Julia Franz to Consult on Upcoming Single-Camera Comedy Animal Control
and Season Two of Welcome to Flatch
Cheryl Dolins has been named Senior Vice President, Comedy Programming and Development, of FOX Entertainment, it was announced today by Michael Thorn, the company’s President of Entertainment.
Based in Los Angeles and reporting to Thorn, Dolins will be responsible for overseeing the development and production of FOX Entertainment’s growing comedy slate, which includes the upcoming single-camera comedy Animal Control, FOX Entertainment’s first wholly-owned live-action comedy; Welcome to Flatch, from executive producers Jenny Bicks and Paul Feig; and multi-camera comedy Call Me Kat, starring and executive-produced by Mayim Bialik.
“Having worked with Cheryl on both the network and studio side throughout our careers, I’ve always been amazed by her ability to identify and shepherd an impressive array of premium comedies that have left their mark on the television landscape. I’m looking forward to once again working with her as we further build FOX Entertainment’s comedy portfolio,” said Thorn.
Dolins succeeds Julia Franz, who joined FOX Entertainment in 2019 and will remain at the company in a consulting role, serving as both network and studio creative on Animal Control and Welcome to Flatch. Franz also developed Call Me Kat and FOX’s previous comedies Pivoting and The Moodys.
Thorn added, “Julia has been a central player for us during these important, foundational years of FOX Entertainment. The crucial groundwork she has laid will serve us well in the coming years; and having her onboard with Animal Control and Welcome to Flatch helps ensure our continued path to success.”
Most recently, Dolins was at 20th Television, where, from 2016 through 2020, she was Senior Vice President, Comedy Development and worked with Thorn prior to his joining FOX Entertainment in 2017. While there, she led the development of all studio comedies for streaming, broadcast and cable, including Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building,” “The Wonder Years” and “Single Parents” for ABC and “Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.” and the upcoming “The Santa Clauses” for Disney+.
Prior to that, she was Senior Vice President, Television Development and Production, at Warner Bros. Television-based Alloy Entertainment, responsible for all development and current programming, including “You,” The CW’s “The 100” and ABC Family’s “Pretty Little Liars.” From 2007 to 2013, she was President of Grand Central Entertainment.
Between 1999 and 2006, Dolins served in numerous roles at NBC, including Senior Vice President, Comedy Development, for NBC Entertainment, spearheading all of the network’s comedies, including Emmy Award winners “The Office,” “30 Rock” and “My Name is Earl.” Before that, she was at NBC Studios as Vice President, Primetime Series. In this role, she was responsible for development and current programming for such programs as “Will & Grace” and “Las Vegas.”
Dolins also held a number of development roles at Kelsey Grammer’s Grammnet Productions. She began her career in production on the iconic comedies “Cheers” and “Frasier.” She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Duke University.
About FOX Entertainment
With a legacy spanning more than 35-years, FOX Entertainment is one of the world’s most recognizable media brands and a prolific content producer across its iconic broadcast network and both owned and third-party streaming platforms. Known for its independent, innovative spirit and provocative, groundbreaking storytelling, the company was reinvented in 2019 with the formation of the new FOX Entertainment. While maintaining its leadership in broadcast television (9-1-1, The Simpsons, The Cleaning Lady, Hell’s Kitchen, LEGO Masters), the company is actively building a portfolio of businesses and library of owned original content. To date, FOX Entertainment’s long-term growth strategy has included the acquisitions of award-winning powerhouse animation studio Bento Box Entertainment (Bob’s Burgers, The Great North, Krapopolis, Grimsburg), entertainment platform TMZ, and global production studio MarVista Entertainment, as well as the formation of landmark culinary and lifestyle content venture Studio Ramsay Global (Next Level Chef) in partnership with the legendary Gordon Ramsay. The company also established its in-house unscripted studio FOX Alternative Entertainment (The Masked Singer, I Can See Your Voice, Name That Tune), FOX Entertainment Studios (Monarch, Animal Control) to develop scripted content, the worldwide content sales division, FOX Entertainment Global, and Web3 media and creative technology studio Blockchain Creative Labs.