Casey Wasserman’s eponymous sports and music management company has closed a deal to acquire the longstanding talent representation and production shop Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
Wasserman formally announced the transaction on Monday alongside Brillstein Co-CEOs Cynthia Pett and Jon Liebman. The acquisition bolsters Wasserman verticals like marketing and content creation (Brillstein produced “The Sopranos”), and also formally puts the grandson of legendary movie mogul Lew Wasserman in the Hollywood talent fold — welcoming star clients like Brad Pitt, Florence Pugh, Adam Sandler, Tiffany Haddish, Elizabeth Olsen and the newly named Lois Lane: Rachel Brosnahan.
Brillstein leaders Pett, Liebman, Marc Gurvitz and Sandy Wernick will continue to lead their company and join Wasserman’s executive leadership team. Same for partners including George Freeman, Missy Malkin, David McIlvain, Alex Murray, Andrea Pett and Tim Sarkes, as well as 30-plus managers in New York and Los Angeles. Previously known as Brillstein Grey, the...
Wasserman formally announced the transaction on Monday alongside Brillstein Co-CEOs Cynthia Pett and Jon Liebman. The acquisition bolsters Wasserman verticals like marketing and content creation (Brillstein produced “The Sopranos”), and also formally puts the grandson of legendary movie mogul Lew Wasserman in the Hollywood talent fold — welcoming star clients like Brad Pitt, Florence Pugh, Adam Sandler, Tiffany Haddish, Elizabeth Olsen and the newly named Lois Lane: Rachel Brosnahan.
Brillstein leaders Pett, Liebman, Marc Gurvitz and Sandy Wernick will continue to lead their company and join Wasserman’s executive leadership team. Same for partners including George Freeman, Missy Malkin, David McIlvain, Alex Murray, Andrea Pett and Tim Sarkes, as well as 30-plus managers in New York and Los Angeles. Previously known as Brillstein Grey, the...
- 9/18/2023
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Wasserman has finalized plans to acquire Brillstein Entertainment Partners. The entertainment management and production company run by Cynthia Pett and Jon Liebman will now be under the umbrella of Wasserman’s sports marketing and talent management.
The current Wasserman clients, including but not limited to athletes and musicians, will now be able to potentially more closely participate in films, shows or related content created by Brillstein and using the IP already existing within Brillstein. The pitch to current and future clients is an exchange of services and ideas across marketing, representation, content creation and talent management arms all under one proverbial roof.
“Cynthia [Pett] and I will continue to be co-ceos and will continue to run our production company/talent management company,” co-ceo Jon Leibman told TheWrap. “We will retain our identity.”
Concurrently, Wasserman Chairman and CEO Casey Wasserman told TheWrap, “Every company we acquire we operate as a single...
The current Wasserman clients, including but not limited to athletes and musicians, will now be able to potentially more closely participate in films, shows or related content created by Brillstein and using the IP already existing within Brillstein. The pitch to current and future clients is an exchange of services and ideas across marketing, representation, content creation and talent management arms all under one proverbial roof.
“Cynthia [Pett] and I will continue to be co-ceos and will continue to run our production company/talent management company,” co-ceo Jon Leibman told TheWrap. “We will retain our identity.”
Concurrently, Wasserman Chairman and CEO Casey Wasserman told TheWrap, “Every company we acquire we operate as a single...
- 9/18/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Just over a year ago, the leadership of Brillstein Entertainment Partners — a pioneering Hollywood company founded in 1969 by talent broker icon Bernie Brillstein, who managed names like Lorne Michaels, Garry Shandling, Brad Pitt, Nicolas Cage and Mike Myers — started thinking about strategic options for their business, including a sale.
The management and production firm had been led by co-CEOs Cynthia Pett and Jon Liebman since 2005, when the duo bought out the stake of executive Brad Grey and Brillstein-Grey dropped the latter name from the shingle. (Notably, the late Grey, who went on to become CEO of Paramount Pictures, took the backend interest in HBO’s The Sopranos, which had been produced by Brillstein, with him.)
Liebman, a New York entertainment attorney who joined Brillstein in 1998, says informal conversations were held in 2022 with Casey Wasserman, whose namesake company — which includes sports talent agents and a booking agency — has been on the acquisition hunt,...
