WB Television Group Signs Overall Deal with Lucia Aniello & Paul W. Downs
Warner Bros. Television Group announced today that it has signed a new overall deal with Emmy®-nominated Hacks co-creators Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs, and their production company, Paulilu Productions, after a competitive situation.
Per Studio practice, terms were not disclosed, but WBTVG can confirm it is an exclusive, multiyear agreement. WBTVG will now serve as Paulilu’s exclusive home for all new television ventures. This marks the first overall deal for Paulilu with WBTVG.
Under the deal, Aniello and Downs will develop original television programming for all platforms, including WarnerMedia’s HBO Max, external streaming services, cable, and the broadcast networks.
Prior to the WBTV deal, Aniello and Downs co-created (with Jen Statsky) the acclaimed HBO Max hit comedy series Hacks, which debuted in May 2021 and was quickly renewed for a second season. The first season of Hacks was nominated for 15 Emmy® Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series. In addition to their nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series, Aniello and Downs are nominated (with Statsky) for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, and Aniello also received a nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.
Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with the team at WBTVG, as we have long admired the work they do. Also, we heard they’re giving us the Central Perk set on the lot for our offices…? Very cool!”
Before Hacks, Aniello and Downs wrote, directed, and executive produced Comedy Central’s critically acclaimed series Broad City, which ran for five seasons; Downs also starred in the comedy. On the big screen, Aniello and Downs wrote and produced Sony’s Rough Night, starring Scarlett Johansson, which Downs also starred in and Aniello directed. Aniello also serves as executive producer on Comedy Central’s series Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, currently in its second season, and Netflix’s The Baby-Sitters Club, which has been renewed for a second season. Downs also co-starred in Netflix’s 2018 summer comedy Like Father, opposite Kristen Bell, Kelsey Grammer, and Seth Rogen, as well as in his own half-hour special of Netflix’s The Characters. Other past projects include the Comedy Central miniseries Time Traveling Bong, created and written by Downs and Aniello, with Downs starring.
Aniello and Downs are represented by UTA, 3 Arts, and Ziffren Brittenham LLP.
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Per Studio practice, terms were not disclosed, but WBTVG can confirm it is an exclusive, multiyear agreement. WBTVG will now serve as Paulilu’s exclusive home for all new television ventures. This marks the first overall deal for Paulilu with WBTVG.
Under the deal, Aniello and Downs will develop original television programming for all platforms, including WarnerMedia’s HBO Max, external streaming services, cable, and the broadcast networks.
Prior to the WBTV deal, Aniello and Downs co-created (with Jen Statsky) the acclaimed HBO Max hit comedy series Hacks, which debuted in May 2021 and was quickly renewed for a second season. The first season of Hacks was nominated for 15 Emmy® Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series. In addition to their nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series, Aniello and Downs are nominated (with Statsky) for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, and Aniello also received a nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.
Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with the team at WBTVG, as we have long admired the work they do. Also, we heard they’re giving us the Central Perk set on the lot for our offices…? Very cool!”
Before Hacks, Aniello and Downs wrote, directed, and executive produced Comedy Central’s critically acclaimed series Broad City, which ran for five seasons; Downs also starred in the comedy. On the big screen, Aniello and Downs wrote and produced Sony’s Rough Night, starring Scarlett Johansson, which Downs also starred in and Aniello directed. Aniello also serves as executive producer on Comedy Central’s series Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, currently in its second season, and Netflix’s The Baby-Sitters Club, which has been renewed for a second season. Downs also co-starred in Netflix’s 2018 summer comedy Like Father, opposite Kristen Bell, Kelsey Grammer, and Seth Rogen, as well as in his own half-hour special of Netflix’s The Characters. Other past projects include the Comedy Central miniseries Time Traveling Bong, created and written by Downs and Aniello, with Downs starring.
Aniello and Downs are represented by UTA, 3 Arts, and Ziffren Brittenham LLP.