From The Hollywood Reporter

Former UTA Agents Launch Digital Entertainment Firm

Former UTA agents Jason Nadler and John Zimelis and Internet personality Alex Blagg are looking towards the future of media in “Intertainment.”

The trio has launched a digital content company called Serious Business, which recently received funding from Brave New Ventures, a Los Angeles based venture capital firm that is currently working with the Cheezburger Network of  blogs.

Nadler, co founder of UTA’s digital division and Zimelis, a former UTA online agent, have both worked with such clients as College Humor and Smosh.com; they will head up strategy and partnerships, respectively. 

Blagg was the founding editor of BestWeekEver.tv for VH1 and Wonderwall for MSN and BermanBraun. He most recently was behind the social media satire site BajillionHits.Biz. The company currently has a partnership with Funny or Die to build up the site and Blagg’s persona. 

“We think we are well situated to relate to the people, properties and intellectual properties on the web and be something advantageous to them,” Nadler tells THR in an interview.

— The Hollywood Reporter, 8.12.11

From Variety

Ex-UTA agents get Serious
Prodco launches with eye on Web content

A pair of former UTA agents have launched Serious Business, a production company aimed at growing Internet content companies and turning their fare into TV programming.

Jason Nadler and Jon Zimelis, who were part of UTA’s digital division, are teaming up for the venture with Alex Blagg, who led the creation of MSN website Wonderwall and the online companion to VH1 series “Best Week Ever.”

Serious’ first client is Cheezburger Network, a portfolio of popular humor sites including Fail Blog and The Daily What?. With over 20 million unique users per month coming to Cheezburger, Serious will help the company explore opportunities in TV.

Cheezburger was a former client of UTA Online, where Nadler and Zimelis also guided Internet sensations including IAC-owned College Humor and Alloy Entertainment-owned Smosh.

Serious was recently given a second round of funding from venture capital firm Brave New Ventures.

Nadler will lead strategy of the company with Zimelis overseeing partnerships. Blagg will serve as Serious’ head of creative.

— Variety, 8.11.11