Reality TV Impact Report
Reality TV’s titans reveal their predictions for what’s next, secrets to success and the competition they privately covet in Variety‘s annual Reality Impact Report.
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Image Credit: Courtesy of E! -
Cris Abrego and Charlie Corwin
Co-chairmen and co-CEOs,
Endemol Shine North America
Following the past year’s merger of Shine Group, Endemol and Core Media Group, the combined company now oversees stalwart franchises including “MasterChef,” “Big Brother” and “The Biggest Loser” in addition to a raft of subsidiaries. It also entered a deal with Ryan Seacrest Productions’ unscripted division.
Next big thing: “Authenticity. People want to get back to having their reality TV be real again,” Corwin and Abrego say jointly. “And adding ‘Junior’ to the end of any existing title — we can’t wait for ‘Eaten Alive Junior.’”
Trend that should end: “The trend of new non-scripted shows not working!”
Show we wish were ours: “‘The GOP Race.’”
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Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey
Image Credit: Mathu Anderson Founders, World of Wonder
The “Million Dollar Listing” creators expanded Bravo’s booming franchise with yet another spinoff when “San Francisco” launched this summer, while “New York” picked up its second consecutive Emmy nom. Logo TV’s critics fave “RuPaul’s Drag Race” was renewed for season eight and VH1’s Nicole Richie vehicle, “Candidly Nicole,” is in its sophomore season.
Secret to success: “Whether it’s the art of drag (‘Drag Race’), the art of the deal (‘Listing’) or the art of comedy (‘Nicole’), our subjects are always passionate about their art, and they wear their heart on their sleeves,” Barbato says.
Trend that should end: “Critics berating reality
TV for not being real,” Bailey says.
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Jim Berger
Image Credit: Courtesy of Marea Evans CEO, High Noon Entertainment
As part of the ITV Studios U.S. group, High Noon has top-rated series across three cable nets: HGTV’s “Fixer Upper,” TLC’s
“Cake Boss” and Weather Channel’s “Prospectors.” “House Hunters” remains a cornerstone of HGTV and “Sweet 15: Quinceanera” is headed to TLC.
Next big thing: “Short form content on social media.”
Show I want to be on: “‘American Ninja Warrior!’ Need to show my two young sons I still got it!”
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Alan Braun
Image Credit: Berliner Studio/BEImages Co-head of alternative television, CAA
Under the guidance of Braun and co-head Eric Wattenberg, CAA has nearly 100 reality series on broadcast and cable, including Spike TV’s “Lip Sync Battle” and NBC’s “Best Time Ever With Neil Patrick Harris.” Prodcos repped include BBC Worldwide and Ryan Seacrest Productions.
Next big thing: “More blue-chip docu and feature filmmakers coming on-board to develop and produce unscripted series. I think there is a huge desire for smart, unscripted content that agencies and their clients are best positioned to fulfill.”
Trend that should end: “I hope none of them die out; that would be bad for business.”
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Mark Burnett
Image Credit: Brian Gordon CEO United Artists Media Group
Burnett has added to his reality success (top-rated shows across three networks with NBC’s “The Voice,” CBS’ “Survivor” and ABC’s “Shark Tank”) by venturing into faith-based features and an alliance with MGM in 2014 that created UAMG. More recently he announced a collaboration with NASCAR for a scripted TV drama and last month paired with Intel and Turner for “America’s Greatest Makers.”
Show I wish were mine: “Bear Grylls’ show adds vicarious adventure value for people who cannot have these experiences.”
Trend that should end: “Anything that humiliates people.”
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Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz
Image Credit: Larry Busacca/Getty Images Co-founders, Magical Elves
With shows like Emmy-winning “Top Chef,” Cutforth and Lipsitz have churned out classier-than-average series since 2001. Meanwhile, the Dick Wolf-produced “Cold Justice” and “Cold Justice: Sex Crimes” are showing growth, and
“Project Greenlight” is creating new buzz at HBO.
Show we wish were ours: “ ‘Hard Knocks.’ It’s challenging to produce a show in a niche that attracts a broad audience,” they say jointly.
