TLC’s Wendy Douglas: From Teen TV Host to Grown Up TV Executive

Today Douglas is TLCamp8217s vice president of production and she is an executive producer on many of the networkamp8217s hit shows including Dr Pimple Popper 19 Kids and Counting Return to Amish Unexpected Long Island Medium Counting On and Smothered amp160While the road to adulthood is littered with the shattered childhoods of kid stars whose lives took hideous turns Douglas is a shining example of what happens when parents don39t push and those children develop into smart healthy adultsamp8220I had been doing print and TV commercials since I was about 4amp8221 Douglas told MediaVillage in an exclusive interview amp160amp8220And I always loved television amp160Whether television or stage I love to sing and dance amp160My parents would take me to auditions in New York and as I got older it was something I really enjoyed doing amp160At any point my parents always said amp8216If you are not enjoying it we will stopamp8217amp8221The Nick show was a great experience and Douglas was even allowed to direct some scenes when she was 15 amp160She did that show during high school commuting into the city from Baldwin Long Island and had tutors on set amp160amp8220I have done so many other things and that taught me so muchamp8221 Douglas said amp160amp8220I didnamp8217t realize how much I was learning behind the scenesamp160 It made me realize I wanted to continue in front of the screen and trying things behind the scenesamp8221From her parentsamp8217 home on Long Island Douglas went to Vassar where she majored in drama amp160Studying film theory and the tenets of what contributes to a great story ultimately helped inform her career amp160After graduating Douglas returned to the grueling audition circuit looking to host once again and she would often find herself in a room with a dozen other African American womenamp160 She recalled being told how much producers loved her amp160Yet they also loved black male hosts and the notion of having two African Americans hosting was not something executives then would chanceAs she recounted this there was not a trace of bitterness amp160Douglas acknowledged some bruised feelings though she didnamp8217t wallow amp160Instead she stayed open to opportunities amp160She went to American University for grad school and kept busy taking writing classes and doing student filmsWhile in grad school someone she knew from Nickelodeon reached out about auditioning for aamp160Discovery kids show amp160She was then informed amp8220We wanted someone with a younger lookamp8221 she said which is striking when you consider how young she looks now amp16020 years laterThey were also looking for a production assistant amp160Douglas recalled her initial reaction was to decline amp160After all she was pretty busy in grad school amp160Then she decided to give it a shotDouglas has stayed within the Discovery universe ever since amp160amp8220I have worked on animal documentaries cooking shows and family showsamp8221 she said amp160amp8220It has been wild amp160I really loved working on so many shows on Animal Planet amp160Discovery Health was also very specialamp8221As an executive producer Douglas is careful to explain that no one show is her doing as they all are team efforts amp160The job morphs depending on the programamp8220It depends if you are in scripted or nonscriptedamp8221 she explained amp160amp8220In the unscripted world you are managing the creative and editorial that goes into these shows and making sure it is true to the networkamp8217s brand amp160And you are working with casting and talent and making sure everyone is the right fit for the show amp160You are looking at stories and outlines if not reality amp160You could be looking at scripts and making sure they are true to the brand or making sure the music is right and the editing is right or that the graphics look goodamp8221Douglas particularly enjoyed being able to suggest former MTV and BET personality Ananda Lewis would be ideal as moderator of the thirdseason reunion of TLC39samp160Unexpectedamp160 Being able to help other AfricanAmerican women is among Douglas39 goals amp160When she started working behind the camera she knew that she quotwanted to make a difference but I didn39t know whatquot she saidamp8220I am so happy I have a place at the table and I can root for this womanamp8221 Douglas added amp160amp8220I was a part of itamp160with others giving Ananda an opportunity a black woman who deserves it amp160I am really happy for her because I didnamp8217t have that opportunity 20 years agoamp8221That generosity of spirit extends to all the projects she tackles amp160Now the mother of a 5yearold and almost 3yearold Douglasamp160loves what she39s doing and the variety of the workamp8220I want to continue doing that and I want to help other peopleamp8221 Douglas stressed amp160amp8220But especially other women in this industry because we have to inspire each other and give each their opportunities to make sure we have a place at the table and our voice is heard especially with reality TV because we are a part of realityamp8221 Click the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writersamp160amp160

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TLC’s Wendy Douglas: From Teen TV Host to Grown Up TV Executive

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Jacqueline Cutler

"About That with Carl Mayer": Involved Media Connected Audience Fall 2024 Report (Episode 5) - By Carl Mayer

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TLC’s Wendy Douglas: From Teen TV Host to Grown Up TV Executive

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Jacqueline Cutler

"About That with Carl Mayer": Involved Media Connected Audience Fall 2024 Report (Episode 5) - By Carl Mayer

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