Comedy website CollegeHumor announced today that they have moved their production team from New York to Los Angeles and that they’re forming a new production company called Big Breakfast. Big Breakfast will focus on developing movies, TV shows, and web projects, in addition to continuing to produce original videos for CollegeHumor. CollegeHumor’s editorial department will remain in New York. Sam Reich, who has been CollegeHumor’s president of original content since 2006, will head up Big Breakfast. The company’s first project is developing the hit CollegeHumor web series Jake & Amir, starring Jake Hurwitz and Amir Blumenfeld, into a TV show for TBS. CollegeHumor Productions’ move from the East Coast to the West is a bit of a blow to New York’s comedy scene as they used to be one of the biggest comedy video producers in town.
ELECTUS & COLLEGEHUMOR MEDIA TEAM UP TO FORM ELECTUS DIGITAL
Sam Reich Named President of Big Breakfast, Electus Digital’s New Production Company
Los Angeles, CA (January 27, 2014) – Multimedia entertainment studio Electus, an operating business of IAC (NASDAQ: IACI), today announced the formation of Electus Digital, a union of IAC’s CollegeHumor Media and select Electus digital and studio properties. This alliance positions Electus Digital to become the leading entertainment company targeting people ages 18-34. Drew Buckley, Chief Operating Officer of Electus, will oversee the new division.As part of Electus Digital, the CollegeHumor Originals production team has formed Big Breakfast, a full-service production company led by Sam Reich. Big Breakfast will focus on the development of feature length films, television programming and new media projects for Electus Digital, as well as continue to lead production of original videos for CollegeHumor.com. The company will also be responsible for creating original content for other digital platforms, in addition to television and film partners. Among Big Breakfast’s first projects is a development deal with TBS to bring the hit CollegeHumor series, Jake and Amir, to television.Electus Digital will be comprised of website properties CollegeHumor.com, Dorkly.com and WatchLOUD.com; YouTube channels WatchLOUD, Nuevon and Hungry; and production companies Big Breakfast and dumbdumb.“This configuration represents a combination of the best of creative execution and distribution on the digital landscape,” says Drew Buckley, Chief Operating Officer of Electus. “As one team, we are now able to deliver even more inventive, high-quality programming to more fans across all platforms.”“Since we started making original video content in 2006, we’ve kept Sam and his team in-house as our own little secret. Breaking them out should really unlock their potential,” says Ricky Van Veen, Co-Founder of CollegeHumor.com, who will work in partnership with Drew Buckley across creative development and audience expansion for Electus Digital. “It’s funny how many new projects have come together since we moved them to the West Coast—who would’ve thought being in Los Angeles would help with our film and TV efforts?”“As CollegeHumor, we mastered the art of the internet short. Now, as Big Breakfast, we mean to master the arts of film and TV. We bring with us the most passionate comedy writers, directors, producers, and editors in the industry,” says Sam Reich, President of Big Breakfast. “For years, we were a bubbling volcano, and now we’re erupting all over Los Angeles, like in that Tommy Lee Jones movie.”Reich, who most recently was President of Original Content for CollegeHumor, established the CollegeHumor Originals department in 2006. He has since been responsible for the creative and production of all of CollegeHumor’s original videos. In his seven years, he has earned the website over two billion views, a top YouTube channel, and 11 Webby Awards. Reich has overseen the creation of many hit web series such as Jake and Amir, Very Mary-Kate, Precious Plum and Badman, a Batman parody series with comedian Pete Holmes. In 2012, Reich was named one of Forbes’ “30 Under 30” in the Media category.