The management and production firm had been led by co-CEOs Cynthia Pett and Jon Liebman since 2005, when the duo bought out the stake of executive Brad Grey and Brillstein-Grey dropped the latter name from the shingle. (Notably, the late Grey, who went on to become CEO of Paramount Pictures, took the backend interest in HBO’s The Sopranos, which had been produced by Brillstein, with him.)
Liebman, a New York entertainment attorney who joined Brillstein in 1998, says informal conversations were held in 2022 with Casey Wasserman, whose namesake company — which includes sports talent agents and a booking agency — has been on the acquisition hunt,...
- 9/18/2023
- by Erik Hayden
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sports and music representation powerhouse Wasserman has finalized its acquisition of Brillstein Entertainment Partners, the venerable Hollywood management and production company. Terms were not disclosed. Deadline exclusively revealed the acquisition talks back in February.
Wasserman chairman and CEO Casey Wasserman and Brillstein co-CEOs Cynthia Pett and Jon Liebman made the announcement. It puts Wasserman, grandson of the iconic Hollywood representative and studio chief Lew Wasserman, directly into the film and TV representation and production game for the first time. It is the second strategic alignment for Wasserman, who took over the lucrative music touring business that was once the most profitable part of the Paradigm agency, at a time when the pandemic grounded live touring revenues.
It would be the latest move in management after 3Arts made a deal with Lionsgate, and Range Media Partners linked with Automatik.
Wasserman, Pett and Liebman believe their cultures will mesh in their compatible business and staffs.
Wasserman chairman and CEO Casey Wasserman and Brillstein co-CEOs Cynthia Pett and Jon Liebman made the announcement. It puts Wasserman, grandson of the iconic Hollywood representative and studio chief Lew Wasserman, directly into the film and TV representation and production game for the first time. It is the second strategic alignment for Wasserman, who took over the lucrative music touring business that was once the most profitable part of the Paradigm agency, at a time when the pandemic grounded live touring revenues.
It would be the latest move in management after 3Arts made a deal with Lionsgate, and Range Media Partners linked with Automatik.
Wasserman, Pett and Liebman believe their cultures will mesh in their compatible business and staffs.
- 9/18/2023
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
“Def Comedy Jam” is back and celebrating 25 years of uncensored hilarity. Dave Chappelle, Martin Lawrence, Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, Adele Givens, Tracy Morgan, Sheryl Underwood, D.L. Hughley and others will return Tuesday to the franchise that helped launch many a career for African-American stand-up comedians. Stan Lathan, Russell Simmons, Sandy Wernick and Jesse Collins serve as executive producers on “Def Comedy Jam 25.” Also Read: Steve Harvey Jabbed by Jokes Over Mayweather-McGregor Appearance Watch the trailer above. “Def Comedy Jam 25” debuts September 26 on Netflix.
- 9/21/2017
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Even though HBO and Russell Simmons are back in business with a new comedy series, Simmons will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his old HBO show, “Def Comedy Jam,” at rival Netflix instead.
Netflix announced Thursday that it would premiere “Def Comedy Jam 25” this fall. Performers include Bill Bellamy, Cedric the Entertainer, Dave Chappelle, Mike Epps, Adele Givens, Eddie Griffin, Tiffany Haddish, Kevin Hart, Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Kid Capri, Martin Lawrence, Tracy Morgan, Craig Robinson, Jb Smoove, Sommore and Joe Torry.
“Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam” aired on HBO from 1992 to 1997 and briefly returned in 2006. The show helped turn some of the stand-ups mentioned above into stars. Simmons, Stan Lathan, Sandy Wernick and Jesse Collins are executive producers of “Def Comedy Jam 25.”
Netflix has been aggressive in the comedy space, aggressively acquiring an entire docket of stand-up specials.
Here’s a teaser trailer for the special:
The return of “Def Comedy Jam,...
Netflix announced Thursday that it would premiere “Def Comedy Jam 25” this fall. Performers include Bill Bellamy, Cedric the Entertainer, Dave Chappelle, Mike Epps, Adele Givens, Eddie Griffin, Tiffany Haddish, Kevin Hart, Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Kid Capri, Martin Lawrence, Tracy Morgan, Craig Robinson, Jb Smoove, Sommore and Joe Torry.
“Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam” aired on HBO from 1992 to 1997 and briefly returned in 2006. The show helped turn some of the stand-ups mentioned above into stars. Simmons, Stan Lathan, Sandy Wernick and Jesse Collins are executive producers of “Def Comedy Jam 25.”
Netflix has been aggressive in the comedy space, aggressively acquiring an entire docket of stand-up specials.
Here’s a teaser trailer for the special:
The return of “Def Comedy Jam,...
- 8/24/2017
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
(Aotn) There’s something about some of Marlon Wayans’ career choices this decade that could understandably be seen as “frustrating.” The youngest of the Wayans brothers has demonstrated a great knack for physical comedy (the first two entries in the Scary Movie franchise and even the goofy yet riotous White Chicks) and an equally impressive potential as a serious actor (his dramatic turn in Requiem for a Dream), but his latest – the declining Haunted House movies and the abysmal Fifty Shades of Black, which actually managed to make the series it’s spoofing look like Last Tango in Paris by comparison – are a an embarrassing nose dive in comedic standard. Enter Michael Tiddes’ Naked, not the 1993 Cannes winner by Mike Leigh, Netflix’s latest comedic offering and a breath of stale air that actually manages to find a hint of freshness and showcase some of the good qualities of Mr.
- 8/17/2017
- by William Coffey
- Age of the Nerd
Stars: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Hudson, Kevin James, Nick Swardson, Terry Crews, Rob Schneider | Written by Adam Sandler, Dan Bulla, Tim Herlihy, Paul Sado | Directed by Steve Brill
Sandy Wexler is the latest Netflix original film from comedian/actor Adam Sandler – part of his four picture deal with the streaming service – and tells the story of the titular character: a talent manager working in Los Angeles in the 1990s who diligently represents a group of eccentric clients on the fringes of show business. His single-minded devotion is put to the test when he falls in love with his newest client, Courtney Clarke (Jennifer Hudson), a tremendously talented singer who he discovers at an amusement park.
If there’s one thing I can count on from my fellow movie bloggers, it’s their intense disdain for the films of Adam Sandler; in particular those made as part of Sandler’s Netflix deal.
Sandy Wexler is the latest Netflix original film from comedian/actor Adam Sandler – part of his four picture deal with the streaming service – and tells the story of the titular character: a talent manager working in Los Angeles in the 1990s who diligently represents a group of eccentric clients on the fringes of show business. His single-minded devotion is put to the test when he falls in love with his newest client, Courtney Clarke (Jennifer Hudson), a tremendously talented singer who he discovers at an amusement park.
If there’s one thing I can count on from my fellow movie bloggers, it’s their intense disdain for the films of Adam Sandler; in particular those made as part of Sandler’s Netflix deal.
- 4/18/2017
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
[caption id="attachment_51339" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Netflix orders an unscripted Cameron Dallas TV show. (Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock.com,)/caption]
Netflix has ordered an unscripted TV show featuring social media star, Cameron Dallas. The series will follow Dallas, his family, and friends, as he pursues his career.
Dallas is executive producing with Jane Lipsitz, Dan Cutforth, Ben Curtis, Sanford Wernick, Jon Liebman, and Bart Bordelon.
Read More…...
Netflix has ordered an unscripted TV show featuring social media star, Cameron Dallas. The series will follow Dallas, his family, and friends, as he pursues his career.
Dallas is executive producing with Jane Lipsitz, Dan Cutforth, Ben Curtis, Sanford Wernick, Jon Liebman, and Bart Bordelon.
Read More…...
- 6/23/2016
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Social media sensation Cameron Dallas will soon be the star of his own Netflix reality series, the streaming platform announced Wednesday. The as-yet untitled series will follow Dallas and his close circle of friends and family as he looks to take his career to the next level, and explore the stark contrast between his very public online persona and who he is in his personal life. Jane Lipsitz and Dan Cutforth of Magical Elves will serve as executive producers alongside Brillstein Entertainment Partners’ Ben Curtis, Sanford Wernick and Jon Liebman. Dallas and Bart Bordelon also executive producers. Also Read: Netflix in July: What's.
