Doug Herzog

Title: President, Viacom Entertainment Group

Education: BS, Emerson College

Michele Ganeless

Title: President, Comedy Central

Years in Cable: 21

Education: BS, Northwestern University

Best Advice: Work with people who make you laugh.

Why Them? Comedy Central burst into 2011 with a new logo, but the network stuck largely to its proven programming formula this year, which meant continued strong ratings. Hey, it’s hard to argue when you’ve got Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Stan and Kyle in your corner. And, yeah, there was the ratings-shattering airing of the Charlie Sheen Roast, which pulled in 6.4 million viewers in September. Not to be outdone, Colbert scored a coup in September when he landed an interview with alt-rock demigods Radiohead. As well as demonstrating, ahem, winning ways with the celeb set, the network is embracing the comic community with initiatives like just-launched “Corporate Retreat,” a twice-monthly live showcase in the East Village that mixes standup acts by hopefuls with pretaped laughs from proven talent. And Herzog and Ganeless are augmenting the network’s HD offerings, anchored by “The Daily Show,” “The Colbert Report.”

Year Ahead: Comedy Central HD made significant strides in 2011. Will next year bring more growth in the U.S. and abroad?
 

Doug Herzog

The one burning question I have for Siri on my iPhone 4S: When is the IPhone 5 coming out?

Favorite going out town: New York City

The one thing I tell my kids about success in life: It won’t come to you; you have to go get it.

My best technique for deterring time-wasting office visits from co-workers: You should probably ask my staff how they get rid of me. I may be the worst culprit.

The top 3 most played selections on my iPod: "Dirty Rain," Ryan Adams; "Time Spent In Los Angeles,” Dawes; “Money Grabber,” Fitz and The Tantrums

My favorite sports team: New York Yankees.

My favorite iPad app: Spotify.

Guilty television pleasure: TMZ.

If I invented my own app it would: Invent my own app.

How many companies have you worked for since graduating from college? I think the more interesting answer is: none of the companies I have worked for existed when I was in college.

Michele Ganeless

The biggest innovation in cable over the last year has been: More great original programming than ever before.

My favorite restaurant: Riverpark, NYC

Favorite going out town: New York

My guilty television pleasure is: Top Chef

What I admire most about Millennials is: How transparent their lives are. ?

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