Wilshire Studios is bolstering its development and programming executive ranks.
Former Fox senior vp alternative Lisa Levenson has joined the unscripted-focused studio as executive vp development and programming, reporting to new Wilshire Studios president Dawn Olmstead.
Levenson helps fill the void created earlier this summer when senior vp development BJ Levin departed Wilshire Studios to return to producing. Levenson’s exec vp role is a new one for the studio.
Levenson, who was brought in ahead of Olmstead’s promotion to president at Wilshire, brings years of experience with her to the new position. The executive was instrumental in creating the soap opera elements of The Bachelor and the gameplay behind Big Brother. During her four years at Fox, her department oversaw series including Hell’s Kitchen, MasterChef, Beat Shazam, American Grit and live events including The Passion and New Year’s Eve with Pitbull.
Before joining Fox, she spent 13 seasons as an exec producer on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.
Levenson joins Wilshire as the NBCUniversal Entertainment-based studio is focused on partnering with top producers, including Errol Morris, Kirby Dick and Joe Berlinger, among others. The studio’s first Netflix project, The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell, is now streaming. Wilshire’s roster includes Oxygen’s reboot of Mysteries and Scandals, hosted by Soledad O’Brien, and E!’s upcoming talk show Busy Tonight.
Olmstead earned solo oversight of Wilshire Studios (and scripted arm Universal Cable Productions) on Oct. 16 after serving as co-president of both alongside George Cheeks. When Cheeks was promoted alongside Paul Telegdy to replace Bob Greenblatt as co-chairmen of NBC Entertainment, Olmstead earned solo oversight of Wilshire and UCP.
Here Olmstead’s memo to staff announcing Levenson’s hiring:
