Wikipedia

Kevin Reilly (executive)

For other people with the same name, see Kevin Reilly.

Kevin Reilly (born 1962) is an American media executive who served as the Chief Content Officer of HBO Max and the president of TNT, TBS, and truTV.[2][3][4] In addition to his position at WarnerMedia, Reilly has also held executive positions at FX, NBC, and Fox,[5] and has championed successful programs such as The Sopranos, Empire, The Office, 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights, The Shield, ER, Law & Order and Glee, among others.[6]

Kevin Reilly
Reilly in May 2017
Born1962 (age 61–62)
Manhasset, New York
NationalityAmerican
EducationCornell University
OccupationMedia Executive
Known forFormer CCO of HBO Max and president of TNT, TBS, and truTV[1]

Early life and education

edit

Reilly is a Long Island native who was born in Manhasset, New York and grew up in Port Washington. He is also a graduate of Chaminade High School in Mineola.[7][8] Reilly attended Cornell University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in communications arts in 1984. While at Cornell, Reilly was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.[8][9][10]

Career

edit

1984–2000: Early career, NBC and Brillstein-Grey

edit

Reilly began his career as a freelance production assistant in New York City where he worked on over 150 commercials and music videos. To pursue a career in television, he took a road trip to Los Angeles, initially earning a position as a publicist with Universal Pictures and later hired by Brandon Tartikoff as a manager of creative affairs at NBC in 1988.[8][9][11]

In his early years at NBC he developed Saved by the Bell.[12][13][14] He later supervised Law & Order in its first season and developed the pilot episode for ER while serving as vice president of drama development from 1992 to 1994.[15][16][17][18]

In 1994, Reilly left his role at NBC to become president of television at Brillstein-Grey Entertainment.[19][20] While there, Reilly was responsible for shepherding some of television's top shows, such as NBC's Just Shoot Me and NewsRadio, and The WB's The Steve Harvey Show, and the pilot for HBO's The Sopranos.[18][21] He resigned from the position in 2000.[6][19]

2000–2003: Move to FX

edit

In 2000, Reilly joined FX as president of entertainment.[6] While at FX, he helped the new network become a profitable, creative business. While there he also transitioned the network's programming from syndicated reruns to original programming including The Shield, Nip/Tuck, and Rescue Me.[17][22][23] Within a year of his arrival, FX made cable history with its seminal series, The Shield broke cable ratings records when it premiered and received both a Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Series and an Emmy Award for lead actor Michael Chiklis in 2002.[11][24][25] Reilly also championed Lucky, the first television project from the Cullen brothers.

2003–2007: Second stint at NBC

edit

In June 2003, Reilly was named the president of primetime development at NBC.[17] In May 2004, he was promoted to president of the network's entire entertainment division, which included primetime, daytime, and late night programming.[24] Reilly's second tenure at the network was marked by volatility largely due to the fact that major properties like The West Wing, Friends, Frasier, and Will & Grace came to a conclusion.[11][26]

Despite NBC's poor performance, Reilly oversaw the development of some of the network's more prominent shows that helped to define the network in that decade. His vocal support of The Office helped it survive its low-rated first season. He also helped get My Name Is Earl on the air despite objections from other NBC Universal executives.[27] Reilly has been credited with developing other shows such as Heroes,[27] 30 Rock,[28] Friday Night Lights,[29] Deal or No Deal, America's Got Talent, and others.[11][26]

Despite having received a new three-year contract at NBC in March 2007, Reilly's employment with NBC Universal was terminated in late May 2007, and he departed soon after.[30][31][32] Under his administration, NBC's programs received 69 Emmy nominations that year, and a total of 235 nominations and 50 wins.[28]

2007–2014: Return to Fox

edit

Six weeks after leaving NBC,[32] Reilly was hired as president of entertainment at Fox. The move reunited him with Peter Liguori whom he also worked with while at FX.[33] Early in his tenure at Fox, Reilly developed and launched the J. J. Abrams thriller Fringe,[13] and Seth MacFarlane's Family Guy spinoff, The Cleveland Show. He also was involved in the launch of Fox Inkubation, a joint venture with 20th Century Fox that provided funding to animators to create two-minute shorts that could eventually be developed into television pilots.[34] Through the program, Justin Roiland first generated the concept for what would become the Adult Swim show Rick and Morty.

