Project Description
David Stapf was named President, CBS Television Studios in September 2004.
In his position, Stapf is responsible for overseeing all of the Studio’s program development and production, basic cable and premium channel markets.
CBS Television Studios is one of the industry’s leading suppliers of programming for broadcast, basic and premium cable, and streaming platforms. The Studio’s programming includes the phenomenally successful NCIS franchise; the critically acclaimed STAR TREK: DISCOVERY; MADAM SECRETARY; JANE THE VIRGIN; CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND; the hit dramas SEAL TEAM, FBI, BLUE BLOODS, HAWAII FIVE-0, MACGYVER, MAGNUM P.I., THE CODE, BULL, INSTINCT AND ELEMENTARY; the popular comedy series THE NEIGHBORHOOD, MAN WITH A PLAN as well as the upcoming series FAM; CHARMED, DYNASTY and IN THE DARK for The CW; and the action-adventure drama BLOOD & TREASURE, which will make its debut in summer 2019.
The Studio also produces the Daytime Emmy Award-winning talk show THE TALK, as well as the Emmy Award-nominated late night series THE LATE SHOW with STEPHEN COLBERT and THE LATE LATE SHOW with JAMES CORDEN. For CBS All Access, the Studio produces THE GOOD FIGHT; STRANGE ANGEL; the streaming service’s first comedy series, NO ACTIVITY; WHY WOMEN KILL; INTERROGATION as well as the upcoming highly anticipated revival of THE TWILIGHT ZONE. Additionally, as part of the expansion of the Star Trek universe, the Studio produces the Untitled Star Trek series featuring Sir Patrick Stewart reprising the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: Short Treks as well as the recently announced Star Trek: Lower Decks, which marks CBS All Access’s foray into the animation landscape. The Studio’s programming also includes series based on popular, viral segments from THE LATE LATE SHOW with JAMES CORDEN, “Carpool Karaoke” for Apple Music and “Drop the Mic” for TBS, as well as “Insatiable,” “Unbelievable” and “Dead to Me” for Netflix. Additionally, the Studio produces the comedy anthology series “The Guest Book” for TBS; OUR CARTOON PRESIDENT and YOUR HONOR for SHOWTIME as well as “A Higher Loyalty,” a miniseries based on former FBI Director James Comey’s memoir.
Prior to his current position, Stapf was Senior Vice President, Current Programming, CBS Entertainment, a position he held since July 1999, overseeing primetime series activities for CBS’s top-rated roster of entertainment programming. In that role, he was the executive who shepherded the shows that helped make CBS the number one network. He worked with each program’s producers to maintain the quality and direction of established comedies and dramas, such as “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “The King of Queens” and “Judging Amy,” as well as playing a key role in establishing newer hits including “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “CSI: Miami,” “Without a Trace” and “Two and a Half Men,” shows that helped transform the Network.
Stapf joined CBS from Warner Bros. Television, where he served as Senior Vice President of Advertising, Publicity and Promotion for the studio. While at Warner Bros., Stapf was responsible for some of the industry’s most memorable and successful series launch campaigns, including “ER,” “Friends” and “The Drew Carey Show.”
Other acclaimed campaigns he helped engineer include efforts on behalf of “Dallas,” “Family Matters,” “Full House,” “Murphy Brown,” “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” “Sisters” and “I’ll Fly Away,” among others.
Stapf began his career in 1985 as a unit publicist for Embassy Television. He joined Lorimar Television in a similar capacity in 1986. Stapf was named Director, Publicity for Warner Bros. in 1989, overseeing all series campaigns while continuing to serve as unit publicist on “Dallas” and all Miller-Boyett projects, including “Full House” and “Family Matters.”
Stapf was promoted to Vice President, Publicity in 1991, expanding his responsibilities to include corporate, trade and consumer advertising and media buying. He was named Senior Vice President, Publicity, Advertising and Promotion for Warner Bros. Television in 1997.