CNBC Serves Up New Mac Maven
By Allison Romano -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/12/2004 1:13:00 PM
Looking to resuscitate its prime-time programming, CNBC is moving two programming executives to development roles and has recruited a new veteran producer for John McEnroe's struggling talk show.
Senior vice president of prime-time programming Bob Meyers tapped Doug Warshaw, who had been running McEnroe, and Susan Krakower, who has been shaping The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, for new development positions.
NBC News veteran Jonathan Wald is also consulting on development. Meyers says he wants prime time shows that are "a little edgy and irreverent" with an "entertainment veneer." That could be anything from reality shows to talk shows, he said. (CNBC already repurposes NBC's The Apprentice and will rerun upcoming boxing reality show The Contender.)
Meanwhile, TVNewser.com had it pegged on the producer front.
Woody Frasier is McEnroe's new executive producer. Frasier launched Good Morning America and created and executive produced The Mike Douglas Show.
Recently, he produced a special episode of CNBC's Topic A with Tina Brown hosted by Howard Dean. But, at CNBC, Frasier is inheriting a show that draws fewer than 100,000 viewers and some nights doesn't even register on Nielsen's meters.
Meyers says CNBC will be patient with the show. "Woody wasn’t brought in to fix the show or make radical changes," he says. "He can be a great coach for McEnroe, a great example for the staff and a great leader."
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