Next Gen 2012: Television

Bright young things? Bring ’em on, as The Hollywood Reporter recognizes the 35 superstars 35 and under who are moving up fast (and having fun) in film, TV, digital, law and news.

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ANGELICA MCDANIEL, 34
CBS Entertainment, SVP Daytime

Not yet 35, and already McDaniel, originally from Minneapolis, oversees CBS’ top-rated daytime lineup, including The Young and the Restless, The Price Is Right and, her top priority, The Talk. Thus far this season, the latter is network TV’s fastest-growing daytime show.

Industry Mentor: CBS’ Nina Tassler.

Big Break: I was hired 64 days prior to the launch of The Talk. The stakes were high because it was the network’s first talk show.

Best Advice: To listen. People will always teach you something if you’re paying attention.

10 Years Ago: I was in D.C. doing XM Satellite Radio. I was on-air for an hour a week because my bosses thought it would be funny, but my real job was producing a youth talk format.

Biggest 2012 Accomplishment: Becoming the head of CBS Daytime.

Career Inspiration: My dad is Mexican, so I grew up with a Latin family, and I needed to have a big personality. I started on-air for a children’s radio network when I was 15.

When I’m Not Working I’m: Spending time with my husband, Brian McDaniel, and my dog, a golden retriever named Ella.

Lunch Spot: My greatest wish is that Cut in the Beverly Wilshire was open for lunch because I love their pretzel bread and mac and cheese. If you’ve never had it, you must.

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CARA DELLAVERSON, 34
Lionsgate, VP Television Development and Current Programming

After a stint in the unscripted world, Dellaverson joined Lionsgate, where she has been integral to the launch of ABC’s critical darling Nashville as well as Jenji Kohan’s upcoming Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. The Los Angeles-reared University of Pennsylvania graduate has been hands-on with other Lionsgate series including Mad Men and Nurse Jackie as well.

Big Break: Being Bob Broder’s assistant. He’s a TV packaging genius and an extremely nice guy. It was my first education in the business.

10 Years Ago: I was producing reality shows like Next, Date My Mom and Celebrities Uncensored — soul-crushing shows but great production experience.

Turning Point: My dad took me to the set of CHiPs when I was 5. From that moment, I knew this was what I wanted to do. I’m sure Erik Estrada and craft services didn’t hurt.

Biggest 2012 Accomplishment: Nashville. My blood, sweat and tears are all over that show.

Movie Fix: Stand by Me.

Online Obsession: Food blogs like Eater LA.

When I’m Not Working: I’m hiking with my dog and with my husband, Mick Froehlich; trying new restaurants in different neighborhoods; and likely eating ice cream at Sweet Rose Creamery.

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DAVID BERNAD, 31
Ripcorn Productions, President of Film and Television

As head of Mike White’s production company, which has a deal at HBO, he produces the dramedy Enlightened and HBO GO’s first original effort, The Boring Life of Jacqueline. On the film side, the entrepreneurial McGill grad and Washington, D.C.-area native is exec producing Sebastian Silva’s Magic Magic.

Career Inspiration: I had a paper route at 9 and thought: “Why am I delivering someone else’s paper? I can just make my own.” My little brother wanted to be a writer, so I became the producer and said: “You write it. I’ll go sell it.” There was local, world and sports news plus trivia. I went door to door and made $500.

Big Break: Landing in the UTA mailroom. I didn’t get the job I had interviewed for at ICM but got an offer from Abrams and an interview at UTA. I told the guy at UTA that I had another offer. He said, “Where?” When I said Abrams, he said, “Ehh.” Something came over me, and I [lied], “And ICM.” He literally hired me on the spot.

Best Advice: My cousin Michael Gordon [300 screenwriter] told me, “It’s about patience and perseverance.”

Can’t-Miss TV: I don’t know if I should say this, but Real World/Road Rules’ The Challenge.

Online Obsession: ESPN.

Biggest 2012 Accomplishment: Getting nominated for a Golden Globe for Enlightened.

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GRANT GISH, 31
20th Century Fox TV Animation, Executive Director

After a stint at NBC and Tom Werner’s Good Humor TV, Gish (originally from Dallas) joined 20th, where he developed the Fox hit Bob’s Burgers and helped sell IFC’s upcoming — and first — animated show, Out There, from South Park‘s Ryan Quincy.

Industry Mentor: Mike Clements, whom I worked with at Good Humor Television. He reignited my love for animation.

Big Break: After a few months as an NBC page, I applied to work in the development department. Cheryl Dolins, who was head of comedy development at the time, took a shine to me and hired me to work on her desk.

Career Inspiration: I was always a massive couch potato, but I didn’t realize it could be a career until I got to Washington and Lee [University] and was writing reviews for the paper. I interned at Scott Rudin Productions in New York, too. That’s where I learned that I loved development.

10 Years From Now: I hope to be staying creative. I’ve dabbled in a few things: animation, live action, and I produced a documentary called Barbarian Days a few years ago. It was based on Robert E. Howard, who created Conan the Barbarian; it focused on four of his superfans, who gather at this festival in Texas.

