Horror fans just got a hell of a great reason to subscribe to Shudder.
Longtime FANGORIA readers, the news you’ve been waiting for is finally here, and I couldn’t be more excited to answer the question I’ve been bombarded with since Fango published the bittersweet farewell to Fango from Editor-in-Chief Phil Nobile Jr. to our beloved Angel Melanson, which also announced that I would be stepping in as her successor.
The reason that Angel left her post as FANGORIA’s digital editor, front-facing vanguard, brand ambassador, West Coast correspondent (and finally took off all of the other wonderful hats she wore during her five years with us) is that she has joined AMC Global Media as the new Director of Programming for our dear pals over at Shudder. A perfect announcement for their annual Season of Screams, if you ask me.
“Angel is one of the most respected and well-connected voices in the horror community, with a deep understanding of the genre, its creators, and fans,” said Courtney Thomasma, the company’s Executive Vice President of Linear and Streaming Products, in the official announcement.
Thomasma continued, “Her passion, editorial instincts, and unique perspective will be critical as we continue to grow Shudder and strengthen its position as the premier destination for horror fans around the world.”
Anyone who has spent more than a minute chatting with Angel about horror knows that she is beyond perfect for this position. She has the kind of comprehensive horror knowledge that makes you want to pick her brain and an infectious passion for the genre that could convince even the staunchest horror haters to give our favorite genre a chance.
But for anyone who has somehow withstood the charm bomb known as Angel Melanson (for the record, if you claim this, I do not believe you), know that it is not an exaggeration to say that Shudder has proven that their taste in curators is as rock-solid as their taste in curation.
“When I first met Angel in 2019, I knew she’d be an amazing asset to whatever company snapped her up. In 2021, Fango was lucky to be that company; now we evolve from co-workers to fans, cheering on her ascent,” says Phil Nobile Jr., SVP of Editorial for FANGORIA. “And while we miss her already, we look forward to remaining in her orbit and covering all the great films she’s going to shepherd into existence at Shudder.”
There’s a sick part of me that wishes our headline was something like “POACHED: Shudder Pillages Fango’s Staff, Ignites Blood Feud!” because, frankly, it would have been extremely entertaining for us to celebrate a beloved colleague moving on by immediately declaring war on one of our favorite horror institutions. But the reality is, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone on the Fango staff who isn’t absolutely elated about this news.
Kimberly Leszak, FANGORIA’s incomparable Community and Content Manager, joked that bringing me on board because Angel has left feels like someone had bad phrasing when they cracked open a One Wish Willow, but deep down, I think we all know there was no bad phrasing. This is exactly where Angel is meant to be, and this wish coming true only signals good things for horror fans everywhere.
And while I’m thrilled (and maybe a little terrified) to step into the enormous, blood-splattered shoes Angel leaves behind, I love that one of my first tasks in my new position is congratulating a dear friend and colleague as she moves into a killer role she has absolutely earned.
Angel has worked her ass off to get to where she is now, and she deserves the world. She has spent years championing horror, championing Fango, championing the people who make this weird, wonderful genre what it is, and doing it all with a level of enthusiasm most people could only dream of possessing.
Shudder is incredibly lucky to have her, and we should know, because we had her first. Congratulations, Angel. I speak for us all when I say that we’re so damn proud of you.
