If you were a kid in the mid to late 80s, you knew Brian Robbins as a student named Eric in “Head of the Class.” It was a “Welcome Back Kotter” type show.
Now Robbins, 57, is head of Paramount Pictures. Bravo him. He worked his way up as a producer for the last 27 years, with credit after credit. Most recently he’s been the president of Nickelodeon and kids’ programming at Paramount.
Robbins’ appointment was announced today. He replaces Jim Gianopolous, 70, who came from 20th Century Fox and found himself in a mess when the pandemic struck. Paramount’s entire pandemic release schedule consists of “A Quiet Place, Part 2.” Everything else was sold off, postponed, or streamed. More recently, Paramount’s big family film, “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” was pulled from the schedule because of pandemic worries. (Or because it wasn’t ready.) Cliff was listed as a gala at TIFF, but that was scrubbed as well.
Gianopolous was old school and reportedly didn’t get along with Shari Redstone, who owns Viacom, the parent company. Robbins is “young” and new blood and will tackle Paramount’s problems. He’s gone to the head of the class!