Amazon MGM Studios is reorganizing parts of its scripted television leadership under chief Peter Friedlander, including promoting Kara Smith to head of the drama division, according to multiple outlets. The changes come after Friedlander previously outlined a shift in how the studio’s TV operations would be structured, moving away from a model that separated wholly owned productions and co-productions.
In the latest restructuring, Jen Chambers, Michael McDonald, and Odetta Watkins are exiting their current roles, as reported by Hollywood Reporter and echoed by Variety and Deadline. Friedlander’s plan, which he describes as a revision from an earlier January announcement, expands the scripted television oversight structure. Rather than having a single executive cover both comedy and drama, the studio separates responsibilities into distinct areas including Drama and Comedy, and further includes an additional functional category related to worldbuilding.
The outlets also report that Amazon MGM Studios is seeking new leadership for comedy and YA (young adult) programming as part of the broader staffing changes. Overall, the reorganization adjusts internal management of scripted series development and production oversight across multiple content areas.
