Earlier this year, ABC parent, The Walt Disney Co., re-upped McPherson for another four years after he led an impressive turnaround at the network. When he initially took over, ABC ranked dead last among the Big Four broadcast nets in the key adults 18-49 demographic. He has since led the net to No. 2.

McPherson is credited with adding a string of successful shows to ABC's schedule, some of which he developed previously at Disney-owned Touchstone Studios.

While his predecessors at ABC, Susan Lyne and Lloyd Braun, put dramas Lost and Desperate Housewives on the schedule, Lost creator J.J. Abrams and Desperate creator Marc Cherry turned to McPherson to shepherd those shows while at Touchstone. And even though Grey's Anatomy was already in the pipeline, McPherson worked with creator Shonda Rhimes to make creative changes that helped develop and shepherd the show into a smash hit.

Since then, McPherson has enjoyed more successes, including Brothers and Sisters—another drama where his tweaks to casting ultimately improved the show—and Dancing With the Stars, ABC's answer to Fox's American Idol. He also remains steadfast in his commitment to producing big-budget pilots unlike rivals such as NBC, which has opted to save its money.

As for this past season (2007-08), McPherson took the unusual step of placing three new dramas on Wednesday night—Pushing Daisies, Private Practice and Dirty Sexy Money. The upside? Until the writers' strike in early November, ABC was winning the night in the 18-49 demo.

2007 Rank: New