The 45-year-old programming executive, who informed staff in a Wednesday email, will take time off through May.
CBS Entertainment president Glenn Geller suffered a mild heart attack recently. The 45-year-old programming executive is said to be in good shape, with a promising prognosis, but he will be taking leave from his job until late May.
Both Geller and CBS Corp president and CEO Leslie Moonves alerted network staff to the development in two Wednesday emails, stressing that Geller would be back at work after the network's upfront presentation in New York.
Gellar's staff memo reads as follows:
As many of you know, I experienced a mild heart attack recently and I’ve been resting at home for a couple of weeks. The good news is the doctors have given me an excellent report card and say I’m on track for a full recovery. The bad news is that pilot season and the Upfront isn’t the best environment to achieve that recovery. After consulting with my doctors, my husband, and my family, I plan to take off a few more weeks and return at the end of May. I’m so grateful for all the support I've received from Leslie and my 3rd floor colleagues over the past few days. While it will be very strange not being in the trenches with you during this crazy time of year, I have all the confidence in you — our creative teams and talented executives — shepherding our terrific pilots. I know you will all carry the CBS flag to Carnegie Hall with distinction. I’ll be watching with pride.
Gellar is not exaggerating in his description of the busy time of year. CBS, which just handed out early renewals for 16 shows for the 2017-18 broadcast season, is currently evaluating a larger than usual number of bubble shows. Geller also recently just wrapped his second pilot season, with the bulk of pickups and castings now in the books. (CBS' volume is on par with last season with nine dramas and eight comedies.) The network also put the finishing touches on a monster two-season renewal for The Big Bang Theory, TV's No. 1 scripted comedy, and handed out a straight-to-series order for prequel Young Sheldon, following prolonged negotiations with the Big Bang cast and producers Warner Bros. Television. (Stars Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch continue to hold out for salary parity.)
It's not immediately clear how much involvement, if any, Geller will have in decision-making during his leave. But it seems likely that Moonves, no stranger to the Carnegie Hall stage, will be playing host to media buyers come May.