Biggest 2012 Accomplishment: Getting our show, Out There, picked up by IFC.

Movie Fix: I quote Blazing Saddles the most.

When I’m Not Working I’m: Drinking good beer and playing bad golf.

I Fall Asleep At: 11:15 p.m.

The Last Thing I Do: Read. Right now, I’m reading Simon Rich’s new book, What in God’s Name.

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JOEY CHAVEZ, 28
NBC, VP Drama Development

Chavez’s latest project, the J.J. Abrams drama Revolution, not only has proved to be one of the fall schedule’s few breakout hits but also has helped lift NBC to No. 1 status in the key 18-to-49 demo for the first time in 10 years. The L.A.-born drama exec, who has survived the network’s many regime changes, also has a hand in the critically praised Parenthood.

Industry Mentor: David Janollari. My first gig out of college was at the WB Network, and David was the president. We have a standing dinner, and he gives me great advice.

Turning Point: I was about to send in my acceptance letter to UC Berkeley to study political science when I got into USC film school. I had applied on a whim.

Big Break: I got a fellowship through Warner Bros. that offered a full ride and required me to intern throughout college. When I graduated, I went right to work at the WB Network.

10 Years Ago: I was an intern on a Fox show called Fastlane. They had me directing cars to the table read and stacking sodas for McG.

Can’t-Miss TV: The Walking Dead.

Movie Fix: My office is covered in old movie posters, but my favorite is Annie Hall.

I Fall Asleep At: 12 a.m.

The Last Thing I Do: Come off of a four-hour TV binge.

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KATE LAMBERT, 33
FX, VP Original Programming, Drama and Comedy Development

In addition to being the primary development exec on such critically acclaimed efforts as Archer and Wilfred, the married, New Jersey-born USC grad is hands-on with upcoming efforts The Americans (with Keri Russell) and Legit as well as The League and Justified.

Industry Mentor: FX’s John Landgraf, Nick Grad and Eric Schrier. They gave me a home to be myself and really grow as an executive.

Big Break: Walking in the door at FX. I started as an assistant to Matt Cherniss.

Best Advice: After years as an assistant, Landgraf sat me down and said, “Kate, if there’s anything else in this life that you can do, you should do it.” I was like, “Yeah, dude, I’ve been an assistant for seven years [beginning her career at CAA]. Unfortunately, I f–ing love this.” It was good advice because you have to love it.

Turning Point: When I was in fifth grade, I had to do a report where students had to pick a show on the fall schedule that they thought would survive and then defend it. For whatever reason, I picked The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Movie Fix: A martial arts flick from the 1970s called Master of the Flying Guillotine.

Lunch Spot: Father’s Office.

When I’m Not Working I’m: At the beach.

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MATT KING, 35
Warner Bros. Television, VP Drama Development

After a period at McG’s Wonderland production company, where the Oxford grad was involved with such series as Chuck and Supernatural, King joined the drama ranks at Warner Bros. TV. There, the south London transplant has been instrumental in the development of such series as The CW’s Hart of Dixie, ABC’s 666 Park Avenue and NBC’s breakout Revolution.

Industry Mentor: My mother, who was a wonderful screenwriter named Laura Lamson.

Big Break: Discovering that Peter Johnson, who was interviewing me for the vp job at Wonderland, was a massive fan of electronic music and English soccer, both of which I actually knew something about.

Best Advice: Return every phone call.

10 Years Ago: I was in an office above a dance studio in London restructuring writer-director Justin Kerrigan’s Miramax script, I Know You Know, for the 17th time.

Movie Fix: Tootsie. I’m a sucker for the scoundrel-who-is-redeemed-by-love story. Especially if that scoundrel is in a dress.

When I’m Not Working I’m: Planning where I want to go backpacking next.

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MELANIE FRANKEL, 33
USA, VP Original Comedy Series

After working at Imagine and ABC, Frankel (a Syracuse University grad raised in Lafayette Hill, Pa.) was brought aboard at USA to spearhead the drama-heavy network’s foray into comedy. She’s shepherding USA’s comedy pilots, Sirens (from Denis Leary) and Paging Dr. Freed, starring Annie Potts.

Industry Mentor: Katie O’Connell, my first boss at Imagine Television back in 2001.

Big Break: Being hired by Steve Stark to be a manager of development at Grammnet Television from my assistant desk at ABC.

10 Years From Now: I hope to be a nonwriting producer.

Best Advice: Nobody ever dies with an empty inbox. I used to toil away as an assistant, and Imagine’s Skip Chasey walked by my desk and said somebody had once said it to him. I said, “You’re right, I’m going home.”

Career Inspiration: Growing up, I was like a walking TV Guide. I knew the grid and what was on what channel. I watched Moonlighting with my dad and Dallas with my mom.

Online Obsession: Facebook and Gawker.

When I’m Not Working I’m: Playing with my 17-month-old baby, Zoe [with writer husband Etan Frankel]. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m obsessed with her.