Drama boss quits SBS for ABC
- Published by David Knox
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Debbie Lee a key Drama Executive with SBS has quit to join the ABC.
Lee has been with SBSi for nine years and commissioned such successes as Wilfred, The Circuit, two series for John Safran and the AFI winning film The Home Song Stories.
Lee becomes an Executive Producer for ABC Arts, Entertainment and Comedy.
The announcement will be seen by many in the industry as a significant loss to SBS and a gain for the ABC. Adam Zwar co-creator of Wilfred has previously reflected on a conversation he had with Lee in developing his comedy: “She said, ‘Go as far as you like – the more bent the better.’ That was contrary to everything I’d ever heard about commissioning editors and networks, so it was a great relief and really helped us flex our muscles as writers.”
Said Lee, “It feels like the perfect time to be joining what is currently a vibrant and courageous ABC. I’m looking forward to being a part of the ABC TV’s very successful arts, entertainment and comedy team, as well as continuing to work with the independent production community in my new role.”
The ABC has also announced an expanded role for Executive Producer Jennifer Collins (New Inventors, jtv) and confirms Sophia Zachariou (The Chaser, At the Movies) remains for 2008.
Press Release:
Debbie Lee, fresh from her success at the AFI Awards last week having commissioned Wilfred, The Circuit and The Home Song Stories, will join ABC TV as an Executive Producer for its Arts, Entertainment and Comedy department.
Lee has been Commissioning Editor for Drama / Comedy at SBS Independent for the last nine years, working on award-winning series such as John Safran vs God and John Safran’s Music Jamboree. She will take up a position with ABC TV on January 21.
“It feels like the perfect time to be joining what is currently a vibrant and courageous ABC. I’m looking forward to being a part of the ABC TV’s very successful arts, entertainment and comedy team, as well as continuing to work with the independent production community in my new role,” said Lee.
Amanda Duthie, Head of Arts, Entertainment and Comedy said “We are absolutely thrilled that Debbie Lee will be joining ABC TV. She has nurtured some of SBS’s most successful shows and films, and her expertise will be invaluable.
“We are currently strengthening our team. In addition to Debbie Lee’s appointment, Executive Producer Jennifer Collins will have an expanded role in 2008, becoming Manager of Development for the department.
Jennifer has been involved with a large array of our shows including The New Inventors, Schools Spectacular, jtv, Good Game, some of the 2006 episodes of The Chaser’s War on Everything, My Favourite Album, My Favourite Film and My Favourite Book, The Glass House and Strictly Dancing – series 2 and 3.”
Duthie also confirmed that Sophia Zachariou would continue as an Executive Producer in 2008. This year Zachariou was the ABC TV Executive Producer on the hugely successful The Chaser’s War on Everything, The New Inventors and At the Movies.
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Additional source: The Age
2 Responses
the rats (forgive the term) are abandonning the sinking ship that is SBS.
I thought The Circuit was better than anything recent on the ABC, so that’s good news. But surely nothing much will happen unless the ABC gets a cash injection.