Veteran television producer Charlie Haykel has launched Extra Special Entertainment, a new independent production company to develop and produce an array of content spanning live specials, events, unscripted series and game shows across all streaming, broadcast and digital platforms. Prior to launching Extra Special Entertainment, Haykel was an Executive Producer and Partner in Don Mischer Productions (DMP), a global leader in live television and event production, for which he was responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations and creative and business development. During his 20-year tenure with DMP, he, Mischer and fellow Executive Producer and Partner Juliane Hare produced nearly 100 events in North America and Asia.
Regarding the announcement, Haykel said: “As an entrepreneur at heart, I’m excited to launch Extra Special Entertainment. This company allows me to synthesize everything I’ve gleaned throughout my career — from working with giants of the industry and producing some of the most impactful events in the world to, most importantly, knowing that creative always comes first. Altogether, I’m looking forward to develop and produce new and innovative content that entertains and engages viewers, while also helping shape what the medium will become.”
Among the major events Haykel produced with Mischer are the Super Bowl XXXIX and XL Halftime Shows, featuring Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones, respectively; the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences’ annual 90-minute pre-Oscars special “Red Carpet: Live” from 2011 to 2013; the 2004 Democratic Convention in Boston; and numerous broadcast network Upfront presentations. He also collaborated in producing the Emmy nominated “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial”; seven “Primetime Emmy Award” telecasts, including 2009 for CBS, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, 2010 (NBC/Jimmy Fallon), 2012 (ABC/Jimmy Kimmel), 2014 (NBC/Seth Meyers), 2015 (Fox/Andy Samberg), 2016 (ABC/Kimmel), 2019 (Fox); and relaunch of “The Billboard Music Awards,” which DMP produced from 2011 to 2013 for ABC. Moreover, Mischer and Haykel served as consultants on Ang Lee’s 2016 feature film “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk."
Haykel’s additional producing credits at DMP include “Taking the Stage,” a co-production with Quincy Jones celebrating the 2016 opening of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture; “Seth Rogen’s Hilarity for Charity,” which streamed on Netflix in 2018 and raised awareness of the fight against Alzheimers; and, from 2015 to 2018, Billboard’s “Women in Music,” which aired on Lifetime.
Amongst many projects prior to joining DMP, Haykel was Production Supervisor for Steven Spielberg’s documentary “An Unfinished Journey,” which premiered on New Year’s Eve in 1999 to mark the 2000 Millennium Celebration in Washington, DC; and the independent feature “Bad City Blues,” featuring Dennis Hopper; and served as showrunner of the NBC game show “The Singing Bee.”
Haykel began his career working in physical production on such specials as “The Kennedy Center Honors,” “The Primetime Emmy Awards,” “Super Dave’s Vegas Spectacular” for USA Network and daytime talk show “George & Alana.” Haykel is also a member of The Television Academy.