In 2009, he launched Glee which would go on to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy in 2010.[35] Reilly is generally credited with creating Jane Lynch's character, Sue Sylvester, on the show.[36][37] In 2011, Reilly also championed New Girl, the network's highest-rated fall sitcom debut in 10 years, and the singing competition show, The X Factor.[38][39]

Reilly was promoted to chairman of entertainment for Fox in August 2012.[40] He later introduced the shows Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Bob's Burgers, and The Mindy Project.[41][42]

At Fox, Reilly oversaw the network's leadership and investment in digital and social media.[43] He is credited as "the architect" behind the Animation Domination High-Def,[44] an independent digital animation subsidiary generating alternative animation for digital channels and a late-night block on Fox.[45]

Reilly also initiated a "no pilot season" strategy (designed to nurture fewer new Fox shows with more investment).[46][47][48] Prior to his departure, he also greenlit shows, including Empire, Gotham,[46] and The Last Man on Earth.[49] During his time at Fox from 2007 to 2014, the network had a seven-year run as television's top-rated network for adults aged 18 to 49.[41] He left Fox in May 2014.[50]

2014–2020

edit

TBS, TNT, and Turner Entertainment

edit

In November 2014, Reilly was named the president of TNT and TBS and chief creative officer of Turner Entertainment. In the role, he oversaw the TBS and TNT networks[51][52] and led growth opportunities across Turner's entertainment properties including TBS, TNT, truTV, Adult Swim, Super Deluxe and ELEAGUE.[53][54]

In 2016, Reilly led TNT to cut 50% of the ad load of the network's new dramas, starting with Animal Kingdom.[54][55] Reilly has also gained notice for modernizing and reinventing the types of series seen on TNT and TBS, introducing dark original dramas at TNT, including Claws[56] and The Alienist, and edgy comedies at TBS, including Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, The Detour, Wrecked, Angie Tribeca and The Last O.G..[16][55] He also led TBS to experiment with "binge-viewing" by airing all 10 episodes of Angie Tribeca’s first season repeatedly over 25-hours without commercials in January 2016 and again in November 2016 with the network’s newest original series, Search Party, which debuted all 10 episodes of first season during Thanksgiving weekend. Under Reilly's leadership, in 2017 TBS also introduced new unscripted shows including Snoop Dogg Presents the Joker's Wild and Drop the Mic.[57][58]

At Turner, Reilly made investments in digital and social media content and pushed for multi-platform ratings measurement. In October 2015, Reilly oversaw the launch of Super Deluxe and pushed for investments in ELEAGUE, the first major foray into professional eSports video game competitions in prime-time TV by a traditional media company, and companies like Refinery29.

In 2018, Fast Company named Turner among "The World's Most Innovative Companies" in the video category citing Reilly's development of shows like Full Frontal with Samantha Bee and The Alienist with helping reinvent the company's TBS and TNT networks.[59] In October 2019, Reilly worked with Tony Khan to bring AEW (All Elite Wrestling) to TNT in 2020.[60] AEW signed a four-year contract extension in 2020 will begin airing a second weekly show on the network in 2021.[61]

WarnerMedia

edit

In December 2018, Reilly's role was expanded to include architecting the overall creative identity of WarnerMedia's direct-to-consumer streaming platform, being appointed president TBS and TNT and chief creative officer Turner and WarnerMedia Direct-to-Consumer.[62] As CCO, Reilly oversaw licensing properties for the streaming service such as Friends, Big Bang Theory,[63] DC theatrical films,[64] and external properties including Sesame Street,[65] Studio Ghibli,[66] South Park,[67] and a BBC output deal.[68] Some of Reilly's programming at Max included Ridley Scott’s Raised by Wolves,[69] Love Life starring Anna Kendrick,[70] the ballroom competition show, Legendary[71] and Justice League: “the Snyder Cut” as a re-conceived multi-part event.[72]

