Facebook creator’s sibling goes to work for Esquire

Randi Zuckerberg, the sister of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, is working on a cable series for nascent NBCUniversal channel Esquire Network.

Zuckerberg has partnered with Coolfire Media to create HQ (WT), which will make up part of Esquire’s new season slate and looks into the most creative workplaces in the US.

Joining HQ on Esquire will be Downfall (WT), a series from Jane Root’s UK and US producer Nutopia. The doc series will chart the rise and fall of prominent politicians, businessmen and athletes.

Both make up a slew of development deals Esquire has secured. The others are with Ellen Rakieten Entertainment and Relativity Real for Car Matchmaker (WT), and World of Wonder and magazine sex columnist Stacey Grenrock-Woods for an untitled project billed as a “comedic and provocative look at some of the sex and relationship questions [Grenrock’s Esquire magazine] readers ask every month”.

The final one is with producer Joel Silver and his Silver Pictures imprint, which is working on My Friends Call Me Johnny. This is billed as “a twist on the typical interview show” in which the “self-proclaimed ‘inventor of the selfie,’ Jean Pigozzi” travels the globe to ask the most personal questions”. It is in production for launch this year.

Recommissions include the 24x30mins Knife Fight, which comes from Flower Films and Authentic Entertainment and is billed as an “underground cooking competition featuring mystery ingredients”; and Brew Dogs from Custom Productions and Redtail Entertainment, in which Scottish presenters James Watt and Martin Dickie head to America to tout the craft beer brewing craze and sample local tipples.

Both launch in Q2, along with season two of Boundless. This is an intense endurance-themed show from Canada’s Breakthrough Entertainment, while White Collar Brawlers launches in Q4 and sees office adversaries gear up to fight in the boxing ring.

Esquire replaced female-skewing Style Network in September in a bid to make the channel more inclusive. The demographic is now 60% male, according to parent NBCU Cable Entertainment.

“The overwhelmingly positive response to Esquire Network’s debut lineup tells us we’re absolutely moving in the right direction,” said Stotsky. “We’re pleased to announce our first-ever season two renewals, and look forward to making additional second season announcements soon.”