Henson Taps O’Brien for Children’s Entertainment Post

Lisa O’Brien will oversee the development, production and promotion of projects in all media as the new executive director of children’s entertainment at the Jim Henson Co.

In addition to taking on established properties like Sid the Science Kid and Dinosaur Town, O’Brien will focus on new properties like the short form and interstitial series Wilson & Ditch: Digging America and The Possibility Shop.

O’Brien will report to Halle Stanford, the company’s executive VP of children’s entertainment.

‘Lisa O’Brien has proven herself able to lead and produce creative projects from idea through realization and she has a deep understanding of the needs of the audience and the marketplace,’ said Stanford. ‘Lisa will be an integral part of our company’s continuing efforts to explore new ways to inspire our audience with exciting characters and compelling, forward-thinking, content.’

O’Brien previously worked for PBS KIDS Sprout, where she collaborated with The Jim Henson Co. on its short-form productions of The Pajanimals and Musical Mornings with Coo. She also co-created and wrote The Good Night Show and oversaw the writing and producing of channel’s branding elements, interstitials and promotional campaigns.

She also has worked as a creative director for Disney Channel’s on air short form programming, and specialized in short form programming as an independent writer, producer and director for clients at Paramount Pictures, Fox Family Entertainment, Universal Studios and others.