HBO Augments Entertainment Ranks

Elevates Bloys To Lead Comedy Series; Hires Diaz From ABC For Drama Development

MCN Staff -- Multichannel News, 8/25/2009 2:14:17 PM

HBO has beefed up its entertainment executive ranks, elevating Casey Bloys and hiring Jocelyn Diaz from ABC Television.
Bloys, who most recently developed the premium network's gigolo series Hung and its upcoming Bored to Death, was promoted to senior vice president, HBO Entertainment comedy series. Bloys oversees the development and production of all half-hour scripted comedy series for the network.
Bloys joined HBO in 2004 as director, development, HBO Independent Productions, before being elevated to vice president in 2005. The following year, he was named vice president, HBO Entertainment, spearheading the development and production of comedy series that include Flight of the Conchords, Summer Heights High, The Life and Times of Tim and Eastbound & Down.
Before joining HBO, Bloys was director, development, for Wass-Stein Productions, from 2000 to 2004. He started his career in entertainment as an assistant in the current and development departments of CBS.
Reporting to Bloys on scripted material from the east coast is Nina Rosenstein, vice president, HBO Entertainment, while Amy Gravitt will continue to report to him as director, comedy development.
"Comedy isn't something you can teach, either you know it or you don't," said HBO Entertainment president Sue Naegle in a statement. "Casey has a natural ability and a great eye for talent. It's hard to imagine HBO's comedy department without his guidance and leadership."
For her part, Diaz, who will be responsible for the development and production of dramatic series, joins HBO from ABC, where, since 2006, she served as vice president, primetime drama series and development. There, she was responsible for overseeing creative development and production aspects for drama series for the network. In addition, she worked on ABC's efforts in international scripted business and development.
In 2003, Diaz served as director, primetime current series, for both comedy and drama; and was made executive director, primetime drama series and development, that same year.
During her tenure at the broadcast network, Diaz worked on such series as Lost, Ugly Betty, Pushing Daisies, NYPD Blue, The Practice and The Drew Carey Show.
She began her career as a literary agent assistant at International Creative Management.
"Jocelyn's approach to development is one that works to preserve and support the writer's vision," said Naegle. "She has excellent relationships in the creative community and is a great fit for HBO's commitment to unique and innovative programming."