Agency beefs up via pacts with helmers
Move part of push to expand into cable, syndie, net programming
Among its new TV-helmer clients: "Good Morning America" and "Ricki Lake" director Bob McKinnon; "Dr. Phil's" Paul Casey; Debbie Miller, who will segue from directing "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" to "The Caroline Rhea Show"; and "Late Late Show's" Brian McAloon.
Shop also recently signed Banyan Prods., which produces TLC's "Trading Spaces," as well as producer Marlaine Selip, who has been tapped as exec producer of MSNBC's "Phil Donahue."
Packaging push
Move is part of a push by the company to expand its biz to incorporate cable, syndie and network programming since the agency, under company president Richard Lawrence, brought in former CAA and William Morris agent Debra Goldfarb as TV veep last year.
Lawrence and Goldfarb went after directors as a way to boost their ability to package reality shows for all outlets.
The agency, which also specializes in commercial and voiceover talent, has beefed up its TV department further by adding Susan Haber as an agent specializing in hosts; Phil Irvin, who was promoted to agent after working on Goldfarb's desk to concentrate on directors and producers; and Bill Thompson, an agent working on directors.
Among the agency's first network shows is upcoming Fox reality skein "30 Seconds to Fame." ARL reps the producing team Michael Binkow and Joe Revello.
Stealth moves
Company has been entrenched in syndication, as well as in cable, for years. It packaged "Judge Judy" and "Crossing Over With John Edward" and has long repped such vets as "Entertainment Tonight's" Bob Goen as well as "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy" exec producer Harry Friedman. ARL recently brokered a deal for Friedman to continue his role atop the gamers and to consult on the new "Pyramid" (Daily Variety, May 22).
"We do what we do and do it quietly," Lawrence told Daily Variety. "We continue to want to be stealth."
"We don't want to be in the quantity business but rather the quality business," Goldfarb added. "We don't necessarily want 25 directors; we want 10 of the best."
