Mark Zakarin, a top programming executive at Showtime Networks Inc., is
leaving and will be succeeded by an Internet veteran, officials said
Thursday.
Gary Levine, president of Icebox Inc., will replace Zakarin,
Showtime's executive vice president of original programming since 1996. Icebox,
an Internet entertainment company, creates original series for the Web and is
responsible for the development of 30 animated online series, such as Zombie
College and Queer Duck.
Zakarin, who will remain a consultant for Showtime, has reached a pact with
the premium service in which he will write two pilot scripts for potential
series. Showtime also has a first-look deal on all projects Zakarin plans to
write, develop or produce.
An ABC veteran, Zakarin spearheaded or supervised the development of Showtime
series such as Queer as Folk, Resurrection Blvd. and Soul
Food.
'Mark is one of the most talented executives in the entertainment industry,
and in his five years at Showtime Networks, he has been instrumental in the
development and production of many of our critically acclaimed and award-winning
projects,' Showtime president of programming Jerry Offsay said in a prepared
statement.
Before joining Icebox, Levine was at Warner Bros. Television, where he was
responsible for the development of primetime series such as The West Wing
and Third Watch.