Show I want to be on: “My family and I have always wanted to be on ‘Family Feud,’ ” Cutforth says. “We would kill it on that show.”
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Mike Darnell
Image Credit: Courtesy of MIKE DARNELL President, Warner Bros. Unscripted and Alternative Television
Darnell got in with reality/alternative TV at Fox in 1994 and now oversees thousands of hours of programming including “The Voice,” “The Real Housewives of New York City” and “The Bachelor” via Telepictures, Warner Horizon Unscripted and Shed Media.
Secret to “The Bachelor/ette” success: “[They] play like a romantic comedy, and viewers live vicariously through the fantasy.”
Show I want to be on: “I’m waiting to go on the show ‘Dating and Fully Clothed.’ ”
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Ellen DeGENERES
Founder, A Very Good Production
“Ellen’s Design Challenge” on HGTV is one of the few genuine new reality hits of 2015 and already looks like a long-term player.
Secret to “Ellen’s Design Challenge” success: “It’s relatable. Everyone has sat on a chair before. After watching, I think the audience has a new appreciation for what’s around them and how it’s made. Hopefully it inspires them to go in their own garage and make a coffee table out of an old screen door and their Nordic Track.”
Show I want to be on: “I’d love to try ‘The Amazing Race’ to see if I could do it. But Portia will have to do all the challenges, including, but not limited to the physical ones, the height ones, the water ones and all the other ones. You know, I love rice so I could probably do ‘Survivor’ quite easily.”
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Mike Fleiss
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC Founder, Next Entertainment; creator, “The Bachelor” franchise
The greybeard of reality dating shows still has a lot to love with “Bachelor Nation” adding an after-show “After Paradise” this season for its second summer spinoff.
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Tom Forman
Image Credit: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages CEO, Relativity Television
It was not an easy year for Relativity, but Forman’s stewardship of the television division was repeatedly cited as a highlight in troubled times. Even in a diminished capacity, “Catfish” continued to score for MTV, while culinary confections “The Great Food Truck Race,” “Guy’s Grocery Games” and “Tia Mowry at Home” bolster the slate.
Next big thing: “Networks are finally letting us put a little reality in our reality TV, and it’s about time. Viewers have learned the tricks and rejected them. They’ve gotten savvy to bad producing and lousy frankenbites, and they’re responding by changing the channel. Best trend ever. Out with contrived drama and heavy-handed producing; in with real human emotion that’s too raw to be scripted.”
Trend that should end: “One word: beards.”
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David Garfinkle and Jay Renfroe
Founders and partners, Renegade 83
Renegade 83 continues to bare it all on Discovery’s top-rated nude adventure/reality show “Naked and Afraid” and the spinoff, “Naked and Afraid XL,” became the year’s highest-rated reality newcomer. It’s a phenomenon with no end (but plenty of rear ends) in sight.
Next big thing: “If we knew that, we’d be telling fortunes down on Hollywood Boulevard.”
Secret to “Naked and Afraid” success: “Twenty-one days of shooting on one episode.”
Trend that should end: “Twenty-four-hour news.”
Show we want to be on: “We would never sign the release.”
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Gil Goldschein
Image Credit: Steve Cohn Photography Chairman and president,
Bunim/Murray ProductionsFollowing a company restructure that split docu-series from celeb-reality series, BMP launched the highly buzzed-about “I Am Cait” on E! plus three other series; 12 more series have been sold to seven different buyers. BMP also launched pod deals with such companies as PB&J Television while dominating time periods with current series like Lifetime’s “Project Runway” and Oxygen’s “Bad Girls Club.”
Next big thing: “A truly interactive series is on the horizon.”
Show I want to be on: “ ‘Shark Tank.’ Being in the reality business is similar to being in the venture capital business.”
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Brett Hansen
Image Credit: Courtesy of UTA Partner, UTA
Hansen’s reality roster includes newly named “The Biggest Loser” host Bob Harper, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” emcee Aisha Tyler, “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary and producers like SallyAnn Salsano (“Party Down South”) and Tom Forman (“Catfish”).
