Nina Tassler's CBS Exit Stuns Hollywood
One of the most formidable partnerships in television history is coming to an end. CBS Entertainment Chairperson Nina Tassler has stepped down. Glenn Geller will succeed her as CEO Les Moonves's right hand.
Tassler signed a multi-year contract to remain at CBS as recently as 2014. However, she has decided now is the best time for her to vacate her position and embark on new endeavors, such as publishing a memoir, the upcoming What I Told My Daughter. She will remain at CBS in an advisory capacity through 2017.
During Tassler’s tenure, CBS has been America’s top network for 12 of the past 13 years. She programmed such hits as The Big Bang Theory, Criminal Minds, How I Met Your Mother, Blue Bloods, Undercover Boss, Mom, Elementary, Madam Secretary and The Good Wife.
“Nina and I have been colleagues and friends for 25 years,” said Moonves in a statement. “It is one of the proudest partnerships of my professional life. We’ve enjoyed amazing success together, both here and at Warner Bros., and it’s been a privilege to watch her talents and accomplishments grow. Nina is a creative executive with the instincts of an artist, so it came as no surprise that she would eventually want to express those talents beyond television. All of us here are grateful and proud of CBS’s success with Nina leading our entertainment programming, and we will be the biggest fans for all her future endeavors.”
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Tassler was named CBS Productions' vice-president of drama in 1997. She joined the network a year later as senior vice-president of drama development. In 2004, she was promoted to president of entertainment. As part of her most recent deal, she was named chairperson of CBS Entertainment.
“CBS is a special place,” said Tassler. “For the past 18 years, I’ve been blessed to be part of an amazing team that has lifted this Network to an enviable run of success. It all starts at the top with Leslie, my boss, mentor and friend for two and a half decades, and a leader who inspires excellence in every part of the creative and business process. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Leslie, my colleagues at CBS and all the actors, producers and writers who were part of this incredible journey. I will always love this place, yet it is time for my next chapter, and I’m thrilled that I can pursue my other creative interests while still being part of the Company. I pass the baton to Glenn with great confidence and pride. He is an outstanding leader with great respect for the artistic process and a clear vision for programming success.”
Tassler's replacement has been with CBS since 2001. In his role as head of current programming for both the network and CBS Productions, Geller helped make hits out of NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, Zoo, The Good Wife, Scorpion, Madam Secretary and CSI: Cyber. He also oversaw creative affairs for The CW's critical darling Jane The Virgin.
To connect Tassler's exit back to our wonderful world of daytime television, CBS Daytime Chief Angelica McDaniel reported to the executive in regards to The Price is Right, Let's Make a Deal, The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful and The Talk. CBS Daytime has had many milestones of its own during Tassler's reign. The Price is Right is the most-watched show in daytime. The Talk has pretty much stolen The View's thunder and the two remaining soap operas on the CBS Daytime dial are thriving in the Nielsens.
