Nickelodeon president Brian Robbins has tapped his former Awesomeness exec Shauna Phelan for a newly created position overseeing the development and production of all scripted live-action content.
Phelan, who will report to Robbins in her new role as senior vp live-action scripted content, will oversee development and production of live-action series, TV movies and specials. She will be based in the cable network’s Burbank headquarters.
“Shauna has an innate understanding of the youth audience and an eye for identifying great stories and characters and making them into generation-defining hits,” said Robbins, who was named to his post earlier this month. “We are excited to have Shauna bring her passion and creativity to Nickelodeon as we set the course for the brand’s next phase of innovation and success.”
Phelan has a long history working alongside Robbins. At Awesomeness, she served as head of development and production overseeing scripted and nonscripted series for the multiplatform, which targets the Gen Z audience.
Phelan joined Awesomeness in 2012, becoming a key member of Robbins’ team that built and launched the platform. There, she launched and produced dozens of series and sketch comedy videos for its YouTube channel, including the longform series Side Effects and Runaways. She also produced Foursome, YouTube Premium’s longest-running series on the platform.
Phelan also oversaw Awesomeness’ Verizon go90’s deal, where she produced the Daytime Emmy-winning Zac & Mia, the social media thriller T@gged, the digital series Guidance and the female-driven sketch show Betch.
In 2007, Phelan worked at Varsity Pictures alongside Robbins as his director of television development, where they developed the TV series Blue Mountain State, which ran for three seasons on Spike TV, and The Royals for E!
Phelan began her career in features at Furst Films in 2002, working on The Cooler and The Matador. She also oversaw Furst Films’ first-look television deal with Lionsgate TV.
Her other credits include SMOSH: The Movie, Expelled, Richie Rich, Project Mc2, Supah Ninjas, Terry the Tomboy: The Movie and Awesomeness’ sketch comedy series on Nickelodeon.
