A Conversation with Universal Studio Group’s TV Development Executives

Jim Donnelly is Executive Vice President of Comedy Development at Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group. He’s responsible for the studio’s comedy series development across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms.

Donnelly and his team support a slate of ambitious storytellers, including Tina Fey, Michael Schur, Nahnatchka Khan, Amy Poehler, Dan Goor, Michael Che, Justin Spitzer, Larry Wilmore, Alan Yang and more. He’s been instrumental in the development of several Emmy® Award-winning series, including “Hacks” and “Russian Doll,” as well as the critically lauded and commercially successful “Never Have I Ever,” “Girls5eva,” “Little America,” “Loot” and “The Good Place.”

Vivian Cannon is Executive Vice President of Drama Development at Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group. She’s responsible for the studio’s drama series development across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms.

Cannon has been a driving force behind the development of many critically acclaimed dramas, including the Emmy® Award-nominated series “The Gilded Age” and “New Amsterdam,” as well as commercial hits like “Bel-Air,” “The Equalizer,” “La Brea,” “Quantum Leap,” “The Irrational” and “The Best Man: The Final Chapters,” which became Peacock’s first-ever series to crack Nielsen’s Top 10 streaming chart.

Monica Rodman is Executive Vice President of Development at Universal Television Alternative Studio, a division of Universal Studio Group. She oversees series development across all platforms and works closely with the studio’s roster of producing partners, including Dwayne Johnson, Tina Fey, Jordan Peele, Dick Wolf, Jimmy Fallon and Amy Poehler.

Rodman has been instrumental in the development of hit unscripted shows and formats, including the popular competition series “Baking It,” starring Emmy®-nominated hosts Maya Rudolph and Amy Poehler; athletic competition series “The Titan Games,” hosted by Dwayne Johnson; and the Emmy-nominated music and comedy event series “That’s My Jam.”

Marc Velez is Senior Vice President and Head of Development at UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group. He’s responsible for the studio’s series development across cable and streaming platforms.

Velez joined UCP in 2022 and oversees development of the studio’s premium and award-winning programming, which includes “The Umbrella Academy,” “Ted,” “Based on a True Story,” “Dr. Death,” “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off,” “Candy,” “Gaslit,” “The Girl From Plainville,” “Chucky” and “Resident Alien.” He and his team support an impressive roster of creators, including Nick Antosca, Sam Esmail, Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, Seth MacFarlane, Tanya Saracho and more.

Kelsey Balance is Senior Vice President of Global Scripted Series at Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group. She’s charged with building on the studio’s track record of creating premium scripted content with global appeal and developing series with emerging and diverse voices.

Balance oversees development of the studio’s award-winning scripted programming across global broadcast, streaming and cable platforms. The studio’s top titles include International Emmy® Award-winning “Safe Harbour,” Peabody and BAFTA-winning “We Are Lady Parts,” global Netflix hit “One Day,” “Apples Never Fall,” “Everyone Else Burns,” “The Capture,” “Stateless,” “Clickbait,” “Everything I Know About Love” and “Transplant.”

Peter White is now Executive Editor of Television. Having joined Deadline in 2017, White heads the U.S. TV staff while leading our coverage of the networks, studios and streamers. His specialties are late-night, unscripted TV, executive turnover and the podcasting business. He is based in Los Angeles, having moved from London in 2020.