Top Reality TV Producers of 2024
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It’s been an interesting and challenging year for the producers and TV executives behind unscripted content. Not only were they under more pressure than ever to deliver entertaining and exciting television, the turn around was faster than ever. With the scripted industry in peril, unscripted teams stepped up to bat with new ideas, which they were ready to turn into reality in record speed. Here, we home in on just a few of the power players.
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Betsy Ayala
Head of content, food, Warner Bros. Discovery
In addition to stewarding long-running hits “Beat Bobby Flay” and “Chopped,” Ayala also launched new programs such as “Selena + Chef: Home for the Holidays” and “Summer Baking Championship.”
Change you’d like to see in the unscripted world? “We all need each other to thrive in order to keep the nonscripted business healthy. Continuing to find ways to collaborate and challenge creative greatness, listening to what audiences want and remaining nimble enough to pivot through future challenges could help the industry as a whole,” she says.
Belisa Balaban
Senior VP, documentaries and unscripted series, Hulu Originals
Hulu’s had another banner year with the critically acclaimed “Stolen Youth: The Cult at Sarah Lawrence” from Story Syndicate and Zach Heinzerling. And frontman Jon Bon Jovi tells the band’s history with the four-part miniseries “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story,” which incorporates 40 years of personal video and never-before-seen photos.
Change you’d like to see? “Increased diversity in leadership at production companies and talent agencies,” she says.
Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato and RuPaul Charles
Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Co-founders, World of Wonder Prods., exec producers, “RuPaul’s Drag Race”
RuPaul Charles, Exec producer and host, “RuPaul’s Drag Race”
Season 16 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” produced by World of Wonder, had its highest-rated season premiere in six years. The most Emmy-nominated reality series continues to break barriers with spinoffs, all-star seasons and international reach.
Most memorable reality TV personality this year?
Barbato and Bailey: Taylor Swift and Mr. Beast.
Alex Baskin and Natalie Neurauter
Alex Baskin, CEO, 32 Flavors, exec producer, “Vanderpump Rules”
Natalie Neurauter, Exec producer, “Vanderpump Rules”
Thanks to the team getting into gear within minutes of Scandoval, “Vanderpump Rules” witnessed its most explosive season yet, earning an Emmy nomination. Shingle 32 Flavors is also behind the long-running hit “Botched” and new “Pump Rules” spinoff “The Valley.”
Most memorable personality? “I’m biased, but Ariana Madix’s iron will would seem to win the year. Having the wherewithal and fortitude not only to open up about a deeply personal, raw story, but to convert raw heartbreak into triumph isn’t just memorable, it’s admirable,” Baskin says.
Change you’d like to see? “I’ve always been disinterested in the dichotomy between highbrow and lowbrow because it’s so often a euphemism for discussions about male- and female-centric programming. But art is art, right? I’d love to see the unscripted world embrace more of that philosophy. Good storytelling is universal, undeniable and nongendered,” says Neurauter.
Brie Miranda Bryant
Senior VP, programming, Lifetime Unscripted
A visionary at the network, Bryant spearheaded the raw, unfiltered documentary “Where Is Wendy Williams?,” which delivered an average of 1.2 million total viewers. She also oversaw “The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard,” snaring more than 1 million views over a three-day average. Part two of the Janet Jackson documentary series will bow later this year.
Most memorable personality? “One of the most complex, interesting, controversial individuals of 2024 might be Gypsy Rose Blanchard. There’s something intensely raw about delving into a woman’s journey of self-forgiveness, redemption and her fervent desire to embrace life while on the precipice of freedom,” says Bryant.
Chris Coelen
CEO and exec producer, Kinetic Content
Kinetic’s “Love Is Blind” has become the No. 1 unscripted series on Netflix in the U.S. and in nearly 40 territories worldwide. This year’s sixth season, which debuted on Valentine’s Day, was viewed for more than 207 million hours during the first four weeks. This year also saw new seasons of ABC’s “Claim to Fame,” “Married at First Sight” and “The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On.”
