JOELLE DAWSON-CALIA

Debmar Mercury

• Orchestrate all facets of "Sherri", a daily LIVE nationally syndicated talk show, guiding creative vision, operational execution, and on-air delivery from concept to broadcast.
• Collaborate with talent producers to curate high-impact guest bookings — celebrities, human-interest stories, and lifestyle experts — that align with and elevate the show's brand identity.
• Reimagine the show's format to amplify the host's comedic voice, creating content that translated seamlessly to social and digital platforms and drove measurable growth in views, engagement, household ratings, and the key 25–54 demo.
• Partner with the Executive in Charge to safeguard the show's budget while preserving creative integrity and production value.
• Lead the hiring, assembly, and management of production teams, ensuring every role supports and executes the show's creative vision.
• Command studio floor execution during live tapings, maintaining pace, structure, and production excellence in real time.
• Architect and format daily rundowns while line-producing and timing live broadcasts, ensuring seamless flow from control room to studio floor.
• Led the 500th-episode milestone campaign with a two-month daily 'Watch & Win' contest that increased tune-in and viewer loyalty.
• Created the 'Seasoned & Single' initiative, launching an interactive viewer community beyond the broadcast.
• Amplified Sherri's "Funny over 50" nationwide search for comedians over 50 still searching for their big break in comedy.

Debmar Mercury

• Line produce all aspects of live and taped broadcasts from the control room, calling timing, cues, and effects, while working closely with Director and prompter operator for seamless production.
• Architected daily rundowns that defined the show's rhythm and storytelling.
• Created original, scalable games (both small collapsible audience games and big production) and oversaw major in-studio performances.
• Oversaw and edited all scripted content to align with overall creative vision of the show.

Debmar Mercury

• Oversaw all production elements The Wendy Williams Show, a daily, celebrity-driven LIVE talk show for 13 seasons.
• Key member of the show's groundbreaking six-week “sneak peek” launch, instrumental in shaping the creative framework that led to the series' first-season pickup.
• Helped develop and format the show's signature segments, including the fan-favorite “Ask Wendy” , establishing enduring elements of the brand's on-air identity.
• Worked directly with host to shape iconic segments and interviews including creating signature segments that aligned with creative vision of the show: Hairpiece Theater (comedic parodies of pop culture shows), Hot Seat (production driven segment to get guests to answer topical questions)
• Produce breaking pop-culture and celebrity news in real time during live broadcasts.
• Partnered with publicists and agents to secure and produce high-profile celebrity guests.
• Led large-scale games and audience interaction that became signature show elements.
• During Season 13, Produced weekly “guest-host” episodes during the primary host's absence, effectively creating mini-pilots by adapting the show's format to showcase new talent every week while preserving the original brand and tone.