Sharenow’s reputation attracts A-list talent like Bradley Cooper, Morgan Freeman and Mary J. Blige to A+E Networks. A&E boasts two of cable’s top crime and justice series, History has cable’s top nonfiction series—“Curse of Oak Island” and “The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch”—and Lifetime’s “The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose” proved a hit among desired demographics. Not enough? He also ordered Kevin Costner’s docuseries “The West” for History, has five documentaries about rock legends planned for Biography and greenlit a second Janet Jackson documentary for Lifetime and A&E. Scott’s work at A+E Factual Studios and its brands Six West Media and Category 6 Media produced more than 200 hours of original content for A+E Networks and its Home Made Nation initiative in 2023. And Jossen is busy overseeing all programming operations of the in-house scripted production arm of A+E Networks. The studio’s “The Lincoln Lawyer,” created by David E. Kelly, got a season 3 pickup by Netflix.
Biggest takeaway from the Hollywood strikes? Non-scripted content is not always the winner in a scripted strike.
TV series everyone should binge: “Slow Horses,” Apple TV+
The last thing A.I. got wrong was… Making deep fake voices too perfect. Very scary.
Which industry executive do you wish was running for president and why? Neal Shapiro, CEO WNET Group, PBS. I worked for Neal for many years when he refined and re-imagined “Dateline NBC” into the format that lives on today in great success. Neal is brilliant and kind… he listens and weighs all options…and above all, he trusts his gut instincts and that makes him fearless.
Business speak phrase or buzzword I find most annoying: There are way too many but “hard stop,” “bandwidth” and “thought leader” are especially cringeworthy.
Do you personally still have a traditional cable video package? Yes. Overall, I have bundles inside bundles and have no idea how much I am overpaying for any of them. That said, if you come to my house, there’s NOTHING we can’t watch!
What celebrity would you hire for your company and why? Jeffrey Wright. There is absolutely nothing that man can’t do.
If you were a social media influencer, what product would you peddle? Diet Coke in a bottle. It’s ridiculously hard to find but so very worth it.
Favorite way to destress? Watch a great show while walking on the treadmill—the ultimate multi-task.
Fast food guilty pleasure: Delicious and hard to find—NYC Pret A Manger blueberry and granola pot. Not even sure it’s fast food but I want it every day!
Summer Olympics event you most want to see in person? Women’s gymnastics.