Melissa Chusid is an accomplished casting director and talent executive with more than two decades of experience discovering, booking, and elevating A-list talent across television, film, digital media, sports, and branded content. Known for her keen eye for star power and wide-ranging industry relationships, Melissa has played a key role in shaping some of the most culturally relevant projects of the past 20 years.

 

Her credits span hit series, including Lip Sync Battle (Spike TV), Cold As Balls with Kevin Hart (LOL Network), Groundbreakers with Billie Jean King (PBS), and Gutsy with Hillary and Chelsea Clinton (Apple TV+). She is also behind the casting of feature films such as August Rush and A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, which featured top-tier talent, including Robert Downey Jr., Robin Williams, Channing Tatum, Chazz Palminteri, and Shia LaBeouf. On Broadway, Melissa collaborated with Michael Moore for his 14-week run of The Terms of My Surrender, booking a rotating slate of A-list celebrity guests.

 

Melissa currently leads her own company, Hope Productions, where she consults for leading media companies, platforms, and brands on talent strategy, celebrity and influencer casting, and content development. She is a trusted advisor for clients seeking to build unforgettable projects by pairing standout personalities with powerful storytelling.

 

Previously, she served as Director of Talent and Development for MSG Media, helping launch the Madison Square Garden Network’s shift from sports to sports-and-entertainment programming. At College Sports Television (CSTV), a CBS-owned network, she led talent initiatives across the college sports landscape. Her additional experience includes working with the NFL as an owner liaison during Super Bowl XLVII and casting for Bleacher Report’s B/Real—a socially conscious campaign connecting top athletes with inspirational human-interest stories.

 

Melissa began her career at Nickelodeon, where she spent nearly a decade casting and managing talent for iconic series, including Blue’s Clues, Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, and The Backyardigans. She was instrumental in the nationwide search for a new Blue’s Clues host—an early indicator of her ability to blend audience instincts with standout casting decisions.

 

A lifelong New Yorker, Melissa holds a degree in Political Science and Government from Skidmore College. As media continues to evolve, she remains focused on discovering emerging voices, building talent-driven formats, and helping shape the stories that define our culture—one unforgettable performance at a time.