Change you’d like to see? “I’d like to see unscripted programming be more fairly valued,” says Coelen. “Just because something costs less to make doesn’t make it less valuable or lower quality — in fact, the opposite is often true, and we should acknowledge when that’s the case.”
Andy Cohen
Host and exec producer, “Watch What Happens Live”
As the face and executive producer of all of the “Real Housewives” series, Cohen also continues his reign as host and executive producer of Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live.” For the seventh time, Cohen co-hosted “New Year’s Eve Live” on CNN with Anderson Cooper.
Most memorable personality? “Tom Sandoval, without question,” Cohen says.
Scout Production Team
David Collins, Michael Williams, Co-founders, exec producers
Rob Eric, CCO, exec producer
Renata Lombardo, Senior VP, development and current non-scripted programming
Joel Chiodi, Head of documentary and senior VP of strategic development
Scout Prods
This year, the Scout team — which created Netflix’s hit “Queer Eye” reboot — oversaw a new paranormal reality series for Hulu, “Living for the Dead,” created by Kristen Stewart and CJ Romero. The LGBTQ+ series landed a GLAAD Award nomination.
Most memorable personality? “We all say Julia Fox,” says Lombardo.
Change you’d like to see? “To see more content highlighting positive transformations and positive change in the world,” notes Williams, while Eric says: “The death of algorithms.” Collins adds: “Continuing to celebrate and shine light on the stories of underrepresented communities.” Chiodi notes: “Shows like ‘Unlocked’ on Netflix and ‘Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show’ on Max will continue to push where reality and documentary can go.”
David George
CEO, ITV America
ITVA’s success has continued this year, with roughly 40 series and 500 hours of content. “Queer Eye” took home its 11th Emmy and a Season 9 renewal, while “Love Island USA” on Peacock expanded to a new spinoff, “Love Island Games.” The company saw hits on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Roku, HGTV, A&E and ID.
Most memorable personality? “Part of me wants to say Taylor Swift, because the best reality show took place during the NFL season. However, I’m going to go with Natalia Grace, because I still don’t know what I just watched,” he says.
Nancy Glass
CEO and exec producer, Glass Entertainment Group
With more than 4,500 hours of content since its inception, GEG also formed Glass Podcasts and collaborated with iHeart Media for “Betrayal” and “Burden of Guilt.” Additionally, she worked closely with Christina (Haack) Hall to launch Unbroken Prods., overseeing her HGTV series “Christina on the Coast” and “Christina in the Country.”
Change you’d like to see? “Networks treat TV like Noah’s Ark. Every successful show has an almost exact duplicate,” Glass says. “It’s understandable, given the economic pressure put on the business, but it would be great to see more risks taken. Whether they succeed or fail, risks always inspire.”
Mitch Graham
Exec VP, alternative programming, CBS
Under Graham’s leadership, CBS’ strong reality slate continues with “Survivor,” “Big Brother,” “The Amazing Race” and “Tough as Nails.” Both “Survivor” and “The Amazing Race” expanded to 90-minute episodes and saw year-over-year multiplatform gains. Graham also launched “Raid the Cage,” “Lingo” and “The Summit,” the latter to debut later this year.
Most memorable personality? “One of the smartest and most charming players we’ve had on the series is Kaleb Gebrewold from ‘Survivor’ Season 45, who delivered one of the most memorable moments when he clawed back a majority vote elimination with his handy shot-in-the-dark to survive another day,” he says.
Allison Grodner, Rich Meehan
Co-founders, Fly on the Wall Entertainment
Since its launch in 2009, Fly on the Wall has produced more than 10,000 hours of television. The pair oversee “Big Brother,” “Crime Scene Kitchen,” “Hollywood Houselift With Jeff Lewis” and “Celebrity Big Brother.” This year, they launched the holiday spinoff, “Big Reindeer Games.”