Next big thing: “Predicting that is like trying to predict what will go viral on the internet. MTV didn’t predict that ‘Jersey Shore’ would be the biggest show in their history any more than A&E predicted the success of ‘Duck Dynasty,’ but both were new ideas. The audience hadn’t seen them before, and when they started watching they found out the shows were great. The audience will choose.”
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Holly Jacobs
Image Credit: Courtesy of HOLLY JACOBS Exec VP, syndication and reality programming, Sony Pictures Television
Jacobs’ two-time Emmy-winning “Shark Tank” has teeth — the ABC entrepreneurial show has solid ratings, a spin-off (“Beyond the Tank” premiered in May and leads its time period in 18-49 demos, right behind “Shark”) — and now appears in 27 countries around the world, including new additions in Portugal, Australia and Italy.
Trend that should end: “Rich people complaining.”
Show I want to be on: “ ‘Lip Sync Battle’! It would fulfill multiple fantasies!”
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Michael Kagan
Image Credit: Courtesy of MICHAEL KAGAN Partner, ICM
Repping production companies including 10×10 (“America’s Next Top Model”) and All3Media America (“Undercover Boss”), Kagan recently helped Ellen DeGeneres’ A Very Good Production branch into unscripted with the hit “Ellen’s Design Challenge” and negotiated the deal for Nick Cannon to return as host of NBC’s top-rated summer show “America’s Got Talent.”
Trend that should end: “I wish that networks would stop throwing new shows on the air with a lack of marketing.”
Show I want to be on: “Surprisingly, I have always wanted to be on ‘Survivor,’ even though I hate the outdoors and am a very picky eater.”
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Marc Kamler
Image Credit: Courtesy of MARC KAMLER Partner, APA
Promoted to partner in December, Kamler’s roster includes 5×5 Media (TBS’ “Separation Anxiety”), Cineflix Productions (HGTV’s “Property Brothers”), Hot Snakes Media (TLC’s “Return to Amish”), Icon Films (Animal Planet’s “River Monsters”) and Collins Avenue (Lifetime’s “Dance Moms”).
Next big thing: “The market is moving towards more relatable docu-series. Think of a reality version of what ‘Friday Night Lights’ skillfully demonstrated: Real situations. Real characters. Real stories that resonate. It’s not necessarily about finding the biggest and the baddest characters, but finding the most truthful, engaging and emotionally connected stories.”
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The Kardashian Clan
Image Credit: Courtesy of E! Stars/exec producers, “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” franchise
With 10 seasons of the flagship “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” under their designer belts, the Kardashian/Jenner clan renewed vows with E!, inking a three-year deal reportedly worth $20 million. The famous family also debuted their fourth spinoff, “Kourtney and Khloe Take the Hamptons,” and just added a fifth in “Dash Dolls” with all three Kardashian sisters exec producing, alongside mom Kris Jenner (who answered below).
Secret to “Kardashians” success: “Because we give 150% to each other and are committed to doing a great show, we’re able to show everything that happens in our lives, from weddings to births, divorces and even a transition. You never know what’s going to happen — and neither do we.”
Show I want to be on: “‘Dancing With the Stars.’ I had knee surgery two years ago and my body would give out. But boy, would it be fun!”
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Greg Lipstone
CEO, All3Media America
Lipstone leaped from his founding partnership of 12 years at ICM Partners into the CEO seat at All3 this summer and now oversees the 11 companies under the umbrella of the U.K.’s largest independent TV, film and digital production/distribution company (with shows that include USA’s “Chrisley Knows Best”).
Show I wish were mine: “I love ‘Botched.’ It’s amazing what people will do to themselves in the name of self-improvement.”
Secret to “Chrisley Knows Best” success: “Todd Chrisley. There’s nobody quite like him on television, and the crafting of the show is unparalleled.”
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Tara Long
Image Credit: Courtesy of TARA LONG Exec VP of alternative
U.S. programming,
Entertainment One TelevisionThe recently promoted Long launched eOne’s alternative division in 2012 and continues to grow the unscripted slate with seven straight-to-series orders during her tenure and hits including BET’s “Nellyville” and WEtv’s “Mary Mary.”
