or


[03/18/09 - 02:22 PM]
Jeff Wachtel Named President USA Network Original Programming
He will also continue his role as co-head, original content, Universal Cable Productions.

[via press release from USA]

JEFF WACHTEL NAMED PRESIDENT USA NETWORK ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING

NEW YORK, NEW YORK � March 18, 2009 � Jeff Wachtel has been named president, original programming, USA Network, it was announced today by Bonnie Hammer, President, NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Universal Cable Productions, to whom he reports. Wachtel will continue to oversee all USA original programming, including scripted series, reality/alternative and longform, including limited series. He will also continue his role as co-head, original content, Universal Cable Productions.

"As head of original programming, Jeff's leadership has inspired the team responsible for one of the most successful slates in all of television," said Hammer. "His creative intellect, impeccable taste and production savvy are among the best in the business, and we look forward to having his stamp of originality on all future successes here at USA."

Wachtel joined USA in 2001 as executive vice president, original programming. Since then, he has overseen all original programming for USA, cable television's acknowledged leader in successful original programming. Renowned series' launched under Wachtel's supervision include MONK, PSYCH, BURN NOTICE, IN PLAIN SIGHT and LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT. Wachtel also developed and supervised USA's earlier hit series THE DEAD ZONE and THE 4400, as well as the newest addition to USA's series slate, ROYAL PAINS, which will premiere on USA this summer.

As co-heads of content for the newly configured Universal Cable Productions, Wachtel and Mark Stern are responsible for the development and production of all UCP-produced programming for USA, SyFy, and third party networks. They recently inked their first studio development deals with Steve Franks, creator of PSYCH, and Jace Alexander, director of the BURN NOTICE and WAREHOUSE 13 pilots.

Prior to USA, Wachtel served as president of Alliance Atlantis Television, supervising all series and longform programming for Canada's leading program supplier. In 1997, he was the executive producer of the first-run syndicated series "Pensacola: Wings of Gold." Wachtel created the show while president of 3 Arts Television, a production company that partnered with CBS, Sony and 3 Arts Management. He served as president of 3 Arts Television from 1996 to 1997.

From 1990 to 1996, Wachtel was at Columbia Pictures Television, where he rose to executive vice president of primetime television and served in that capacity from 1993 to 1996. "Party of Five," "Dawson's Creek" and "Birdland" were among the series he developed. Before arriving at Columbia Pictures Television, Wachtel was senior vice president, movies and miniseries at Orion Television ("Equal Justice") from 1987 to 1990. He was previously vice president, development, at Robert Cooper Productions ("Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story," "Dead Man Out") from 1984 to 1987.

Wachtel began his career as a theatre director and producer. He produced the first New York productions of David Mamet's works -- Sexual Perversity in Chicago and Duck Variations.

A graduate of Yale University, Wachtel is a founding member of L.A. Works, a community-based volunteer organization, as well as board member of the Zimmer Children's Museum, the Television Academy Foundation and the HRTS.

USA NETWORK is cable television's leading provider of original series and feature movies, sports and entertainment events, off-net television shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. The #1 network in basic cable, USA Network is seen in nearly 94 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.

USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.





  [march 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· 4400, THE (USA)
· BURN NOTICE (USA)
· DAWSON'S CREEK (WB)
· DEAD ZONE, THE (USA)
· IN PLAIN SIGHT (USA)
· LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT (USA)
· MONK (USA)
· PARTY OF FIVE (FOX)
· PSYCH (USA)
· ROYAL PAINS (USA)
· WAREHOUSE 13 (SYFY)





[08/26/25 - 12:06 PM]
FOX Sports Launches New FS1 Daily Studio Show "Wake Up Barstool"
Debuting Tuesday, September 2, the two-hour daily studio show airs live weekdays on FS1 from 8:00-10:00 AM ET, bringing Barstool's signature mix of unfiltered voices, candid personalities and passionate sports talk to fans nationwide.

[08/26/25 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10 Week of August 18: "KPop Demon Hunters" Reigns as Netflix's Most Popular Film, Claims No. 1 in Top 10
"Wednesday" stayed on top of the English TV list for a third week with Wednesday Season 2, Part 1 claiming another 13.4 million views.

[08/26/25 - 11:04 AM]
Video: MGM+ Debuts Action-Packed Trailer and Premiere Date for "Billy the Kid" Season 3
The final season premieres Sunday, September 28 at 9:00 pm ET/PT.

[08/26/25 - 11:00 AM]
Golden Globe and Emmy Award-Winner Camryn Manheim, Tyler Posey, Jamie Chung, Noah Reid and Sara Canning to Guest Star in FOX's Returning Captivating Crime Series "Murder in a Small Town"
The series returns Tuesday, September 23 on FOX.

[08/26/25 - 10:30 AM]
It's Time to Get Down to Business When NBC's New Series "On Brand with Jimmy Fallon" Premieres Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 10 P.M. ET/PT
The 10 creatives working to disrupt the marketing profession in NBC's newest innovative business competition series have been revealed.

[08/26/25 - 10:04 AM]
Hulu's Critically Acclaimed Comedy Series "Deli Boys" Renewed for a Second Season
Fred Armisen will join the cast as a legendary gambling savant with an uncanny ability to read people like cards.

[08/26/25 - 09:00 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Series "I Love LA," From Creator and Star Rachel Sennott, Debuts November 2
An ambitious friend group navigates life and love in LA.

[08/26/25 - 09:00 AM]
CBS Presents the Official Emmy Awards Pre-Show, "ET: Live on the Emmys Red Carpet"
Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner will bring audiences up close with television's biggest names as they arrive, turn heads with red carpet looks and reflect on what it means to be part of TV's most prestigious night.

[08/26/25 - 08:43 AM]
Video: Peacock Releases Official Trailer & New Images for "Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy"
All eight episodes of the limited series will be available to stream October 16.

[08/26/25 - 08:24 AM]
"Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Capital One": Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees Draws ESPN's Second-Largest Audience of MLB Season: 2,572,000 Viewers
The game peaked with 2,889,000 viewers at 8:15 p.m. ET, according to Nielsen.

[08/26/25 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix's Upcoming Preschool Slate Featuring New "Ms. Rachel," The "Sesame Street" Date Announcement, New Games, and More!
Start the school year off with all of your kids' favorite friends on Netflix with all-new episodes from "Ms. Rachel" (September 1), "Sesame Street" (November 10), "Gabby's Dollhouse" (November 17) and so much more on Netflix.

[08/26/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "The Lowdown" - Official Trailer - Ethan Hawke, Kyle MacLachlan, Keith David - FX
The series follows the gritty exploits of citizen journalist Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke), a self-proclaimed Tulsa "truthstorian" whose obsession with the truth is always getting him into trouble.

[08/26/25 - 07:33 AM]
BBC and Showtime Reveal First Look Images from Season Two of "Dreaming Whilst Black" from A24 and Big Deal Films
The new season finds Kwabena at the start of his professional career in a new era: the age of diversity, equity and inclusion, where empowering marginalized voices are seemingly at the top of everyone's agenda.

[08/26/25 - 07:10 AM]
ESPN Reveals 2025-26 College Football Commentator Roster; Top Teams Return for Another Season
The network will deploy more than two dozen teams of commentators, analysts and reporters to cover the season from August's Week 0 kickoff through the College Football Playoff National Championship in Miami in January 2026.

[08/26/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Unveils Trailer for the Engrossing Investigative Thriller "The Savant"
The eight-episode thriller will make its global debut on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes on Friday, September 26 followed by one new episode every Friday through November 7.