Exclusive: Authentic Talent & Literary Management on Tuesday announced its hiring of manager Christina Shams, a veteran of the comedy world who counts Matt Rife, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Paul Elia, and Jeffrey Jay amongst her clients.
In her new role at Authentic, which will also have her producing, Shams will continue to pursue her passion for scaling the careers of multi-hyphenate artists. She’ll also oversee strategic touring growth for the Authentic comedy department, while enhancing digital opportunities for clients, and will be based out of the company’s Los Angeles office.
Related Story Monica Villarreal Joins Anonymous Content As Manager & Producer Related Story Mohammed Ali Joins Authentic Talent & Literary Management Related Story ICM & Authentic Talent & Lit Management Sign 'Catch The Fair One' Boxer, Actress & Writer Kali Reis
Shams has solidified her reputation as a stand-up touring specialist, with the ability to foster a wide net of opportunities for stand-ups,...
In her new role at Authentic, which will also have her producing, Shams will continue to pursue her passion for scaling the careers of multi-hyphenate artists. She’ll also oversee strategic touring growth for the Authentic comedy department, while enhancing digital opportunities for clients, and will be based out of the company’s Los Angeles office.
Related Story Monica Villarreal Joins Anonymous Content As Manager & Producer Related Story Mohammed Ali Joins Authentic Talent & Literary Management Related Story ICM & Authentic Talent & Lit Management Sign 'Catch The Fair One' Boxer, Actress & Writer Kali Reis
Shams has solidified her reputation as a stand-up touring specialist, with the ability to foster a wide net of opportunities for stand-ups,...
- 2/21/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Talent manager Chris Kiely has been promoted to Partner at Authentic Talent and Literary Management after nearly 11 years with the company.
Kiely’s new role will see him take on increased responsibilities in hiring, recruitment, and the establishing and maintaining of agency relationships, while continuing his day-to-day business as a manager and his mentorship of junior employees.
The promotion follows Authentic founder and CEO Jon Rubinstein’s 2021 decision to steer the company away from a single leadership structure, with growth instead being driven by a larger partnership group. Others playing key roles in the process after being introduced as Partners last year include Anne Woodward, Sean Elliott, Jane Berliner, Jill Kaplan, Vikram Dhawer, Bob Glennon, Don Wongprapan, Meg Mortimer and Rick Dorfman.
Kiely’s promotion also recognizes the role he’s played in finding opportunities for creatives from underrepresented communities, as a manager who’s long had his eye on emerging talent.
Kiely’s new role will see him take on increased responsibilities in hiring, recruitment, and the establishing and maintaining of agency relationships, while continuing his day-to-day business as a manager and his mentorship of junior employees.
The promotion follows Authentic founder and CEO Jon Rubinstein’s 2021 decision to steer the company away from a single leadership structure, with growth instead being driven by a larger partnership group. Others playing key roles in the process after being introduced as Partners last year include Anne Woodward, Sean Elliott, Jane Berliner, Jill Kaplan, Vikram Dhawer, Bob Glennon, Don Wongprapan, Meg Mortimer and Rick Dorfman.
Kiely’s promotion also recognizes the role he’s played in finding opportunities for creatives from underrepresented communities, as a manager who’s long had his eye on emerging talent.
- 2/7/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: I Gotta Ask My Wife, a multi-cam comedy starring Saturday Night Live alum Finesse Mitchell, is in the works at Fox, Deadline has learned exclusively. The project hails from Mitchell, who also executive produces and writes alongside Emmy-nominated scribe Warren Hutcherson (The Bernie Mac Show).
Inspired by Mitchell’s stand-up act, I Gotta Ask My Wife is an edgy comedy that follows the friendship among three men, all living in the same apartment building, at different stages in their romantic lives: one in his 20s, single and looking for love; one is a thirtysomething who can’t get divorced fast enough; and one a happily married father of two (Mitchell) who just wants to “chill” (code for: stay out of trouble) at home with his wife.
‘9-1-1’ & ‘The Resident’ Close Season 6 Renewals In Time For Fox Upfront Presentation
Mitchell will pen the pilot with Hutcherson. They executive produce...
