ABC Studios’ Head of Unscripted Fernando Hernandez Steps Down

Executive joined the Disney studio in 2018

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Fernando Hernandez is stepping down as head of unscripted at ABC Studios, TheWrap has learned.

Hernandez, who joined the TV studio last year to launch a new alternative division under the leadership of former studio boss Patrick Moran, is exiting his position after less than a year at the Disney-owned operation, according to an individual familiar with the situation.

No replacement has been named, but ABC Studios is said to remain committed to unscripted programming after setting up projects for both the network and the Disney+ streaming service.

Moran left ABC Studios earlier this year as part of an executive shakeup among Disney’s TV studios when the company closed its acquisitions of 21st Century Fox assets, including 20th Century Fox Television, earlier this year. Former 20th TV boss Jonnie Davis was tapped to take over for Moran back in July.

Prior to joining ABC Studios, Hernandez was head of Universal Television Alternative Studios for four years, where he and his team created and developed projects like “World of Dance,” “Hollywood Game Night” and the rebooted “Last Comic Standing.” He also previously oversaw development at Ryan Seacrest Productions and worked as a producer on projects for TV Land, MTV and TLC, among others.

Among the unscripted projects in the pipeline for ABC Studios are the cooking competition “Best Bite Ever,” headlined by “American Housewife” star Katy Mixon, and the eight-episode docuseries “Ink & Paint” at Disney+, which takes a look at a number of women who made many of the Disney animated classics possible with little or no recognition for their work.

The Hollywood Reporter first broke the news.

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