In May 2019, Reilly signed a new, four-year deal with WarnerMedia that would have kept him at the company through 2022. It had expanded his oversight of the company's basic cable networks to include truTV in addition to TBS, TNT, and the direct-to-consumer streaming service (HBO Max).[1] Reilly departed in August 2020 amidst a company-wide restructuring.[73][74]

Board memberships

edit

Reilly has been chairman of the board of trustees and remains on the board for The Nature Conservancy of California.[75] He is also a member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Young Presidents' Organization and served 8 years on the board of trustees for the American Film Institute,[76] the Television Academy,[77] and on the advisory board for the Peabody Awards.[78] Reilly also serves on the Advisory Council for Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.[79]

Awards and recognition

edit

In 2016, he was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame.[80] In 2018, Reilly received the Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award from the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE).[81]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Littleton, Cynthia (16 May 2019). "Kevin Reilly Signs New Deal With WarnerMedia, Takes Over TruTV". Variety. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  2. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (November 4, 2014). "Turner Broadcasting Enlists Kevin Reilly to Fight 'The War for Content'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  3. ^ VanDerWerff, Tood (November 5, 2014). "5 Things You Need to Know About Former Fox President Keven Reilly's Move to Cable". Vox. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  4. ^ Holloway, Daniel (2018-12-14). "Kevin Reilly Named Content Chief for WarnerMedia Streaming Service". Variety. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  5. ^ "Kevin Reilly". Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c Hofmeister, Sallie (August 17, 2000). "Brad Grey President Reilly to Head FX Entertainment Division". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  7. ^ Gay, Verne (May 29, 2014). "Fox Entertainment chief (and LI native) Kevin Reilly steps down". Newsday. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c Gay, Verne (May 11, 2004). "Q&A WITH NBC ENTERTAINMENT BOSS". Newsday. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Weiss, Rebecca (October 30, 2007). "The Cornell Connection: Kevin Reilly '84". The Cornell Daily Sun. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  10. ^ O'Connell, Michael (November 13, 2014). "Throwback Thursday: In 2007, Kevin Reilly's Frat Brother Stephen McPherson Had His Back". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d Goldman, Andrew (January 29, 2007). "This Is the Man Who'll Lead the Revolution?". Esquire. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  12. ^ Engel, Peter. "Prologue:Thirteen or Call Security". Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  13. ^ a b Chang, Victoria; Guttentag, William; Kramer, Roderick (2009). "Fox Entertainment President, Kevin Reilly". Stanford Business. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  14. ^ O'Connell, Michael (January 11, 2018). "TV Veteran Kevin Reilly on Rebranding TNT, 'The Alienist' Hopes and Samantha Bee's "Carte Blanche"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  15. ^ Rice, Lynette (March 6, 2009). "ER:An Oral History". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  16. ^ a b Littleton, Cynthia (2018). "Inside Turner Chief Kevin Reilly's Plan to Reinvent TBS, TNT For a New Era". Variety. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  17. ^ a b c Carter, Bill (June 11, 2003). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; NBC Hires FX Executive to Revamp Its Hit Machine". The New York Times. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  18. ^ a b Baisley, Sarah (March 3, 2007). "Reilly Re-Ups as NBC Ent. President". Animation World Network. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  19. ^ a b Schneider, Michael (August 16, 2000). "Two toppers tapped at Brad Grey TV". Variety. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  20. ^ Hontz, Jenny (May 11, 1999). "BGTV ups Reilly and Traugott". Variety. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  21. ^ Adalian, Josef; Schneider, Michael (June 10, 2003). "NBC factors in Reilly". Variety. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  22. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (February 27, 2018). "Denis Leary Books Recurring Role on TNT's 'Animal Kingdom'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  23. ^ Fernandez, Maria Elena (May 16, 2006). "NBC's Reilly Hopes 'the worst is behind us'". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  24. ^ a b Grossberg, Josh (May 4, 2004). "NBC's Life of Reilly". E!. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  25. ^ Jack Myers. "Kevin Reilly: Bringing Must-See TV Back to NBC". Today's Commentary. Archived from the original on 2007-05-01. Retrieved 2007-05-31.