Inspired by Mitchell’s stand-up act, I Gotta Ask My Wife is an edgy comedy that follows the friendship among three men, all living in the same apartment building, at different stages in their romantic lives: one in his 20s, single and looking for love; one is a thirtysomething who can’t get divorced fast enough; and one a happily married father of two (Mitchell) who just wants to “chill” (code for: stay out of trouble) at home with his wife.
‘9-1-1’ & ‘The Resident’ Close Season 6 Renewals In Time For Fox Upfront Presentation
Mitchell will pen the pilot with Hutcherson. They executive produce...
- 5/20/2022
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Fox has taken in for development Guys We F****d , a multi-camera comedy based on Corinne Fisher and Krystyna Hutchinson’s Guys We F****d: The Anti Slut-Shaming Podcast, from Eric and Kim Tannenbaum’s The Tannenbaum Company (Two and a Half Men), and Lionsgate TV, where The Tannenbaum Co. is under a deal. The project is a co-production between Lionsgate TV and Fox Entertainment.
Written by Fisher, Hutchinson and Kristin Belka Maier (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Gwf’d is a comedy about a cocky shopgirl and a people pleasing bartender who realize they are platonic soulmates while working at a New Jersey strip mall. Together, they tackle female adulthood while acting as therapists to local men and to each other.
Fisher, Hutchinson and Maier executive produce with Eric and Kim Tannenbaum for The Tannenbaum Company, Rick Dorfman and Chris Mills for Authentic Management Productions and Kris Koller...
Written by Fisher, Hutchinson and Kristin Belka Maier (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Gwf’d is a comedy about a cocky shopgirl and a people pleasing bartender who realize they are platonic soulmates while working at a New Jersey strip mall. Together, they tackle female adulthood while acting as therapists to local men and to each other.
Fisher, Hutchinson and Maier executive produce with Eric and Kim Tannenbaum for The Tannenbaum Company, Rick Dorfman and Chris Mills for Authentic Management Productions and Kris Koller...
- 1/19/2022
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Class is in session for Quinta Brunson’s ABC school comedy pilot. Tyler James Williams (The United States vs. Billie Holiday), Janelle James (The Comedy Lineup), Chris Perfetti (The Night Of), Lisa Ann Walter (The Parent Trap) and Sheryl Lee Ralph (Instant Mom) round out the series regular cast, joining creator, star and exec producer Brunson in the pilot from Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker, Warner Bros. TV and 20th Television.
The Untitled Quinta Brunson pilot (fka Harrity Elementary) follows a group of teachers brought together in a public school simply because they love teaching. They will rely on one another to make it through the day and find a way to counteract the school district’s bullsh*t attitude toward educating children.
Brunson stars as Janine, an optimistic new second-grade teacher with much to learn. Williams plays Gregory, a substitute-turned-permanent teacher at the school. James is Ava, the school’s spirited new principal.
The Untitled Quinta Brunson pilot (fka Harrity Elementary) follows a group of teachers brought together in a public school simply because they love teaching. They will rely on one another to make it through the day and find a way to counteract the school district’s bullsh*t attitude toward educating children.
Brunson stars as Janine, an optimistic new second-grade teacher with much to learn. Williams plays Gregory, a substitute-turned-permanent teacher at the school. James is Ava, the school’s spirited new principal.
- 3/26/2021
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Comedian Chris Distefano is playing pub landlord in the buzziest at-home bars on the block in a new series for TruTV: Distefano is hosting Backyard Bar Wars, a home renovation series for the WarnerMedia cable network.
The series will pit two neighbors against each other in a backyard build-off to create their own bar. Based on the rising trend of DIY bars, the series is a send-up of the classic home reno show with self-described “unhandy-man” Distefano roasting the builders as they put up their creations.
Backyard Bar Wars comes from 44 Blue Productions, a Red Arrow Studios company, behind Netflix’s Jailbirds, A&e’s Walhburgers and Animal Planet’s Pit Bulls and Parolees. The showrunner is Reno Camozzi, who exec produced Flip or Flop Nashville and has worked on series including Treehouse Masters and Food Court Wars. It is exec produced by Stephanie Noonan Drachkovitch, David Hale and Dan Snook.
The series will pit two neighbors against each other in a backyard build-off to create their own bar. Based on the rising trend of DIY bars, the series is a send-up of the classic home reno show with self-described “unhandy-man” Distefano roasting the builders as they put up their creations.
