New York— Lauren Corrao last week was elevated to executive vice president, original programming and development at Viacom Inc.’s Comedy Central.
Corrao, who was a producer at Touchstone Television before joining Comedy in 2002, had been senior VP of original programming and head of development. She stayed at her post after Doug Herzog became the network CEO a year ago, and Herzog, in a statement, pointed to the channel’s record ratings in 2004 and noted her imprint via such key shows as (currently suspended) Chappelle’s Show, Reno 911! and the animated Drawn Together. “Lauren’s track record at Comedy Central speaks for itself,” Herzog said in the statement.
In her expanded role, she will be responsible for the development and supervision of all of the network’s original-programming slate, overseeing talent, development, events and original-programming staffs in both Los Angeles and New York. She’ll also supervise the development of original content for the network’s programming expansion into new digital platforms.
Her background also includes a decade at MTV, helping develop signature shows such as The Real World. She spent four years at Fox Television as VP of comedy development and VP of alternative and late-night development.
Separately, Comedy Central announced last week that it was working with Ken Jennings, the Jeopardy! star who won $2.52 million by winning 74 consecutive matches last year, and Michael Davies (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire), on a strip game show that will bow later this year or early in 2006. Ironically, Jennings came in second during Jeopardy!’s “Ultimate Tournament of Champions” last week.
