ABC President Steve McPherson Resigns!

[Brian Damage]

3RD UPDATE 6:20 PM: We just received this statement from Steve McPherson about his future plans: "I'll be announcing my future plans shortly which will include a new entrepreneurial venture in the spirits business. While I will continue with my ongoing wine business, I'll also reveal plans for my involvement in a new media company."

2ND UPDATE 6:00 PM: Sources are telling the media that ABC Family's Paul Lee is in as ABC Entertainment topper. He's certainly well thought-of and his promotion in some capacity has been imminent. But there is no official confirmation of this yet. Meanwhile, here is Disney/ABC's statement:

Steve McPherson today submitted his resignation as President, ABC Entertainment Group, and the Company accepted. Mr. McPherson said, "I want to thank the wonderful team of individuals who have worked with me throughout my time here and wish them nothing but the best.” A replacement for Mr. McPherson will be announced shortly.

UPDATE 5:10 PM: The ABC Entertainment Group president of both ABC network and ABC Studios has been in the job since January 2009 after overseeing ABC Entertainment since 2004. Our understanding is that there is no immediate replacement. McPherson came back from vacation Monday but did not resume his ABC duties. He is now referrng calls to his newly hired publicist.

He had a little over a year left on his contract which expires in September 2011. His last negotiation was rife with rumors that he would resign if he were not given Touchstone (aka ABC Studios) which was then run by Mark Pedowitz, who found himself ultimately moved aside because of McPherson's manuevering.

To put it mildly, McPherson has been one of the most controversial network entertainment executives to fill the job. That's mostly because of his lack of interpersonal skills. It's no exaggeration to say he has spent a good deal of his tenure pissing off a lot of people, both internally like his boss Anne Sweeney (the president of Disney/ABC Television Group) and externally (like showrunners, agents, managers, etc.) But what kept him in the job was that he was considered creatively talented. However, under his watch, ABC has failed to launch a tentpole drama to succeed the departing Lost or the aging Desperate Housewives. After years of trying, he did find success on the comedy side this past season with Modern Family; however it's a show produced by 20th Century Fox Television and not by ABC Studios.

4:45 PM: Deadline has just heard "something's going on" involving ABC Entertainment Group President Steve McPherson who has been the subject of rumors for many months now. McPherson had been on vacation for several weeks and hasn't yet returned. More when we get it.

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/

[catlover79]

Now if Jeff Zucker would do the same thing...

[TMC]

http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.co...stigation.html

Steve McPherson quit yesterday as ABC was investigating multiple harassment claims made by females executives against the ABC entertainment president, according to the Hollywood Reporter. McPherson's attorney, while not addressing any specifics, released a statement saying: "It is not uncommon for high level executives to be the subject of gossip and innuendo. That would include rumors of internal situations which can easily be misinterpreted or misrepresented."

[waichingliu81]

being an ugly betty fan and as the show was on ABC, not to mention he was the one who pulled the plug on it, all i can say is hallelujah!

[TMC]

http://tvtattle.com/s-for-a-three-peat-at-abc/

Paul Lee was a war reporter in Belfast, Northern Island and helped launch BBC America before revamping ABC Family. PLUS: Ex-ABC boss Steve McPherson deserves credit for "CSI's" success.