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New ABC President Channing Dungey is ‘the smartest person they’ve got’

This undated photo provided by ABC Channing Dungey, who will succeed Paul Lee as president of ABC Entertainment Group. (Craig Sjodin / AP)
Los Angeles Times

Channing Dungey demonstrated she has what it takes to run ABC Entertainment Group when she once made a very difficult phone call.

It was after ABC Studios had shot its pilot episode for the “Grey’s Anatomy” spinoff, “Private Practice.” The network decided to recast the role of Addison Montgomery’s college pal Dr. Naomi Bennett with Audra McDonald.

Someone had to break the news to the star being replaced, who happened to be Channing Dungey’s sister Merrin, a veteran TV actress known at the time for her work on “Alias” and “King of Queens.”

Channing Dungey volunteered to make the call herself.

On Wednesday, Dungey’s sister was among those celebrating her historic appointment as president of ABC Entertainment Group – the first time an African American has been named to such a post at a major broadcast network.

“SO SO PROUD OF MY SISTER!!” Merrin Dungey wrote on Twitter with a link to the news of the promotion.

Current and former ABC executives who know Channing Dungey are not surprised that the 46-year-old Sacramento native and UCLA grad rose to her position.

Paul Lee, the executive Dungey is replacing, was among those who believed she had a promising future. According to one ABC insider, “Paul has always said, ‘When I leave, Channing will be the next president.’ ”

It helps that Dungey is close with ABC’s prolific show creator Shonda Rhimes. Their strong connection goes back to the early days of “Grey’s Anatomy,” not long after Dungey was hired by ABC parent Walt Disney Co.’s television production studio in 2004.

During the first season of the long-running medical drama, the network had issues with the direction of the show, and production had to be shut down. Dungey is credited with helping Rhimes get it back on track and on its way to becoming one of TV’s most enduring hits.

“Her relationship with Shonda is remarkably good,” said one former ABC executive. “It all stems to a lot of things going back 12 years ago.”

Since that time, Dungey, who got her start working in movie development at 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros., has been well-regarded within ABC Studios and at the ABC Entertainment Group, where she was executive vice president in charge of drama development, movies and mini-series.

She’s admired by her colleagues for her poise, compassion and appreciation for the creative process.

“She’s one of those good people that you always root for,” one executive said. “She’s the smartest person they’ve got.”

Her fans are said to include the very top of Walt Disney Co.’s flowchart – Chairman and CEO Bob Iger.

Rick Rosen, partner and head of television at William Morris Endeavor, said Dungey is respected in the creative community. “She is very bright and very well-regarded,” he said.

Actors who have been cast in the shows she oversees, such as Josh Malina of “Scandal,” approve of the move as well. He tweeted: “Congratulations, Channing Dungey! I love your work.”