thanks to the strength of the net's primetime sked, last year's upfronts wrapped with ABC leading the industry in cost per thousand (CPM) increases of up to 10%; net scored $2.4 billion in commitments.
Last season, ABC has launched five of the top 10 new skeins among adults 18-49, including top-rated new laffer "Samantha Who." Other shows developed during McPherson's tenure include "Pushing Daisies," "Ugly Betty" and "Dancing With the Stars."
McPherson took over as ABC Entertainment prexy in 2004; before that, he was president of Touchstone Television (now ABC Studios).
At Touchstone, he developed skeins such as "Desperate Housewives," "Lost" and "Grey's Anatomy." Then, having moved over to ABC, he was able to shepherd those shows to highly successful debuts in the 2004-05 season.
McPherson's track record at Touchstone included "Alias," "According to Jim," "Scrubs," "Monk" and "The Amazing Race." He also developed the original "CSI."
And here I was thinking you miss one day on the board and you miss alot and happy birthday to me! I did get a good laugh out of it. Sometimes blond highlights and wishful thinking run really really deep!
And here I was thinking you miss one day on the board and you miss alot and happy birthday to me! I did get a good laugh out of it. Sometimes blond highlights and wishful thinking run really really deep!
;D
