Michele Ganeless and Olivia Wingate have formed MO Studios

Michele Ganeless, former president of Comedy Central, has joined forces with talent manager Olivia Wingate to form a new outfit, MO Studios.

As first reported in Deadline, NYC-based MO Studios will serve as a production company investing in the development of women and minorities in comedy.

“Authentic stories and strong points of view are what drives us, so we’re beyond thrilled to be able to invest in, nurture and support these voices wherever possible with amazing partners that share our same values of championing female, diverse and alternative voices. In our experience, it’s the more specific stories that make the largest impact,” said Ganeless and Wingate.

MO Studios already has lined up Refinery29 as an incubator for talent and projects, including a digital audio series, a TV adaptation of the YA novel The Truth About Twinkie Pie, and a dramedy based on Melena Ryzik’s real-life experiences as a Pulitzer-winning investigative journalist.

Ganeless presided over Comedy Central from 2004-2016. Wingate previously worked with American talent in the UK and UK talent in America and had run her own management company.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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