Fusion, the upcoming cable news channel from Univision and ABC News, has made a big hire: it is adding former “Daily Show” head writer and EP David Javerbaum to its executive ranks. Javerbaum will serve as an EP for Fusion, leading its west coast programming, and developing new news/satire shows.
“He will lead development of an instrumental part of our primetime programming – the next generation of news satire and comedy,” Fusion interim president Beau Ferrari wrote in an email to staff. “He’ll be based in Los Angeles and oversee content for all our West Coast programs, including the nightly show anchored by Leon Krauze and new programming concepts he’ll help develop.”
Javerbaum is also an author and playwight, and has written for aweards shows like the TONYs and Emmys.
“I feel incredibly lucky to be getting in on the ground floor at Fusion,” Javerbaum said in a statement. “I’ve never felt prouder to be a fifth-generation Hispanic-American.”
Dear Colleagues,
I am delighted to tell you that the ultra-talented former “The Daily Show” Executive Producer and Head Writer David Javerbaum is joining Fusion as Executive Producer. He will lead development of an instrumental part of our primetime programming – the next generation of news satire and comedy. He’ll be based in Los Angeles and oversee content for all our West Coast programs, including the nightly show anchored by Leon Krauze and new programming concepts he’ll help develop.
David – aka DJ – is a 12-time Emmy-winning comedy writer, producer and truly one of the preeminent comedic talents in America.
For 13 years he worked for Comedy Central’s hugely popular “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” DJ started as a staff writer, moving up to Head Writer in 2002 and serving as the Executive Producer from 2006-2012. His work for the show won 11 Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, two prestigious Peabody Awards and the Television Critics Association Awards for Best Comedy and Best News Show.
He was one of three principal authors of the show’s textbook parody, America (The Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction, which sold 2.6 million copies and won the 2005 Thurber Prize for American Humor.
After leaving “The Daily Show,” DJ went on to write the openings for the 65th Tony and 2011 Emmy Awards. He was recently nominated for a 13th Emmy for his work on last year’s Tony Awards Show.
You may also know DJ as the man behind @TheTweetofGod, which has almost 1 million followers (though @TheTweetofGod follows only one man – @JustinBieber), and he is the author of The Last Testament: A Memoir by God.
He is a true creative visionary who has produced some of the most compelling comedy on television. We are delighted DJ will lend his many comedic talents and sensibility to our new satire and comedy programming and oversee our content in Los Angeles.
Please join me in welcoming the very funny David Javerbaum to Fusion.
Beau