CBS Head Of Comedy Jon Koa To Exit As Network Consolidates Scripted Development Under Yelena Chak

EXCLUSIVE: Jon Koa is stepping down as EVP Comedy Development for CBS after three years. He will not be replaced but that is not a sign that CBS, which has deep comedy traditions, is pulling away from the genre.

As Deadline reported in January, CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach and current Paramount Global co-CEO, CBS President and CEO George Cheeks, had given the network’s development strategy a careful examination.

That review already resulted in a switch to long-term development. Now, CBS also is streamlining all scripted program development under EVP Drama Development Yelena Chak who will also oversee comedy development in her new role as EVP Scripted Development, with the comedy team reporting to her. There will be no designated heads of comedy and drama going forward.

Amid a wholesale shift to streaming, there has been an ongoing consolidation of the broadcast development executive ranks. CBS is the only of the vertically integrated networks to have a separate programming team; Disney and NBCUniversal have the same executives oversee development across the broadcast and some cable networks as well as a sibling streamer.

CBS has four comedy series on the schedule next season, returning hits Ghosts and The Neighborhood, and new entries Poppa’s House and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. While down from the genre’s heyday, that is tied (with NBC) for the most live-action comedies on broadcast in 2024-25.

And CBS will continue to develop comedy for next season. As Deadline reported earlier this week, it has high-profile single-camera comedy Area 51 in the works.

“It’s been such a privilege to work with George, Amy and this group of talented people who love tv as much as I do, and as our business rapidly evolves and transforms, I look forward to the creative and innovative opportunities that lie ahead,” Koa said.

As head of comedy, Koa most recently oversaw development on Poppa’s House and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. He joined CBS in July 2021 from Condé Nast Entertainment where he was SVP, Scripted Television. Previously, he was Executive Director, Comedy Programming and Development, for ABC between 2009 and 2015.

Chak has had an impressive track record since become Head of Drama in 2017, developing a string of new hits, most recently Tracker and Elsbeth this past season, as well as Fire Country and its upcoming spinoff Sheriff Country as well as the FBI franchise.

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