  26. ^ a b Fernandez, Maria Elena (May 16, 2006). "NBC's Reilly Hopes 'the worst is behind us'". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  27. ^ a b Consoli, John (May 28, 2007). "Analysis: Is Reilly a Scapegoat for NBC's Failures?". Mediaweek. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
  28. ^ a b Collins, Scott (July 20, 2007). "NBC owes a high-five to Kevin Reilly". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  29. ^ McDowell, Jeanne (January 11, 2007). "Can This TV Show Be Saved?". Time. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  30. ^ Finke, Nikki (May 25, 2007). "NBC SHAKE-UP! Ben Silverman Replacing Kevin Reilly? Katherine Pope Asking Exit?". Deadline. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  31. ^ Finke, Nikki (May 27, 2007). "NBC SHAKE-UP UPDATE: Kevin Reilly Officially Out. Ben Silverman Offered Bigger Job. Marc Graboff Upped". Deadline. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  32. ^ a b Rose, Lacey (July 23, 2007). "Kevin Reilly Is Very Happy". Forbes. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  33. ^ Schneider, Michael; Adalian, Josef (July 9, 2017). "Fox Names Reilly President". Variety. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  34. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 11, 2008). "Fox launches venture to discover animation talent". Reuters. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  35. ^ Wyatt, Edward (May 15, 2009). "Not That High School Musical". The New York Times. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  36. ^ Heidemann, Jason A. (August 30, 2011). "Jane Lynch has Happy Accidents". TimeOut Chicago. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  37. ^ Greg Hernandez (December 1, 2009). "Glee creator Ryan Murphy says Sue Sylvester character was not in original script of hit Fox show". Greg In Hollywood. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  38. ^ James Hibberd (Sep 21, 2011). "Zooey Deschanel's 'New Girl' opens big". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
  39. ^ Baker, Liana B.; Richwine, Lisa (August 20, 2012). "Fox promotes broadcast TV executive Kevin Reilly". Reuters. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  40. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 20, 2012). "Fox's Kevin Reilly Upped to Chairman of Entertainment". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  41. ^ a b Rose, Lacey (May 29, 2014). "Fox's Top Executive Kevin Reilly to Depart". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  42. ^ Salamone, Gina (October 9, 2012). "'Mindy Project' & 'Ben and Kate' Get Full Seasons". NY Daily News. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  43. ^ "Kevin Reilly Upped to Fox Broadcasting Company's Entertainment Chairman". The Hollywood Reporter. 20 August 2012.
  44. ^ Young, Susan (December 2012). "Reilly: Nurturing Fox's Next-Gen Toon Stars". Variety. Retrieved Dec 1, 2012.
  45. ^ Crupi, Anthony. "Fox Inks Partnership With YouTube's WIGS Channel". Adweek. Retrieved Feb 19, 2013.
  46. ^ a b James Hibberd (January 17, 2015). "Fox renews 'Gotham,' 'Empire' (after only two episodes!)". Entertainment Weekly.
  47. ^ Lesley Goldberg (February 12, 2014). "Will Forte Comedy 'Last Man on Earth' Nabs Fox Series Order". The Hollywood Reporter.
  48. ^ Josef Adalian (May 6, 2014). "Why Fox's Kevin Reilly Is Canceling Pilot Season". Vulture.
  49. ^ Adalian, Josef (April 8, 2015). "This Won't Be Last Man on Earth's Last Year on Earth (or Fox)". Vulture. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  50. ^ Greenwald, Andy (May 30, 2014). "Kevin Reilly Is Out at Fox. So What Now? (For Him, the Network, and the Future of Broadcast TV)".
