TV in 3: Amazon Search for Friedlander’s No. 2 Narrows

A new frontrunner emerges. Plus: Jeff Fager on Bari Weiss’ 60 Minutes pick and Hacks showrunners talk AI & goodbye

May 29, 2026

triptych: Nick Bilton, Peter Friedlander, Jean Smart in 'Hacks' — **NEW CHAPTERS** From left: *60 Minutes*‘ incoming boss, Nick Bilton, Amazon TV head Peter Friedlander and Jean Smart on the *Hacks* season finale. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images; Unique Nicole/WireImage; HBO Max.

I wrote about streamers’ scramble to get series back on air faster, interviewed Louisa Levy, the showrunner of Amazon’s buzzy hockey romance, Off Campus, and analyzed Peter Friedlander’s first Upfront as Amazon’s TV head. I’m lesley.goldberg@theankler.com

Happy Friday, Series Business readers!

Today, I’ve got a look at the latest names in the running to be Peter Friedlander’s head of scripted comedy and drama at Amazon and a wide-ranging interview with Hacks co-creators/co-showrunners Jen Statsky and Lucia Aniello (big-time spoiler alert if you haven’t watched the finale yet!). Read on also for a guest turn from Ankler contributor Claire Atkinson, who just wrote about James Murdoch’s revenge tour, as she talks to insiders, including former CBS news chief Jeff Fager, about Nick Bilton’s hire as executive producer of 60 Minutes — the big move CBS News’ editor-in-chief Bari Weiss has been brewing for months.