Change you’d like to see? “It would be great to see the pitch, development-to-greenlight process expedited so that unique, fresh concepts have a better chance of becoming a series instead of getting lost in a system that can sometimes take years.”
Most memorable personality? “Some of the most compelling moments came from watching [“Sister Wives’”], Christine Brown’s tough decision to live her truth, and witnessing the courage of ‘Quiet on Set’s’ Drake Bell as he told his truth for the world to hear.”
Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman
Eli Holzman, President of nonfiction, Sony Pictures TV; Founder and CEO, the Intellectual Property Corp.
Aaron Saidman, Co-president of nonfiction, Sony Pictures TV; Co-founder, president, the Intellectual Property Corp.
With some of the biggest hits on TV, including “Shark Tank,” “90 Day Fiancé,” “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance,” the company also produced new hits this year over multiple genres of nonfiction, including ID’s hit “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.”
Change you’d like to see? “I’d like to see more unscripted formats draw from real-world trends,” Said-
man says. “More risk taking and big swings. They don’t always work … but when they do, they yield the hits our fans watch for decades,” notes Holzman.
Stephen Lambert, Tim Harcourt, Jack Burgess and Alan Cumming
Stephen Lambert, CEO, Studio Lambert
Tim Harcourt, Chief creative officer, Studio Lambert
Jack Burgess, Exec VP, Studio Lambert
Alan Cumming, Host and producer, “The Traitors”
With Netflix’s “The Circle” and “Squid Game: The Challenge,” Studio Lambert led the pack of hit unscripted series. However, it was the second season of “The Traitors” that sent the studio sky-
rocketing this year; it became the most-watched reality series debut on Peacock, up more than 75% from Season 1. Studio Lambert has secured 2024 deals with both Amazon and NBCU.
Change you’d like to see in the unscripted world? Cumming says: “I’d like to see less wine being thrown. I’d like more kindness.”
Most memorable personality? “Alan Cumming, for his wit, wild outfits and the delicious way he purrs about murrrrder and treachery,” Lambert says. “Phaedra Parks was such an iconic player on ‘The Traitors,’” says Burgess, while Harcourt notes: “Any one of the Pink Soldiers from ‘Squid Game.’ Never has silence been so deadly.”
Sharon Levy
CEO, Endemol Shine North America
During Levy’s first year in the position of CEO, she revitalized the “Deal or No Deal” IP, launching a reimagined “Deal or No Deal Island,” which averaged 6 million multiplatform viewers across its first four episodes. Longtime staples “MasterChef” and “Lego Masters” continued to see growth as did spin-off, “MasterChef Junior: Home for the Holidays.”
Change you’d like to see? “We need more multi-season orders upfront,” Levy says. “Imagine the economic benefit for everyone involved —buyers get a show with a better chance of success, production companies have more stability and viewers get a show they can truly invest in. And let’s do more live episodes.”
Steve Michaels and Jodi Flynn
Steve Michaels, CEO
Jodi Flynn, President
Asylum Entertainment Group
Following its 2023 sale to Endeavor, AEG focused on strategic acquisitions and overall deals with prominent talent and first-rate companies, including Tom Morello’s Comandante Prods., the New York Post and Large Eyes Entertainment. They also launched a Vancouver office to take advantage of the production-friendly environment.
Change you’d like to see? “Ownership of original IP for the actual creators — I don’t see it changing any time soon in the states, which is why we are investing heavily into the U.K. and other territories, where it is simply the standard,” says Michaels. As for Flynn, she suggests: “Faster turn-arounds for paid development steps. The extended length of time it takes to secure a greenlight impacts not only the ability of some production companies to survive, but also can impact the creativity of a show.”
Rob Mills
Exec VP, unscripted and alternative entertainment, Walt Disney TV
Collectively, Mills’ teams produced more than 500 hours of content across ABC, Hulu and Disney+. Most notable: “The Bachelor” spinoff, “The Golden Bachelor,” with a premiere that reached a combined 13.9 million viewers, becoming ABC’s most-watched episode of an unscripted series on Hulu. The finale garnered more than 9 million viewers after seven days of multi-platform viewing — the most-watched episode of any in the “Bachelor” franchise since Matt James’ season finale in 2021.
