Wendi Trilling Image: Clark Magazine, 2011
CBS’ Executive Vice President in charge of comedy development at CBS Television has decided to not renew her contract which is up for renewal in June.
Trilling is credited with long-running comedy successes such as Everybody Loves Raymond, How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, Two and A Half Men, Mike and Molly, The King of Queens, and recently fought for two spec scripts – 2 Broke Girls and Life in Pieces, just to name a few.
Trilling joined CBS in 1990 as a temporary employee and then moved to a permanent basis employee as an assistant to one of the CBS executives. Eventually that led to her moving into a junior executive position and to CBS’ development department, where over time she rose up in rank.
“After more than 24 years at CBS, it’s time to take a breath and look toward a new challenge,” said Trilling. “I have been beyond fortunate towork for an incomparable leader and creative force in Leslie Moonves, and to have had a boss and mentor like Nina Tassler. I’ve had the singular experience of working with the very best writers, producers and directors in television comedy from the proud perch of the CBS Television Network, and that has been a true privilege. And most of all, I have been blessed to work with the same dedicated team of executives in Julie Pernworth and Edy Mendoza for the last 15 years. It has been a joy.” — Wendi Triller
“Wendi is one of the most respected creative executives in our business,” said CBS Entertainment chairman Nina Tassler. “Over the past 20 years, she has developed many of the biggest hit comedies on television and helped CBS build signature comedy nights. She is an accomplished executive with a passion for the creative process that I greatly respect, and a dear friend whom I will miss personally. Wendi started her career at CBS, and has devoted herself to this Network for more than two decades. All of us here wish her great success in her next chapter.”
The final projects Trilling developed for CBS are Life in Pieces and Angel from Hell, new single-camera comedies that will begin airing in Fall 2015.
No word as to where Trilling will end up following CBS, but rumors are that she has close connectsions with Ben Sherwood, Disney-ABC TV’s Group President, which has caused some speculation she may make a move into his organization. But Trilling has also has had conversations about leaving the business altogether.
Stay tuned as we watch and see if more news comes in a few months about Trilling’s next move.