E! taps Plunkett for new scripted division

PlunkettE! has made a key hire in its bid to create scripted entertainment, tapping former ABC Entertainment exec Kevin Plunkett as senior veep of scripted programming. Plunkett most recently spent 6 1/2 years as SVP of comedy development at ABC Studios and previously topped current comedy at the Alphabet net. He has also had development and programming positions with Paramount TV, ABC Family and Disney Channel. "It is very exciting for all of us at E! to enter this new programming genre, and we know that Kevin is the right person to lead the charge," said E! programming prexy Lisa Berger, to whom Plunkett will report. "He has both the experience and the creative vision that will help us establish and build a great scripted programming initiative that is uniquely tailored to appeal to the E! audience." Suzanne Kolb, who was officially named president of E! in July, told Variety at the time that E! would seek to add scripted shows to the network, not as "an abrupt left turn" but as an evolution. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com