- 6/22/2016
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Comedy Central is jumping into the awards show fray with the first annual Comedy Awards. Nominees were selected by the Comedy Awards Board of Directors, which includes (among others): Stephen Colbert, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Seth MacFarlane, Conan O'Brien, Don Rickles, Joan Rivers, Chris Rock, Ray Romano, Sharon Sheinwold Jackson, Mitzi Shore, Jon Stewart, Lily Tomlin and Sandy Wernick.
The movie nominees are led by "Cyrus," "Easy A" and "Kick-Ass" with three nominations apiece. The winners are being selected by professionals from the comedy community-including producers, writers, performers, directors and stand-ups. But fans can also have their say at the official website, voting in all categories and actually nominating in two online-only categories.
The awards show will tape March 26 in New York City and will air April 10 on Comedy Central, Spike TV, TV Land, VH1, Cmt and Nick At Nite.
Here's the full list of nominees:
Comedy Series
"30 Rock...
The movie nominees are led by "Cyrus," "Easy A" and "Kick-Ass" with three nominations apiece. The winners are being selected by professionals from the comedy community-including producers, writers, performers, directors and stand-ups. But fans can also have their say at the official website, voting in all categories and actually nominating in two online-only categories.
The awards show will tape March 26 in New York City and will air April 10 on Comedy Central, Spike TV, TV Land, VH1, Cmt and Nick At Nite.
Here's the full list of nominees:
Comedy Series
"30 Rock...
- 2/15/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Comedy Central and MTV networks just announced the nominations for their inaugural Comedy Awards, which will air on April 10. The nominations span 15 categories in TV and film, including best comedy series and film. The best comedy series field includes awards favorites 30 Rock, The Office and Modern Family, along with largely overlooked off-beat comedies It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Eastbound & Down. 30 Rock leads the TV categories with seven noms. The film field is led by Easy A, Cyrus and Kick-Ass with four noms each, including best movie where they will face Get Him to the Greek and The Other Guys. Nominees were selected by the Comedy Awards' Board of Directors that includes James Burrows, Stephen Colbert, Billy Crystal, James Dixon, Whoopi Goldberg, Brad Grey, Caroline Hirsch, Martin Lesak, Seth MacFarlane, Adam McKay, Jimmy Miller, Conan O'Brien, Peter Principato, Don Rickles, Joan Rivers, Jay Roach, Chris Rock, Ray Romano, Rory Rosegarten,...
- 2/15/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
The post-Brad Grey era has begun at Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, the management-production powerhouse Grey headed for nearly 15 years before segueing to the top job at Paramount Pictures this year. Brillstein-Grey officials confirmed Wednesday that the company has formally changed hands from Grey to a team of BGE executives led by partners Cynthia Pett-Dante and Jon Liebman. Liebman, who was vice chairman of BGE under Grey, has been named CEO; founding partner Bernie Brillstein, company veteran Marc Gurwitz and partner Sandy Wernick continue to be heavily involved in overseeing day-to-day operations. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, but it is understood that part of the deal involved Grey retaining the company's lucrative interest in the HBO drama The Sopranos, which BGE's Brad Grey Television unit co-produces with HBO. Sopranos is estimated to have raked in nearly $400 million in DVD sales alone during the past few years, according to Home Media Retailing.
The post-Brad Grey era has begun at Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, the management-production powerhouse Grey headed for nearly 15 years before segueing to the top job at Paramount Pictures this year. Brillstein-Grey officials confirmed Wednesday that the company has formally changed hands from Grey to a team of BGE executives led by partners Cynthia Pett-Dante and Jon Liebman. Liebman, who was vice chairman of BGE under Grey, has been named CEO; founding partner Bernie Brillstein, company veteran Marc Gurwitz and partner Sandy Wernick continue to be heavily involved in overseeing day-to-day operations. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, but it is understood that part of the deal involved Grey retaining the company's lucrative interest in the HBO drama The Sopranos, which BGE's Brad Grey Television unit co-produces with HBO. Sopranos is estimated to have raked in nearly $400 million in DVD sales alone during the past few years, according to Home Media Retailing.
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