Next big thing: “Hybrid shows combining scripted and reality, especially in the comedy space, such as ‘Nathan for You,’ ‘Inside Amy Schumer’ and our show ‘Fameless’ with David Spade on truTV.”
Show I wish were mine: “NatGeo’s ‘Breakthrough.’ I love how they are working with big-name movie producers and directors to bring attention to science and technology in a big way. Also, ‘Wahlburgers,’ because I’ve always had a crush on Mark Wahlberg!”
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Brent Montgomery
Image Credit: Courtesy of BRENT MONTGOMERY CEO, Leftfield Entertainment
Leftfield is scoring for History with the male-skewing “Pawn Stars” and “Alone” (just picked up for a second season of outdoor adventure), while subsidiary Sirens Media does a 180-degree demo shift with Bravo’s “Real Housewives of New Jersey.”
Next big thing: “Self-serving, but I like the self-shot model. We found great success in ‘Alone’ by putting that show together in the edit bay after gathering all of the footage that was entirely shot by the cast. It doesn’t get more authentic than that.”
Secret to “Pawn Stars” success: “I think it’s an organic game show with great characters.”
Show I wish were mine: “[HGTV’s] ‘House Hunters International.’”
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Jennifer Mullin
Image Credit: Courtesy of JENNIFER MULLIN Co-CEO, FremantleMedia North America
FMNA’s diverse U.S. TV slate runs the gamut from the craggy crab fishermen of Discovery’s “Deadliest Catch” to real and fictional Hollywood clans on ABC’s “Celebrity Family Feud.”
Show I wish were mine: “I like the spectacle of ‘American Ninja Warrior.’ It’s pure competition and produced in a way that gets right to the action.”
Secret to “Celebrity Family Feud” success: “‘Family Feud’ has been a beloved format for 40 years and is a success for us in syndication. Adding a cross-section of celebrities with their families offered something different for primetime, and the incredibly gifted Steve Harvey is the magic that made the show pop.”
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Jay Peterson and Todd Lubin
Founders, Matador
After NBC passed on the pitch, “Lip Sync Battle,” produced with Casey Patterson Entertainment and Eight Million Plus Productions, became a sensation online and on Spike TV — Anne Hathaway’s performance alone went viral with over 16 million YouTube views. Matador’s slate also includes Lifetime’s “Born in the Wild” and HBO’s “Sex On.”
Secret to “Lip Sync Battle” success: Says Peterson, “The biggest secret is really no secret at all — it’s the incredible talent coming in here show after show willing to commit themselves completely and let it all hang out on stage. They’re the ones who give this fake singing competition its voice.”
Show I wish were mine: “‘Chrisley Knows Best.’ Todd Chrisleys don’t grow on trees.”
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Craig Piligian
Image Credit: Berliner Studio/BEImages President and CEO, Pilgrim Studios
Nothing if not eclectic, Pilgrim’s 2015 unscripted slate includes Discovery’s gear head hit “Fast ’N’ Loud”; TLC’s “My Big Fat Fabulous Life,” focusing on a plus-size dance enthusiast; and Lifetime’s breakout “Bring It!,” the saga of a Mississippi-based hip-hop majorette dance troupe.
Next big thing: “Khloe Kardashian on ‘Kocktails With Khloe.’”
Secret to “Bring It!” success: “[The troupe’s coach] Dianna ‘Miss D’ Williams.”
Trend that should end: “Copycatting.”
Show I want to be on: “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown”
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Josh Pyatt
Image Credit: Courtesy of JOSH PYATT Partner, WME
Clients include Magical Elves, Leftfield Pictures and Original Productions in addition to growing non-scripted efforts from Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes and Dick Wolf. Pyatt also has a knack for ushering sports greats into the reality field, including Michael Strahan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Ray Lewis.
Next big thing: “I don’t think it’s a new trend, but being able to attach a brand, property, celebrity that helps promote the idea past the clutter. Also, investing in digital properties, especially those that create content that can live on linear TV (i.e. Vice, Vox, Buzzfeed).”
