Nancy Dubuc Steps Down as CEO of A&E Networks, Is in Talks With Vice

Nancy Dubuc is leaving her role as A&E Networks President and CEO, and a person familiar with the situation said she is in talks to replace Shane Smith as CEO of Vice Media. Former chairman emeritus and former CEO of A+E Networks Abbe Raven will take her place until the network names a successor.

The insider said A&E’s board of directors was disappointed that Dubuc interviewed to lead Amazon Studios — a role which ultimately went to NBC executive Jennifer Salke — and that Dubuc had pushed for more money to stay at A&E. The insider said A&E opted not to renew her contract as a result.

A Vice executive, speaking on condition of anonymity, told TheWrap that a woman like Dubuc would be a huge asset to Vice: “That’s what Vice needs, an amazing leader.”

Also Read: Nancy Dubuc No Longer Pursuing Amazon Studios President Job

Dubuc and Vice Media did not immediately respond to requests for comment from TheWrap.

Vice is trying to improve its reputation after a New York Times story detailed four settlements involving accusations of sexual harassment or defamation. TheWrap reported in January that chief digital officer Mike Germano, one of the men accused, had left the company.

“For nearly 20 years, I have called A+E Networks home and the team has been an extended part of my family. Together, we have had the privilege to build some of the most iconic brands in media,” Dubuc said in a statement.

“Every step of my career, I have had the opportunity to learn and grow from some of the most inspiring and innovative minds at A+E and in both the creative and business community,” she added. “I could not be prouder of what we achieved together.”

Dubuc said that the hardest part of stepping down “will be to leave the people and company I love,” but she added that she is “an entrepreneur, creator, rebel and disruptor at heart,” and “to stay true to my personal mantra, I need my next dare and my next challenge.”

Also Read: Marcia Clark Says A&E Docuseries Uncovered New Evidence in Casey Anthony Case

“Nancy and I have worked together for almost 20 years and I have seen the tremendous accomplishments and innovation she has brought to A+E – from its creative content to attracting award-winning talent and the digital and studio businesses she has nurtured,” Raven said. “A+E is a special place with extraordinary and talented people. I look forward to helping the board and leading the talented A+E teams during this transition.”

“In her roughly 20 years at A+E Networks, Nancy played a major role in building the success of A&E, HISTORY and Lifetime, and we thank her for her leadership,” said president and CEO of Hearst Steven R. Swartz and co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney ABC Television Ben Sherman in a joint statement.

Also Read: Marcia Clark to Investigate Unsolved Crimes in New A&E Docuseries

“We are also very grateful to Abbe, a former CEO of the company and one of A+E’s first employees, for agreeing to return on a temporary basis as acting chair,” they added.

Variety first reported Dubuc’s talks with Vice Media.

Dubuc will remain in her role at A&E until April 16.

17 Times 'The Simpsons' Predicted the Future (Photos)

"The Simpsons" has an eerie knack for predicting the future, from Donald Trump's presidency to U.S. beating Sweden for an Olympic gold medal in curling. Here are 14 times the long-running comedy series got it right.
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In a 2010 episode, Milhouse predicted that Bengt R. Holmstrom would win the Nobel Prize in Economics and, sure enough, in 2016 Holmstrom and Oliver Hart were announced as joint winners of the prize.
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Siegfried and Roy Tiger Attack

In 1993, an episode titled "$pringfield (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling)," magicians in a Siegfried and Roy-like show got attacked by their trustworthy tiger.

In 2003, Roy was attacked by one of their white tigers during a live performance. He sustained injuries, but lived.
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Arnold Palmer

On the 28th season premiere, the satirical series made an Arnold Palmer joke... on the day that golfer Arnold Palmer died.

Homer Simpson tells his wife Marge that he plans to “Arnold Palmer” his pal Lenny.

“Arnold Palmer Lenny?” Marge responds. “You’re going to Arnold Palmer Lenny?”

He was of course referring to the lemonade and iced tea drink mixture -- which was named after the golfer.
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Faulty Voting Machine

During the 2012 elections, a voting machine proved faulty when votes cast for Barack Obama went to Mitt Romney instead.

In a 2008 episode, Homer Simpson went to the voting booths to cast a vote for Obama, but... his vote went to McCain instead.
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Higgs Boson

In a 1998 episode, "The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace," Homer writes out an equation on a chalkboard which, if solved, “you get the mass of a Higgs boson that’s only a bit larger than the nano-mass of a Higgs boson actually is," says Simon Singh, science author.
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Horse Meat Scandal

In 1994, an episode titled "Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song," the lunch lady was seen reaching into a barrel labeled "assorted horse parts" and putting the meat into the school's lunch pot.

In 2013, it was reported that traces of horse DNA was found in beef products across the UK.
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Guitar Hero

The now basically extinct but once popular video game Guitar Hero was first released in 2005.

But in a 2002 "The Simpsons" episode, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards give Homer a jacket that has "guitar hero" printed on the back of it.
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Farmville

The virtual reality game, Farmville, was all the craze in 2009 with people rushing home from work or school to tend to their farm.

In a 1998 episode, "The Simpsons" shows a scene were kids are excited to play in a yard work simulator.
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Old Beatles Letters

In Season 2's episode 18, "Brush With Greatness," Ringo Starr from the Beatles is shown responding to fan letters while saying: "They took the time to write me, and I don’t care if it takes me another 20 years. I’m going to answer every one of them."

Well, two women in England received a reply to their fan mail form Sir Paul McCartney 50 years later.
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Smart Watches

Sorry Apple, but "The Simpsons" had smart watches first.

In a 1995 episode in which the show is set in the future, Lisa's husband is shown speaking to a phone on his wrist.

The first smartwatch wasn't created until 2013.
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Disney Owns Fox

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U.S. Wins an Olympic Gold Medal in Curling

In 2010, Homer and Marge beat Sweden and took home an Olympic gold medal for Team U.S.A. in Mixed Match Curling. As the animated sportscaster said, "Open your history books, tear out the pages and put this indelible Olympic moment in."
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Murder Hornets and Coronavirus

In a 1993 episode, a Japanese factory worker accidentally spreads the contagious "Osaka Flu" to Springfield, and in the town peoples' rush to find a cure, they accidentally knock over a van with killer bees inside. The spread of "murder hornets" in America has coincided with the coronavirus in 2020. The coincidence was first noticed by former "Simpsons" writer Bill Oakley.
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Donald Trump Presidency

17 years ago in an episode titled "Bart to the Future" shows Lisa as president after Donald Trump apparently ruined the economy.
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Ted Cruz's Cancun Trip

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1 of 17

From Donald Trump’s presidency to Disney buying Fox to the spread of ”murder hornets“

"The Simpsons" has an eerie knack for predicting the future, from Donald Trump's presidency to U.S. beating Sweden for an Olympic gold medal in curling. Here are 14 times the long-running comedy series got it right.

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17 Times 'The Simpsons' Predicted the Future (Photos)

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