Backyard Bar Wars comes from 44 Blue Productions, a Red Arrow Studios company, behind Netflix’s Jailbirds, A&e’s Walhburgers and Animal Planet’s Pit Bulls and Parolees. The showrunner is Reno Camozzi, who exec produced Flip or Flop Nashville and has worked on series including Treehouse Masters and Food Court Wars. It is exec produced by Stephanie Noonan Drachkovitch, David Hale and Dan Snook.
- 2/23/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Comedian, actor and author J.B. Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm) has signed a talent holding and development deal with 20th Century Fox TV. The pact calls for Smoove to develop, potentially star in, and executive produce a comedy series under his Four Square miles Inc banner. He may also develop and executive produce additional projects under the deal, with casting in other existing comedy and drama projects possible as well.
“Nobody makes me laugh harder than Jb Smoove,” said 20th Century Fox Television President of Creative Affairs Jonnie Davis. “His work on Curb or his interviews with Howard Stern – you can’t deny his amazing comedic pov! He’s a gifted writer, comedian and actor we are so lucky to have him in a deal at the studio.”
Smoove is currently filming the upcoming season of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm in his regular role of Leon Black. He also recently...
“Nobody makes me laugh harder than Jb Smoove,” said 20th Century Fox Television President of Creative Affairs Jonnie Davis. “His work on Curb or his interviews with Howard Stern – you can’t deny his amazing comedic pov! He’s a gifted writer, comedian and actor we are so lucky to have him in a deal at the studio.”
Smoove is currently filming the upcoming season of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm in his regular role of Leon Black. He also recently...
- 10/19/2018
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Sony Pictures has set J.B. Smoove to star in Spider-Man: Far from Home, sources said. Sony would not comment and nobody would divulge Smoove’s role but I’m told it is a lead in the ensemble. So far, he’s the first new cast member to be set beyond Jake Gyllenhaal, who is expected to play the villain Mysterio. Jon Watts is directing, and Tom Holland returns as the webslinger, with Michael Keaton, Zendaya and Marisa Tomei expected to reprise. The film is dated for July 5, 2019. Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal are producing.
Smoove will shoot his role before returning to his regular role in Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. He’s repped by UTA, Authentic’s Rick Dorfman and attorney Roger Pliakas.
Spider-Man Homecoming grossed $334.2 million domestically and $880.1 million worldwide after it bowed in July 2017.
Smoove will shoot his role before returning to his regular role in Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. He’s repped by UTA, Authentic’s Rick Dorfman and attorney Roger Pliakas.
Spider-Man Homecoming grossed $334.2 million domestically and $880.1 million worldwide after it bowed in July 2017.
- 7/9/2018
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Comedian/writer Jb Smoove, who launched Converge Media Group (management, production and branded entertainment company) along with Rick Dorfman, Conan Smith and Adam Benowitz, has signed a first-look reality TV co-production deal with Storyville Entertainment, spearheaded by reality TV producer Betsy Schechter. This first co-production deal for Converge and Storyville will allow the latter access to develop and produce content that is unscripted and branded, and will center around Smoove and other clients that include the likes of comedians Rich Vos, Lynne Koplitz, Pete Dominic, Carly Aquilino, Chris Distefano, and producers Ryan Ling (Guy Code, Girl Code) and P.J. Morrison...
- 4/7/2014
- by Vanessa Martinez
- ShadowAndAct
Converge Media Group, the management, production and branded entertainment company founded last year by actor/writer/comedian Jb Smoove, Rick Dorfman, Conan Smith and Adam Benowitz, has signed a first-look reality TV deal with newly launched Storyville Entertainment. This is the first co-production deal for both companies and will give Storyville access to develop and produce unscripted and branded opportunities for Converge’s comedic clientele. That list includes Smoove, Rich Vos, Lynne Koplitz, Pete Dominic, Chris Distefano, Carly Aquillino as well as producers Ryan Ling (Guy Code, Girl Code) and P.J. Morrison (Impractical Jokers, Restaurant Stakeout), and writers such as Frank Santopadre (The Joy Behar Show, The View). Storyville’s Betsy Schechter and Converge’s Smoove, Dorfman, Smith and Benowitz will serve as executive producers for all sales. Since its launch last year Converge has produced Four Courses With Jb Smoove and utilized their talent in marketing campaigns for Pepsi,...
- 4/4/2014
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
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