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Gordon Ramsay
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox President, One Potato Two Potato
2015 was a milestone year for the celebrity chef — with five series on Fox (including “Kitchen Nightmares,” “Hotel Hell” and “MasterChef Junior”), he shot his 500th episode for the network, “MasterChef” hit 100 episodes and “Hell’s Kitchen” celebrated its 10th anniversary and landed a double renewal.
Next big thing: “Highly visual programming like [Netflix’s] ‘Chef’s Table.’ That show was stunning to watch.”
Secret to “MasterChef” success: “It’s relatable. You are watching amateur home cooks that are passionate about something they love to do, and get to see how they progress when they are given the opportunity to work and learn from some of the best chefs in the business.”
Trend that should end: “Dating shows.”
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‘Real Housewives’ Franchise
Image Credit: Courtesy of Bravo “Atlanta” — True Entertainment; “Beverly Hills,” “Orange
County” — Evolution Media;
“New Jersey” — Sirens Media;
“New York City” — Shed MediaNearly 800 original episodes of the “Real Housewives” franchise have aired to date, and ratings are still impressive. The shows continue to fuel tabloids with real-life drama, including “New Jersey” star Teresa Giudice’s jail sentence (which just landed her family a three-part special).
Secret to “Housewives” success: “First and foremost is casting,” says Evolution Media’s CEO Douglas Ross, who is behind the flagship “Orange County,” “Beverly Hills” and the “Vanderpump Rules” spinoff. “Our casts are willing to be exposed — for better and worse — but we remind them that the viewers will accept and forgive them, even their most embarrassing and rude transgressions, if they own them.”
Next big thing: “I think the pendulum is swinging back to more pure documentary inspired shows, and super clean, simple formats,” says Ross.
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Glen Salzman and Katherine Buck
Co-founders and Co-CEOs,
Cineflix MediaCanada’s top producer of unscripted programming, Cineflix is behind how-to, competition and docudrama shows such as History’s durable success “American Pickers,” HGTV’s Emmy-nominated “Property Brothers,” FYI’s “Food Factory,” and History’s recently launched “Gangland Undercover,” which went inside an outlaw motorcycle gang.
Secret to “American Pickers” success: “Mike [Wolfe], Frank [Fritz], and unearthing Americana gold as they travel the back roads of the nation,” Salzman says.
Show I want to be on: “I’d like to be on ‘Top Chef’ and win as the underdog chef with a
vegan spread!” -
Drew and Jonathan Scott
Image Credit: Courtesy of Scott Brothers Entertainment Founders, executive producers,
Scott Brothers EntertainmentTalk about brotherly love: The newly Emmy-nominated twin Scott sibs are HGTV’s most-watched duo (“Property Brothers,” “Brother vs Brother,” “Property Brothers: At Home”) and extend their reach regularly with off-net visits to NBC’s “Today Show.” But they’re also regular hosts of the Producers Ball that supports the Toronto Intl. Film Festival and even have a furniture line (Scott Living). That’s a dynamic duo.
Next big thing: “ ‘Naked and Afraid: Renovations,’” quips Drew. “It’s pretty scary with a skilsaw!”
Secret to “Property Brothers” success: “[It] should really be called ‘Property Porn.’ Because you get a little bit of everything: real estate, design, construction,” says Jonathan.
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Mona Scott-Young, Toby Barraud and Stefan Springman
Image Credit: Courtesy of Monami Entertainment Founder, Monami Entertainment / CEO and President, Eastern
Collaborators on VH1’s wildly successful “Love & Hip Hop” franchise, the rising stars in reality producing orchestrate spinoffs (including Atlanta and Hollywood offshoots of the New York-set original), aftershows and other extensions to keep fans tuning in and setting social media on fire.
Next big thing: Scott-Young says, “There is a fascination with the rash of intercontinental hookups popping up between female celebs/socialites and seemingly affluent African businessmen who often claim to be of ‘royal’ descent. The ‘Coming to America’ element has a newfound appeal to networks and audiences alike.”
