'Anderson Live' EP Noonan, MSNBC's Schaefer Spielberg Named EPs of Warner Bros.' 'Bethenny'

'Ellen' EPs to serve as consulting executive producers

By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/4/2013 12:04:07 PM

Terence Noonan, executive producer of Warner Bros.' Anderson Live, and Meghan Schaefer Spielberg, one of the founding producers of MSNBC, have been named executive producer of Warner Bros.' upcoming Bethenny, starring Real Housewife and Skinnygirl Bethenny Frankel.

"We knew that we needed to bring in very talented and diverse producers for the launch of Bethenny into the daytime landscape this fall. Terence's in-depth daytime talk show experience combined with Meghan's vast experience in news and launching shows make a very strong management team," said Hilary Estey McLoughlin, president of Warner Bros.' first-run production arm, Telepictures, in a statement. "They both understand what women respond to in daytime and are on the pulse of what women are talking about. Their individual proven track records in telling stories in honest and relatable ways will complement Bethenny's natural ability as a talk show host."

"I am very excited to work with Terence and Meghan. They have passion and knowledge about who and I am and what my vision is for this show. Terence's high energy, drive, and passionate personality combined with Meghan's experience dealing with real, honest, emotional and significant news issues will create a show that has incredible range," said Frankel. "I cannot wait to join forces with these two talents and capture a real conversation that is lacking in daytime television right now."

The new one-hour strip will launch this fall, with the Fox Television Stations as a launch group in the country's biggest markets.

The executive producers of Warner Bros.' Ellen -- Mary Connelly, Ed Glavin and Andy Lassner, who produced Bethenny's test-run on several Fox-owned stations last summer -- will serve as consulting executive producers of the show.

"During my career, I have been fortunate to work with some of the most talented daytime talk show hosts, including Anderson Cooper, Dr. Oz and Rosie O'Donnell. I am really excited to now work with Bethenny, whose real and unfiltered style will certainly be a breakout hit next season," said Noonan.

"My 17 years at MSNBC have given me the opportunity to work with some amazing talent and produce incredible stories and events. I am very excited to bring that news experience and story-telling ability to Bethenny and cross over into the daytime landscape," said Schaefer Spielberg.

Besides executive producing Anderson Live, Noonan also is the creator and executive producer of TLC's DC Cupcakes and A Slice of Brooklyn, based on the famous pizza tour. Prior to executive producing Anderson Live, Noonan was supervising producer at Sony Pictures Television's The Dr. Oz Show. He also served as a co-executive producer on Twentieth's The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, as well as senior producer on SPT's Life and Style. Noonan was a producer on Warner Bros.' The Rosie O'Donnell Show and on CBS Television Distribution's The Montel Williams Show. Noonan, who also is the author of Starring You!, graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.A. in liberal arts.

Schaefer Spielberg most recently served as the senior executive producer of MSNBC's daytime programming, helping to manage the day-to-day production of the cable network and overseeing the daytime booking department. Prior to this position, she was an original member of the team that launched MSNBC in 1996. She then went on to become the executive producer of Ashleigh Banfield On Location, where she received a National Headliner Award for her work.

In addition, Schaefer Spielberg was the executive producer for Countdown with Keith Olbermann and The Abrams Report. Schaefer Spielberg graduated from Catholic University and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.

Originating from the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City, Bethenny is produced by Telepictures and A Very Good Production, Ellen DeGeneres 'production company.