Mandabach quits CWM to go indie

Just weeks after US hit sitcom producer Carsey-Werner-Mandabach (CWM) vowed to remain independent, partner Caryn Mandabach has quit to form her own production company.

TV veteran Mandabach is stepping down from her position as producer and partner at CWM after two decades. With development and production credits such as The Cosby Show, Roseanne and Grounded For Life to her name, she is now planning to launch her own venture.

While there are no firm details of any projects as yet, Mandabach recently declared that the traditional sitcom was “pretty much dead in the US – that audience has simply moved on”. A spokesman for Mandabach added: “The UK will definitely be part of her focus in her new endeavour”.

“Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner are extraordinary talents who have exhibited a Midas touch throughout their careers,” said Mandabach. “I’m leaving them to go back to my roots as a scrappy, solo operator. While I am tremendously excited and optimistic, I also feel as if I am leaving the comforts of a longtime home.”

This will be Mandabach’s second shot at steering her own prodco. Before joining Carsey-Werner, she formed her own outfit in 1976, where she produced both comedies and adverts.

Following Mandabach’s exit, CWM will now go back to its original name of Carsey-Werner and both founders will remain onboard. There is no word as yet on whether Mandabach will keep her stake in the Oxygen cable network, which she took out under the aegis of CWM.

She will however continue to work with Carsey and Werner via their feature film development deal with Paramount Pictures and her partnership with CWM’s movie arm.

Mandabach has denied that Carsey and Werner’s recent decision to remain a stand-alone outfit prompted her decision to quit. At the start of August, CWM ended industry speculation of a buyout or an alliance by hanging on to its indie status.

After commissioning UBS Investment Bank in May to evaluate either option and allegedly pursuing talks with Viacom, Time Warner, Sony and Fox, CWM took the least expected route and decided to stay on the indie track.

“We wanted to examine all of our options to determine the best way for us to move forward as a creative entity,” said Werner in a statement. “Our investment bankers at UBS presented us with some very interesting and thoughtful proposals, but after careful analysis we decided that independence remains the best way for us to navigate the changing waters of the television business.”

CW can turn its back on a buyout or studio merger thanks to its strong catalogue of sitcom titles. Reality and drama may be dominating US schedules to the detriment of sitcoms but CW’s rights to The Cosby Show, Roseanne, That 70s Show, 3rd Rock from the Sun and A Different World should supply sufficient revenue.