Liz Tigelaar and her “Best Day Every Productions” banner have signed overall deals with both Paramount TV Studios (PTVS) and CBS Studios.
This is the first joint overall deal between PTVS and CBS Studios, and the latest major deal for Paramount since the Paramount-Skydance merger was completed last year.
“Having Liz join PTVS and CBS Studios for this next chapter feels like both a homecoming and a new beginning,” CBS Studios President David Stough and PTVS President Matt Tournell said in a joint statement. “She is an extraordinary creative force with a unique voice that blends emotional truth, humor and humanity in ways that deeply resonate with audiences. We are eager to work with Liz and our team again as we continue to create and build worlds that reflect her bold storytelling and heart.”
Tigelard previously signed an overall deal with CBS Studios in 2010. Under the new deal, Tigelaar and Best Day Ever Vice President of Development Abby Chambers will work with teams at PTVS and CBS Studios to develop series for streaming and broadcast. PTVS and CBS Studios will produce all projects with Tigelaar under the agreement.
“I’m very excited to be joining not one, but two great studios, each making significant contributions to the development of hit television,” said Tigelaar. “My history with this team runs deep, and my admiration runs even deeper. Shelly gave me my first published work and ignited what would become a passion. David was so supportive of my first (and second!) pilot. Brian was in the trenches with me on my first show, Life Unexpected. And I was so eager to work with Matt, our strategic leader and creative force, that together we have a shared vision that allows me to pursue my love of adaptation, dreaming up new and impactful stories with heart and humor. ”
Tigelaar most recently served as showrunner on Hulu’s drama series “Under the Bridge” and created the Kathryn Hahn-led Hulu show “Tiny Beautiful Things.” She is also known for the series adaptation of Celeste Ng’s novel Little Fires Everywhere, starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington, which was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series. Her other credits include “Casual,” “Nashville,” “Dirty Sexy Money,” “Revenge” and “Bates Motel.”
Tigelaar is repped by UTA and Wendy Kirk of Johnson, Shapiro, Slouett & Cole.
The joint agreement between CBS Studios and PTVS comes after the latter brand was reinstated last year as a separate production unit under Tunel following the completion of the merger. Tigelaar’s deal is also part of Paramount’s concerted effort to include more female voices.
To that end, Palmmount+ recently picked up Bash Dolan’s Anne Hathaway-starring true crime series “Fear Knot,” while the streamer previously commissioned “Discretion,” a legal drama starring Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning that was announced in October.
