Amazon MGM Nabs Netflix Comedy Exec Andy Weil

Andy Weil, a prominent executive and Netflix's second-longest serving programming executive, is leaving the streaming giant to assume the role of Head of Comedy at Amazon MGM Studios. His first day at Amazon MGM is scheduled for September 14th. Peter Friedlander, Head of Global Television at Amazon MGM and Weil's former boss at Netflix, announced the hire internally.

Weil's appointment comes after a month-long search and is part of a restructuring at Amazon MGM Studios, which now features dedicated departments for Drama, Comedy, and Young Adult, all reporting to Friedlander. Weil joins Kara Smith, who was named Head of Drama in June, while the Head of YA position remains open. Weil is the latest senior executive Friedlander has recruited from Netflix, following others who had previously departed the streamer.

With over 11 years at Netflix, Weil has a decorated career, having previously worked at Universal Television where he shepherded "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" and contributed to "The Mindy Project" and "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt." During his tenure at Netflix, he served as the second-in-command for comedy, overseeing acclaimed series such as "Master of None," "BoJack Horseman," "Russian Doll," and "The Kominsky Method," alongside the sci-fi anthology "Black Mirror."

While Prime Video has seen success in drama and YA with series like "Reacher" and "The Summer I Turned Pretty," its comedy slate, including "Jury Duty" and "Ride of Die," has yet to achieve similar scale. Weil's arrival is expected to bolster Amazon MGM's efforts to grow its comedy footprint and compete more effectively in the half-hour series market.