Comedy Central has promoted veteran network executive Jim Sharp to Executive Vice President, Original Programming and Development, West Coast, it was announced by Kent Alterman, President, Content Development and Original Programming, to whom he reports. Sharp, formerly Senior Vice President, will continue to oversee development and production on all West Coast-based original pilots and series and in his new and expanded role, will also manage all digital development on CC:Studios.
"If the US government was aware of Jim's understated intelligence, finely honed creative instincts, and steel-eyed leadership, the war on terrorism would be over," said Alterman.
In addition to running development of the original pilots and series on the West Coast, Sharp is responsible for expanding the #1 brand in comedy's talent/writer relationships within the comedy community. In his new position, he will continue to build the growing slate of originals on-air as well as oversee the digital development of all CC:Studios series productions. Sharp has been instrumental in the development and launch of numerous hit series during his tenure at
Comedy Central including "Tosh.0," "RENO 911!," "Workaholics," and the Peabody® Award-winning "Key & Peele." He was also a key member of the team that developed Comedy Central's newest late-night franchise, social-media sensation "@midnight" hosted by Chris Hardwick, as well as critically-acclaimed series "Nathan for You" and "Review," among many others.
Sharp rejoined
Comedy Central in 2002 from Broadway Video, where he served as Senior
Vice President, Creative Affairs and Production since 2000. He was an active producer, development executive and writer in the industry for many years, including a previous stint at
Comedy Central as
Vice President of Development from 1996-1997, during which he developed the sketch comedy series "Viva Variety." As an independent producer, he executive produced "Strange Frequency" for VH1.
Other producing credits include "The State" for
MTV and "The Loop" for Twentieth Television. He began his television career as a writer for "Day's End" for
ABC and "The Late Show" for Fox.
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