Ask an Assistant: Ricardo Contreras (Executive Assistant, Current Programming at CBS)

Interviewed by Matthew Threadgill, Assistant at Disney Branded Television & your Executive Editor at THA

Just a year ago, in last May's edition of Ask an Assistant, we spoke with Alyssa Hansen and Hannah Ascheim to learn about their roles in Current Programming. Those interviews gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the nuts and bolts of this crucial department—the team that inherits a greenlit show from development and manages it all the way to its final air date. In Alyssa’s words, they’re the ones who take the football and score the touchdown.

This time, we’re catching up with Ricardo Contreras, who currently works in Current Programming at CBS—a place he’s passionate about and a role he’s committed to growing in. Ricardo opens up about his personal journey, his experience at CBS, and his perspective on staying the course in an industry that doesn’t always move at lightning speed. Scroll on to read our chat!

Thanks a lot for sitting down with us, Ricardo! To begin, let’s chat a bit about your experience at CBS. You've been at CBS for a few years now. What has it been like?

For me, it’s been a really positive experience. The culture here is very collaborative. A lot of the executives I've worked with have been genuinely interested in helping assistants grow and sharing what they've learned throughout their careers. I've been really fortunate because I have the opportunity to ask many of them questions, and they're always open about their journeys and what they do. They've also been incredibly generous with tips and advice.

It’s especially inspiring because some of these executives started out as assistants themselves and worked their way up to executive roles. As someone who hopes to become an executive someday, it’s encouraging to see that path firsthand and have them as resources. Overall, I feel really lucky to work here.

I know a few people over at CBS and they’re all awesome. It seems like a great team to be on.

Yeah, they are! That’s another thing I really value about working here—the people. Even though some of them are from other departments, we still cross paths in meetings, especially for newer shows or first-season projects, and we get to collaborate. It feels very much like a solid team.

Hey, working with great people is such a blessing. Current is one of the more sought after departments at networks and studios. Can you tell us a bit about what drew you to it?

For sure. My introduction to CBS was through the CBS Page Program. The main responsibility of that program was to work with shows on the CBS lot that had live audiences. We would check the audience members in, guide them, seat them, all of that. But we also got the chance to be behind the scenes and see how everything worked. We were exposed to so many different roles—producers, writers, directors, makeup artists, hair stylists, set designers—and we got to work on a wide range of shows, from sitcoms, to game shows, to talk shows, and to late-night shows.

I’ve always been drawn to working on different types of projects at once. I’m not a fan of routine jobs where you do the same thing every day. Before I knew about Current, I used to wonder if there was a job where people oversaw multiple shows, and also had a hand in different departments like marketing, PR, and production. So, when I found out about Current, I thought, “This is perfect.”

Also, the creative aspect is important to me. I’ve never really felt called to be a writer or director, but I always wanted to work in a creative environment. Current fulfills that for me, because the executives oversee the creative aspects of the shows day-to-day and collaborate closely with producers and directors. Having that creative input while also being involved in the production process is exactly what I was looking for.

And you’re aiming to become a Current Programming executive, correct? What are some ways you’re preparing yourself for that job as an assistant?

Yes, my goal is to become a television executive. My role as an assistant is giving me valuable insight into what that job looks like.

Because of the collaborative culture at CBS, I try to make the most of the resources available. One way I do that is by regularly checking in with my managers, who are always open to answering my questions. We constantly receive new material for our shows, so I take time to discuss the material with them as much as I can. It helps me develop the skills I’ll need as an executive, like analyzing content and forming thoughtful opinions.

I also focus on building connections with other departments. As an executive, it’s crucial to collaborate with various teams, so I make an effort to connect with assistants from other departments and learn about what they do. You never stop learning! That’s my MO.

Let's backtrack a bit. Tell us a bit about your story! Where are you from, what initially interested you in the industry, and how did you get your start?

I come from a really small border town in Arizona. I'm a first-generation Mexican American college student, the first in my family to go to college. I’ve always had a natural interest in media, especially broadcast television. We didn’t have cable, and since cell phones and the internet weren’t really a thing yet, I spent a lot of time watching broadcast TV.

