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« Ausiello Report

Exclusive: Brothers & Sisters Boss Exits

080227ausiello-brotherssist.jpg
Sally Field and Calista Flockhart by Michael Desmond/ABC
Sources confirm that Mark Perry has quietly exited his post as Brothers & Sisters' day-to-day show-runner. Perry, an alum of One Tree Hill, joined the drama this season to fill the void left by executive producer Greg Berlanti and series creator Jon Robin Baitz. Berlanti scaled back his B&S duties to focus on Dirty Sexy Money and Eli Stone, while Baitz left over creative differences. Or something like that.

Although a successor has yet to be officially named, I'm hearing that Berlanti — who is expected to take a more active role in the series — will promote from within, which should make for a seamless transition.

This is the second behind-the-scenes shake-up at an ABC Studios drama in as many days. Yesterday it was announced that Dexter's Daniel Cerone was replacing Josh Reims at the helm of Dirty Sexy Money. Reims had planned to move on after the first year to focus on developing his own projects.

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Posted by Michael Ausiello
Feb 27, 2008 11:36 AM
Very good news. I never thought Perry was a good fit for B&S.

I'm likewise quite happy to hear about Berlanti's more active involvement in the show again. Practically all the writers have been with the show since Season 1, so whomever he chooses, I feel like it'll be in more assured hands.
Posted by optimist88
Feb 27, 2008 12:15 PM
I didn't realize that Jon Robin Baitz had been replaced by some dufus writer from One Tree Hill. That explains Baitz's ranting about the network not respecting the "wrinkled beauty of Sally Field's leathery face" (I'm paraphrasing).

Baitz's Aussiello bashing was unacceptable, but I now understand that Baitz's loony Huffington post was aimed at the One Tree Hillness that was infecting the show. I'm wondering where the network will go next for a show runner. MTV? Nicholodeon? Maybe the writers on Laguna Beach are free.
Posted by StonyG
Feb 27, 2008 12:34 PM
Baitz wanted the show focus to be on the older characters, While the network wanted the focus on the younger set.
Posted by alex197923
Feb 27, 2008 12:49 PM
StonyG,

Technically, Mark Perry didn't replace Baitz since Baitz was never showrunner. That said, I think Baitz's HuffPo pieces indicated he was unhappy with Perry's direction.

As for thew new showrunner...Ausiello says Berlanti will appoint someone from "within," meaning from the existing writing staff at B&S. Much better call, IMO, since they have been with the show since its beginning or nearly so.
Posted by optimist88
Feb 27, 2008 12:56 PM
"quietly exited" = fired?
Posted by mick jagger
Feb 27, 2008 1:05 PM
All I can say is, good riddance! I thought Perry did a terrible job as showrunner this year and was in danger of running the show into the ground. I just hope Berlanti can fix the mess he left behind, starting with that whole stupid Rebecca paternity storyline mentioned in Matt Roush's recent column and the incredibly cheesy political campaign that makes me want to gag week after week.
Posted by bazookajoe83
Feb 27, 2008 1:06 PM
It's kind of sad when Fox is looking like the most stable network of the Big Four. These shake-ups at ABC, the producer changes at Moonlight on CBS, the puzzling decisions of Ben Silverman at NBC...

Or, maybe show-runner changes of this sort are more common than we know, and we're just hearing about them now in this "hmm, yeah, we can pass this off as news" post-strike lull. (No offense, Ausiello. You're doing a great job with what you have to work with.)
Posted by emster
Feb 27, 2008 1:18 PM
I'll give them a pass on this one and not make any comments about unstability. I'm thinking it's for the best.
Posted by missbrooke06
Feb 27, 2008 1:57 PM
Is this why I quit watching the show awhile back? ?<img border=">
Posted by sunnycc
Feb 27, 2008 2:32 PM
What producer changes at Moonloght?

Long live Moonlight

Love this show.
Posted by raygirl
Feb 27, 2008 2:44 PM
Whoops I of course meant Moonlight
Posted by raygirl
Feb 27, 2008 2:45 PM
Thank goodness -- the focus on the presidential campaign is very hokey and had me watching Dexter on 2/17 when each program showed. Get back to the familial interactions that made this series great during its inaugural season.
Posted by dougvball
Feb 27, 2008 3:18 PM
Hey! There is no need to bash One Tree Hill, people! Five years and one network merge later...that's not too shabby.
Posted by TVGuy'd
Feb 27, 2008 9:15 PM
I really don't have anything against One Tree Hill or its fans. I just ask that they keep their showrunners quarantined. I don't want them infecting good, innocent shows. The last thing we need is a TV-wide pandemic of cheesy, over-the-top angst. ;)
Posted by JPM
Feb 27, 2008 11:49 PM
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