Secret to “Love & Hip Hop” success: “We look for larger-than-life characters that not only ‘pop’ but that have real and intense stories going on in their lives that we can follow,” Barraud and Springman say jointly. “At its best, ‘Love & Hip Hop’ puts its talent through truly difficult situations and then we document how they emerge out the other side in some way transformed.”
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Arthur Smith and Kent Weed
CEO and President of A. Smith & Co. Productions
It’s been a banner year at A. Smith & Co. as “American Ninja Warrior” ascended to ratings highs in season seven, “Ellen’s Design Challenge” scored at HGTV and “Hell’s Kitchen” kept cooking on Fox.
Next big thing: “If ever our genre was in need of something ‘fresh,’ now is the time,” says Smith. “Ironically, when reality first started roughly a decade and half ago, its originality jolted program lineups. While I do believe that a fresh take on one of the reality staples (docu-soap, competition), could score again, the next big thing will probably be in the variety/event/game space.”
Secret to “Ninja Warrior” success: “It’s feel-good television,” says Weed. “People from all walks have been inspired to try out for the show. That relatable quality of the show, coupled with its positive message, makes it family friendly.”
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Jeff Spangler and Rob LaPlante
Image Credit: Courtesy of JEFF SPANGLER AND ROB LAPLANTE Co-owners and exec VPs, Lighthearted Entertainment
Following founder Howard Schultz’s sudden death in late 2014, the duo took over the company, keeping the “lighthearted” mission intact. Since, MTV’s young-skewing hit “Are You the One?,” a spin on the dating genre, has entered its third season, and VH1’s cult favorite “Dating Naked” will follow suit.
Show I wish were mine: “I was literally angry when I heard about ‘Married at First Sight,’ ” Spangler says. “It’s a kick-in-the-teeth simple idea with spot-on production value. It would have been right on brand for us.”
Show I want to be on: “Jeff and I would be incredible ‘Sister Wives,’ and would really change the way TLC viewers look at the show,” LaPlante quips.
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Bertram Van Munster
Image Credit: Courtesy of BERTRAM VAN MUNSTER President and CEO, World Race Productions
The globe-trotting, Dutch-born producer continues to rake in kudos and ratings with CBS’ “The Amazing Race,” in partnership with Bruckheimer Television, while the innovative reality/fantasy blend “The Quest” only lasted a season but still landed on Netflix.
Next big thing: “Fake is out. Time for blue-chip docs to make a comeback.”
Trend that should end: “Fabricated, ‘cut together’ reality. Reality is supposed to be in real time or cinema verité.”
Show I want to be on: “I would only do cameos. In and out … ‘Was that him?’”
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Dick Wolf and Tom Thayer
Co-founders, Wolf Reality
The “Law & Order” paterfamilias joined forces with former Universal TV exec Thayer to create the unscripted shingle. It recently re-teamed with Magical Elves — its partner for TNT’s “Cold Justice” and “Cold Justice: Sex Crimes” — to prep the live, interactive “Law & Order: You the Jury” for NBC, in which viewers decide the verdict in real civil cases.
Next big thing: “Shows that are audience-interactive,” says Wolf.
Show I wish were mine: “Naked and Afraid”
Secret to “Cold Justice” success: “The audience’s innate sense of justice. It shows that murder is a crime that eventually will be punished.”
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Sean Zeid
Image Credit: Courtesy of SEAN ZEID Head of domestic alternative TV, Paradigm
His roster includes exec producers Leslie Garvin (“Beyond the Tank”) and Andrea Richter (“Ink Master”) in addition to Painless Productions (Travel Channel’s “The Dead Files”), Bat Bridge Entertainment (CNN’s “High Profits”) and AMS Pictures (Reelz’s “Murder Made Famous”).
Next big thing: “Big formats that continue to challenge contestants in new, inventive ways, either physically, mentally or showcasing a unique, special skill. I think the audience wants to see people push themselves to new heights. On the cable side, audiences are looking for authentic programming and shows that explore real social issues.”