Executive Suite

Doug Herzog’s résumé is no laughing matter. He served as Comedy Central chief from 1995-98 and has been president of MTV Networks Entertainment Group since 2006, after rejoining Comedy as president in 2004. During his tenure, he has launched the careers of Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Daniel Tosh and South Park’s Matt Parker and Trey Stone. This year, Comedy Central, which celebrates its 20th birthday April 1, ranks 10th among basic cable networks, with primetime viewership up 17 percent compared with the same period a year earlier. Herzog, 51, also oversees Spike and TV Land. The Paterson, N.J., native, a father of three, sat down with The Hollywood Reporter at his Santa Monica office to discuss the plan to expand Comedy Central’s late-night block, the ongoing boundary-pushing on South Park and why viewers should tune in to yet another awards show.