Dan Erlij: Last News

The Hollywood Radio & Television Society (HRTS) has new leadership.

Selena Kuznikov The Hollywood Radio and Television Society has elected six new board members to its HRTS Foundation, the org announced Wednesday. The HRTS Foundation, first launched in 2022 (in honor of the HRTS’ 75th anniversary) is a charity that aims to foster “a more diverse, equitable and inclusive TV and entertainment industry.” Joining the board: Aimie Billon, a partners and strategy consultant in cause-related storytelling; Keely Cat-Wells, to co-founder and CEO of Making Space; Tony Jonas, the founcer of Tony Jonas Prods.; Noriko Kelley, the exec VP of programming strategy at CBS Entertainment; Dick Lippin, the chairman, chief executive and founder of The Lippin Group; and Frederic Richter, a writer, researcher and NYU SPS faculty member.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Melissa Grego, a former Variety reporter who brought new energy to the Hollywood Radio and Television Society as CEO and helped expand its membership base to the largest in its 76 year history, has extended her contract with the organization to 2025. The news comes as the HRTS, which provides programming, fellowship and other support for executives, aspiring industry leaders and others across the business, has announced a newly elected group of board members and advisory council members. The news was announced on Wednesday by HRTS president Odetta Watkins — whose day job is serving as head of drama series at Amazon Studios — and Grego. Grego, whose previous work as a journalist also included overseeing the TV trade Broadcasting & Cable as its editor, joined HRTS in 2017 and immediately began collaborating with its board (which also includes HRTS chairperson Dan Erlij, the senior partner and co-head of TV literary at UTA) to grow the org’s various programs and create some new ones.

Wilson Chapman editorIn tandem with its 75th anniversary, the Hollywood Radio and Television Society will launch a charitable foundation to support the careers of entertainment professionals from underrepresented backgrounds. The creation of the charity org, known as the HRTS Foundation, was announced by HRTS board president Odetta Watkins, HRTS board chairperson Dan Erlij and HRTS CEO Melissa Grego.“We share a common passion across our leadership and membership for creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive industry,” Watkins said in a statement.

EXCLUSIVE: Gina Reyes has joined UTA as an Agent in the Television Literary division. She will be based in Los Angeles and will report to Partners & Co-Heads of TV Literary, Dan Erlij, and Allan Haldeman.