Mike Darnell Exiting Warner Bros. TV Group

After ten years as president of unscripted television for Warner Bros., Mike Darnell is exiting his post.

Over the course of his career, Darnell has been responsible for 50,000 hours of television. His credits include American Idol, The Voice, the Bachelor franchise, Hell’s Kitchen, Hotel Hell, Love Connection, the MasterChef franchise, So You Think You Can Dance, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? and many others.

During his ten years at Warner Bros., he oversaw hundreds of unscripted series on virtually every platform, including multiple shows on all the major broadcast networks, 25 different cable channels, every major streaming platform and first-run syndication. He also expanded the unit into the digital space (the hit app and website Ellentube) and games (the number-one free game app Heads Up!) and recently has successfully entered the world of high-end documentaries with almost a dozen on the current slate, including sales at Netflix, Apple, Paramount+, HBO Sports and Max.

Darnell said: “Letting yourself go is always difficult… I took a deep breath, called myself on Zoom and told myself it was time to leave. I took it surprisingly well. Actually, Channing approached me a couple of months ago, and although I was given the opportunity to stay, it would have meant more changes for both my personal deal and to the general structure of the division. Call it fate, or just good timing, during my discussions with Channing, a couple of new ventures have come my way. Even so, deciding to leave was difficult. (Those who know me know I am not a fan of change.) I want to thank my amazing studio team. I am, of course, going to miss everybody—not the least of which is Channing—I couldn’t ask for a more supportive boss, first class all the way.”

Channing Dungey, chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Group, said: “When Mike joined Warner Bros. in 2013, he was already an industry legend—one of the most influential figures in the history of unscripted programming. In his ten years with WBTVG, he truly supercharged the unscripted department by more than doubling the series output, making Warner Bros. the top unscripted studio in America for seven straight years. Mike oversaw an all-star lineup of the top unscripted properties in the business, and his record of success is unparalleled. I had hoped we would continue to work together, but I understand Mike’s decision to leave. If there’s such a thing as a genius in this business, Mike definitely qualifies. I am incredibly grateful for his inspired leadership, both in the industry and within the company, and for his warm friendship and unforgettable style. We’re losing a legend and an icon, one of the most creative executives in the industry, and he will be well and truly missed.”