EP 86: The Pitt, Hacks & Harry Potter: Inside Original Programming at HBO Max With Sarah Aubrey

About this episode

Sarah Aubrey discusses her role in creating original programming for HBO Max and the evolving landscape of television.

What does it take to create culture-defining entertainment that not only attracts loyal viewers but wins accolades as well? We’ve asked Sarah Aubrey, Head of Original Programming for HBO Max. The streaming service behind shows like “The Pitt,” “Hacks,” “And Just Like That,” and the forthcoming “Harry Potter” series is once again evolving what audiences expect from premium television: high-quality entertainment delivered on a consistent basis. Aubrey, a Texas native, began her career as a lawyer before making the jump into film producing. Her first foray, the Billy Bob Thornton comedy “Bad Santa,” was a hit. From there, she worked with Peter Berg for many years, producing both the movie and television series “Friday Night Lights.” Now an executive, she balances managing the big picture of series and movie development with the occasional need to go deep into the details (case in point: she shared the conversation around how a particular actor’s hair should be worn in an upcoming project). 💬 In this episode, we explore: Why she thinks “The Pitt” has been such a hit, and the thoughtful way the creators put that show together On keeping the end of “Hacks” a secret, and why all the…

People in this episode

Host: Karen Finerman

Guest: Sarah Aubrey

Topics covered

• original programming
• entertainment industry
• women in the workplace
• streaming services
• television production

Keywords

• HBO Max
• original programming
• The Pitt
• Hacks
• entertainment
• women in leadership
• streaming
• television
• film production

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: HBO Max, Warner Bros, Paramount

Books & works: The Pitt, Hacks, And Just Like That, Harry Potter, Bad Santa, Friday Night Lights

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