Telepictures’ David McGuire exits Warner Bros. firm after 30 years

David McGuire

David McGuire, EVP of programming and development for Telepictures, the Warner Bros. TV Studios subsidiary behind The Jennifer Hudson Show, is exiting after more than 30 years with the company.

His departure comes as a result of restructuring following the exit of Mike Darnell, the president of unscripted and alternate television for Warner Bros., which was revealed earlier this month.

McGuire oversaw all aspects of creative affairs for first-run syndicated series, unscripted series, and digital content developed and produced by Telepictures. The firm is a major supplier of syndicated daytime TV programming, with McGuire launching top-performing titles such as The Ellen DeGeneres Show and, most recently, The Jennifer Hudson Show.

He also developed, in conjunction with DeGeneres, NBC’s Family Game Fight, HBO Max’s Ellen’s Next Great Designer, NBC’s Ellen’s Game of Games, and HBO Max/Max’s animated Little Ellen. McQuire oversaw Ellen Digital Ventures (EDV), which has created more than 60 original series, including Momsplaining With Kristen Bell and Lady Parts With Sarah Hyland.

McGuire began his career at Telepictures in 1990 as a production assistant on Jenny Jones, and during his 33-year tenure rose through the ranks, also overseeing shows including Extra, Judge Mathis, The People’s Court, The Real and TMZ.

Warner Bros. TV Group chairman and CEO Channing Dungey described McGuire as “an institution in this business” and said he was “a huge part of the great success Telepictures has built over the years.”

His exit comes during the same week that another veteran of the wider Warner Bros. Discovery group, president of International TV Distribution, Robert Blair, departs, after 25 years with the company.