  51. ^ Carter, Bill (November 4, 2014). "Turner Hires Kevin Reilly, Ex-Fox Executive, to Run TNT and TBS". The New York Times. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  52. ^ Spangler, Todd (15 June 2016). "Turner's Super Deluxe Developing Edgy TV Comedies with Stephen Gaghan, Other Partners". Variety. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  53. ^ Lewsi, Richard. "Turner set to unveil televised esports league featuring CS:GO". Dailydot.com. Daily Dot. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  54. ^ a b Birnbaum, Deborah (August 2016). "Turner's Kevin Reilly Talks Reduced Ad Load, Samantha Bee's Success". Variety. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  55. ^ a b "How Turner is changing the program to keep up with a new TV era". Los Angeles Times. 2016-09-09. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  56. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (July 27, 2017). "TNT-TBS Chief Talks TV's Transformation, Conan O'Brien's Future". Variety. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  57. ^ Lynch, Jason (July 27, 2017). "Turner's Kevin Reilly Says TBS and TNT Will Look 'Radically Different' in 2 Years". Adweek. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  58. ^ Whittock, Jesse (August 12, 2016). "TBS to Drop the Mic with James Corden". TBI Vision. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  59. ^ "Most Innovative Companies".
  60. ^ Petski, Denise (2019-07-24). "All Elite Wrestling Matches Set For Fall Premiere On TNT". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  61. ^ Zucker, Joseph. "AEW Dynamite Contract with TNT Extended Through 2023; New Weekly Show Added". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  62. ^ James, Meg (14 December 2018). "Turner's Kevin Reilly joins team developing planned WarnerMedia streaming service". LA Times. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  63. ^ "'Friends' on HBO Max: How to watch every episode streaming". masslive. 2020-05-27. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  64. ^ Chitwood, Adam (2020-08-15). "Here's Every DC Movie Available on HBO Max". Collider. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  65. ^ Thorne, Will (2019-10-03). "'Sesame Street' Moves to HBO Max in Five-Season Deal". Variety. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  66. ^ Thorne, Will (2019-10-17). "Studio Ghibli Films to Stream on HBO Max". Variety. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  67. ^ Low, Elaine (2019-10-29). "HBO Max Wins 'South Park' Streaming Rights for Over $500 Million". Variety. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  68. ^ Gemmill, Allie (2019-08-01). "HBO Max's Deal with BBC Means You Can Stream 'Doctor Who' & 'The Office' All Day Long". Collider. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  69. ^ "Ridley Scott's 'Raised by Wolves' Moving From TNT to HBO Max | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  70. ^ D'Addario, Daniel (2020-05-18). "HBO Max's 'Love Life' Starring Anna Kendrick: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  71. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (2020-07-09). "HBO Max Greenlights Ballroom Competition Series 'Legendary' To Slay For A Second Season". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  72. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2020-08-22). "Zack Snyder's 'Justice League' Director's Cut Will Be Four Separate One-Hour Installments On HBO Max; Trailer Drops". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  73. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2020-08-07). "WarnerMedia Shakeup: Bob Greenblatt, Kevin Reilly & Keith Cocozza Out, Ann Sarnoff & Casey Bloys Upped". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  74. ^ "Bob Greenblatt, Kevin Reilly Out Amid Major WarnerMedia Restructuring | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  75. ^ Fox's Kevin Reilly Named Chairman of Nature Conservancy of California, October 21, 2013, Variety, retrieved March 30, 2018.
  76. ^ AFI Elects TNT/TBS Chief Kevin Reilly, Halle Berry to Board of Trustees, February 19, 2015, Deadline Hollywood, retrieved March 30, 2018.
  77. ^ TV Academy Adds Kevin Reilly, David Nevins & Others to Executive Committee, April 30, 2015, Deadline Hollywood, retrieved March 30, 2018.
  78. ^ Kevin Reilly Among 4 Added to Peabody Awards Board of Advisors, October 27, 2016, SFGate, retrieved March 30, 2018.
  79. ^ Dept of Communication Advisory Board, Cornell University, retrieved March 30, 2018.
  80. ^ "B&C Hall of Fame Class of 2016 Set | Broadcasting & Cable". Broadcastingcable.com. 2016-04-08. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  81. ^ "15th Annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award to Honor Greg Berlanti, Cesar Conde, Jane Fonda, Kevin Reilly and Tom Selleck". NATPE. September 7, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
edit
Business positions
Preceded by President of NBC Entertainment
2004-2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of FOX Entertainment
2007-2012 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Peter Rice
 Chairman of FOX Entertainment
2012-2014 		Succeeded by
Peter Rice
Preceded by President of TBS and TNT
2014-present 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kevin_Reilly_(executive)&oldid=1240400506"