• by David Kaplan , October 12, 2004

The person who helped shepherd shows like "Monk" and "The Dead Zone" to successful runs on USA Network, veteran cable executive Michele Ganeless has returned to Comedy Central for the second time as executive vice president and general manager.

She rejoins the comedy network from her previous position of executive vice president and general manager of the USA Network where she worked closely with then president and CEO Doug Herzog, who returned to serve as president of Comedy Central last March.

Ganeless, who officially begins her new assignment on Oct.13, will report to Herzog and will be based in New York. Lauren Corrao, Comedy Central's senior vice president and head of development, will continue to report to Herzog as well, a Comedy Central spokesman said.

Ganeless will oversee all programming and marketing functions at Comedy Central. Specifically, her duties will encompass responsibility over programming, co-productions, consumer and trade marketing and advertising, creative services, on-air promotion, acquisitions, audience research, scheduling and new business.