Imagine TV president David Nevins is expected to succeed Bob Greenblatt at Showtime, according to published reports.
Nevins was selected to take over as entertainment president after Greenblatt evidently told Showtime CEO Matt Blank that he wanted to leave.
News of Nevins' departure from Imagine was first reported by Deadline.com, while word about his links to the Showtime job came from Variety.com. Greenblatt's contract is set to expire next month.
Showtime declined to comment. Imagine Television couldn't be immediately reached for comment.
Greenblattt, who joined the premium programmer in July 2003, replacing Jerry Offsay as the network's top programmer, led an unparalleled original series run for Showtime. Greenblatt came to the pay television outlet from The Greenblatt Janollari Studio, where, he teamed with David Janollari on a number of shows, notably HBO's Six Feet Under.
During his tenure, Greenblatt shepherded such notable series as Dexter, Weeds, The Tudors (which just completed its four-season reign), Californication, Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara, netting Showtime additional distribution, improved ratings, critical acclaim, a bevy of award nominations and wins, and a higher profile overall in the Hollywood community and with consumers.
In addition to The Tudors, a number of Showtime's notable scripted series, Dexter, Weeds (Aug. 16) and Californication, are well into their runs, entering their fifth, sixth and fourth seasons, respectively.
The network recently launched The Real L World, a reality spinoff from its lesbian forbear, The L World and comic craft show The Green Room with Paul Provenza, as well as the eight campaign of Penn & Teller: Bullshit. New series in the works include the dark comedy The Big C (Aug. 16), starring Laura Linney as a woman trying to put the best face on against the infernal disease. Next year, Showtime has lined up Jeremy Irons as the patriarch of the infamous Italian Renaissance family in The Borgias, and ordered a fourth and final season of comedy, The Secret Diary of a Call Girl.
Nevins, who has been president of Imagine Television since July 2002, resigned the position on Thursday. He has been in charge of television development and production for shows on both broadcast and cable networks, which have included 24, Friday Night Lights, Parenthood, Lie to Me and the upcoming Friends With Benefits on NBC.
Imagine Television couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
Before forming The Greenblatt Janollari Studio, Greenblatt was executive vice president of primetime programming at Fox Broadcasting Co., where during his eight years he was involved in the production and development of The X-Files, Ally McBeal, Party of Five, Melrose Place, King of the Hill and Beverly Hills 90210. In addition, he helped to develop The Sopranos and Dawson's Creek.
Janollari went on to become the president of entertainment for The WB and was hired this past January as executive vice president of scripted development at MTV.