Looking back, I actually think not having cable was a bit of a blessing because it exposed me to a wide range of TV formats and genres that I might not have discovered otherwise. Now, with streaming, you can choose exactly what you want to watch, but back then, I didn’t have that luxury. I ended up watching a bit of everything—sitcoms, game shows, daytime TV—and that began my fascination with television.

When I got my first camera, I loved making videos with friends—vlogging, creating little skits. At the time, I thought of it more as a hobby than a potential career. But things shifted when I went to college. Being the first in my family to leave home for school was challenging, and I originally declared a business major because I thought it was the safer, more practical path. I didn’t see a career in this industry as viable.

During my first semester, I realized I wasn’t happy. I felt stuck and uninspired by the business classes, and I knew I needed to find something that would make being away from home worthwhile. That’s when I discovered the film and television program. Learning about the business and history of TV was eye-opening. It completely changed my perspective. I realized there were so many things I could do within film and TV.

I knew I didn’t want to be an actor or director, but I still wanted to be part of the industry. As I continued through college, I took advantage of local opportunities, like internships at news stations. Since I was in Tucson at the University of Arizona, there weren’t many film opportunities like there are in LA, so I focused on what was available. Those internships gave me hands-on experience and exposed me to the various aspects of television production. After those internships, I still wasn't too clear on what I exactly wanted to do, but I knew for sure that I wanted to work in the industry.

Local stations are such great places to start. You can learn the basics, without heavy politics or pressure, haha.

Can you tell us about a particular experience you've had on your desk that left a lasting impression on you? Maybe changed the way you approached tasks or taught you an important lesson?

The television industry is going through so many changes right now. There’s been a lot of restructuring across companies, and I’ve experienced that firsthand as an assistant here at CBS.

When I first joined CBS, I was working in daytime programming on a talk show. Then, due to restructuring, I was fortunate enough to stay with the company, but transitioned to the scripted side of daytime. I felt really lucky to stay at CBS, but the change also felt a bit like starting over. I had been working on that talk show for a few years, so moving into scripted felt like going back to square one.

I was bummed out, because I felt like I had made significant progress on the talk show, but I knew I had to shift my mentality to see it as a new opportunity. It forced me to strengthen my adaptability skills. Even though I was able to transfer some of the skills I had learned from the talk show, I still needed to quickly familiarize myself with the scripted format to hit the ground running. I joined the team while production was already happening, so I had to get up to speed fast.

One day, you might be working on one project, and the next, you’re doing something entirely different. My approach now is to adapt and learn as much as I can in every situation so that if I ever need to pivot again, I can.

I think that lesson—staying adaptable and being open to new environments, formats, and shows—is especially relevant now, given how unpredictable the industry has become. It’s something I continue to carry with me, and it’s shaped how I approach my role and my career.

What's an impactful piece of advice you've received in your professional journey that you still carry with you?

This industry can be really demanding, especially when you’re someone who knows exactly what you want to do, whether that’s being a writer, producer, director, etc. I used to put a lot of my self-worth into my craft and what I was doing, and honestly, when things didn’t go my way, it hit me hard. It really affected how I saw myself.

One of the best pieces of advice I got was to separate those two things—who you are as a person and the work you do. It’s easier said than done, but I think it’s crucial. Especially in an industry like this, where things can be so unpredictable. If you don’t land that job, sell that script, or get that promotion, it’s easy to feel like a failure if you tie your whole identity to your career.

Finding that balance is something I’m still working on every day, but it’s made a big difference. I hear it from a lot of people I look up to, too—that it’s important to have a life outside of work. Of course, work is important, but it can’t be everything. You’ve got to remember that you’re more than just your job. Keeping that perspective has been really helpful, and it’s something I try to remind myself of regularly.

100%. There’s a strong hustle culture in our industry, which has its merit, but also, it’s important to slow down and let yourself detach from the hustle and bustle. All of this doesn’t define our lives.

Exactly. Sometimes we get so focused on the goal that we forget about the journey. But the journey is where you really grow and learn.

And sometimes, seeing other people move up so quickly can mess with your confidence. But I try to remind myself that everyone’s on their own path. You just have to focus on your own journey and not compare yourself to others. It’s about balancing that drive to reach your goal with the awareness that the process itself matters too.