After 40 Years, Showtime’s Gary Levine Makes a Bold Move That Shocks the TV World!

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When Gary Levine started working at Showtime in 2001, he had a clear objective. As his time there draws to a close next month, Levine can confidently reflect on that goal and declare with a sense of satisfaction: Mission successfully completed.

Levine joined Showtime, owned by Paramount Global, at a time when it was primarily known for airing made-for-TV movies as premium cable content. His role was instrumental in transitioning Showtime’s programming strategy from this model to one focused on weekly comedy and drama series. This strategic shift was a natural choice at the time and ultimately allowed Showtime to break free from HBO’s long shadow, establishing itself as a standalone powerhouse in the television industry.

From “Weeds” to “Yellowjackets,” Levine has consistently been the skilled navigator behind every original series produced by the cable network. Showrunners praise him as a rare executive who possesses the deep understanding and courage to guide them through the challenging process of launching a series, as well as the tough task of maintaining its longevity on air.

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In “Weeds” and “Yellowjackets,” Levine has been the steady leader for every original cable series that’s come out of production. Showrunners credit him for being a unique executive with the necessary institutional knowledge and boldness to assist them in navigating the treacherous terrain of launching a series, as well as the difficult job of sustaining its success on air.

Eight years ago when I presented ‘The Chi’, Gary was already in the room, and it seems he had been championing the series even before I arrived, Lena Waithe, creator-executive producer of the drama series about to enter its eighth season, recalls. He not only saw potential in the show but also in me as an artist and individual. Gary is the kind of executive we seldom encounter nowadays.

For a prolonged period, Levine found himself captivated by the task of molding fresh concepts and collaborating with rising talents like Waithe, who possess multiple skills.

He shares that Showtime brought him onboard with the goal of making them a household name in television series. Despite facing numerous challenges, we managed to achieve this success,” he explains. “Our strategy for accomplishment was simply to be relentlessly ambitious.

During the span of his time at Showtime, Levine held the position of Executive Vice President for Original Series, reporting to four distinct heads of entertainment: Jerry Offsay, Bob Greenblatt, David Nevins, and currently, Chris McCarthy who is also a Co-CEO of Paramount Global.

Prior to joining Showtime, Levine had a 10-year stint at ABC, along with experience at Icebox.com, Warner Bros. TV, and Columbia Pictures Television. Before this, the New York native served as a senior leader for 10 years in nonprofit theater companies such as Roundabout Theatre Company and Williamstown Theatre Festival. With numerous opportunities to lead programming at rival Showtime competitors, Levine chose to stick with what he felt was already successful.

As Levine puts it, “Fortunately, my employers were gracious enough to let me continue my job untainted.” Being in the presence of writers, discussing stories, scripts, edits, and ideas is what I truly enjoy.

According to McCarthy’s perspective, Levine’s theatrical past granted him incredibly keen abilities in recognizing talent.

McCarthy notes how he aided in introducing numerous unconventional protagonists to Showtime, offering unique storytellers the opportunity to debut their initial series. Shows like ‘Dexter’, ‘Weeds’, ‘Nurse Jackie’, or ‘Billions’ featured complex characters with significant flaws that we grew fond of and supported.

McCarthy calls Levine “an artists’ executive.”

Clyde Phillips, who’s known for producing shows like “Dexter,” “Nurse Jackie,” and the upcoming “Dexter: Resurrection,” concurs with this statement. They’ve been working together since Levine moved from the East Coast to Hollywood in the mid-1980s, where he joined Columbia Pictures Television.

I wholeheartedly appreciate his dedication to storytelling above all else. He truly grasps the essence of crafting an engaging tale and delivering a top-notch production. His notes, filled with sincerity and wisdom, have earned him quite a reputation. For him, it’s never just about creating a show; it’s always about making it exceptional.

Alex Gansa, the lead director and co-producer of “Homeland,” alongside Howard Gordon, acknowledged that Levine played a crucial role in guiding the series for its entire eight-season journey.

Gansa points out that the shows he oversaw during the series were not just any shows, they significantly improved the format. He was indispensable in every significant decision made throughout the show’s run, which is quite exceptional for an executive. Truly, there’s no one else quite like him.

In 1990, when Gordon and Gansa first sold their TV writing scripts, it was “Country Estates” – the very first script that Levine had purchased. Fast forward ten years, and Gordon went on to become one of the co-founders of Icebox.com.

According to Gordon, Levine isn’t just skilled at recognizing issues, but he also possesses the originality and self-assurance to propose possible resolutions. Moreover, what makes him exceptional is his unique ability to separate his personal feelings from his ideas. Gordon adds that Levine’s intellectual integrity and ability to question an idea, a scene, or a character consistently raised the bar for everything we worked on in ‘Homeland.’

Levine’s departure occurs following Showtime’s consolidation under the Paramount+ streaming platform in 2023. This move served as a cue for Levine to embark on a fresh phase of his career.

Regrettably, Chris and the company found themselves in a situation where they had to make a difficult decision, ultimately opting for Paramount+. This was a shrewd business move, but it was still tough on the individual who played a significant role in establishing Showtime,” Levine remarks. “Throughout this process, Chris has been incredibly understanding, fair, and considerate towards me.

Levine is stepping down from his executive positions, but he plans to continue being busy by offering advice to friends and acquaintances. What he cherishes the most about his job is mentoring budding authors and assisting screenwriters in transitioning from feature films to television series.

Levine expressed his pride in the talented writers who have joined television, pointing out notable figures like Ilene Chaiken (“The L Word”), Michael Hurst (“The Tudors”), John Logan (“Penny Dreadful”), and the writing duo behind “Billions,” Brian Koppelman and David Levien.

Reflecting on his professional journey, Levine acknowledges an industry pioneer for providing him with the opportunity that might have proven challenging as he aspired to move from theater to television. Barbara Corday, a former president of Columbia Pictures Television, extended this chance to him. As Levine recounts, she said, “I’m not sure what you can do, but I’d like to see. Let’s try each other out for a year.” This happened in 1985, and Corday effectively paved the way for his success.

Following four decades in television, Levine imparts crucial guidance to the up-and-coming crop of programming and production professionals.

In an atmosphere that fosters creativity and liberation, within a stable setting, with experienced leaders who are more interested in guiding than dominating – this approach has a tendency to generate its own constructive energy,” he explains.

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Vintage EbMaster: From the July 22, 1985, edition of Daily EbMaster

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2025-06-04 18:18