Most memorable personality? “The entire cast of ‘The Golden Bachelor.’ These were people who got to experience a completely unexpected new chapter in their lives and the entire country fell in love with them,” Mills says.
Change you’d like to see? “More risk-taking. The genre is so mature that it’s easy to fall into tropes.”
Brent Montgomery
CEO, Wheelhouse
Overseeing Wheelhouse — and the several production companies it comprises — Montgomery launched two Netflix shows this year, “King of Collectibles” and “Buying Beverly Hills,” both picked up for a second season. Wheelhouse also worked on Max’s “Smartless on the Road,” adapting the massive podcast with Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes into a docuseries.
Most memorable personality? “For us, it’s the Umansky family from our Netflix show ‘Buying Beverly Hills’ — the spotlight shone bright and Mauricio and his daughters’ willingness to open up during a tough time for their family was handled with transparency and grace,” he says.
Julie Pizzi
President, Bunim/Murray Prods. and 51 Minds Entertainment
At the end of 2023, Pizzi, who has been president of BMP since 2021, was named president of 51 Minds Entertainment, becoming the first woman to lead both. In addition to overseeing “The Challenge” franchise, “The Family Stallone,” “Buddy Games” and “Vanderpump Villa,” she also now works directly on the many “Below Deck” iterations and the upcoming revival of “The Surreal Life.”
Change you’d like to see? “I want the opportunity to break the rules in unscripted and re-imagine the genre so unscripted can evolve. Even new shows inevitably follow a predictable playbook. I’d like to see buyers take more risks and work with creators to produce content that stimulates and grows the genre,” Pizzi says.
Barry Poznick
General manager, MGM Alternative, Evolution Media, Big Fish Entertainment
Responsible for domestic and international development and production of content, Poznick oversees dozens of current series including “Beat Shazam,” “The Voice” and “Shark Tank.” This year saw 10 renewals, seven new domestic shows and eight new international premieres.
Most memorable personality? “Mark Consuelos. When he replaced Ryan Seacrest last year, he and Kelly Ripa reinvigorated the morning show format. A real couple sharing their real life, every day. Their conversations give audiences a whole new genre of host chat that is revealing, intimate, honest and always full of fun surprises,” he says.
Jeff Probst
Exec producer and host, SEG
“Survivor” showrunner, exec producer and host, Probst has led the CBS hit to the No. 1 unscripted series in the demo, with streaming on Paramount+ up 54%. The long-running series posted year-over-year gains and averaged 6.56 million in linear viewership. In 2023, the series landed its first Emmy nomination in 17 years.
Most memorable personality? “I love that dog trainer Brandon McMillian is back with ‘Lucky Dog’ updates on some of his most memorable transformational dog rescue stories,”
he says.
Change you’d like to see? “I’d love to see us have even more trust in our formats so that they can continue to evolve in a natural way.”
Gordon Ramsay
CEO, Gordon Ramsay Global
Ramsay serves as host and executive producer on “Next Level Chef,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” “MasterChef,” “Kitchen Nightmares” and “MasterChef Junior.” Additionally, the studio developed its first streaming show, “No Taste Like Home” and premiered its new digital series on YouTube, “Idiot Sandwich.” Plus, Ramsay has more than 65 restaurants worldwide.
Change you’d like to see? “More commissioning for Season 2 and 3 of a series, to give a better chance of finding and growing an audience,” he says.
Ben Samek
CEO, Banijay Americas
During his first year as CEO, Banijay Americas had four of cable’s most-watched U.S. reality series with the “Below Deck” franchise and “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” while “The Bridge” took home the International Emmy. In addition to “MasterChef,” “Lego Masters” and “The Challenge,” it also launched “Martha’s Vineyard,” which became Peacock’s No. 1 new Bravo series.
Most memorable personality? “Lisa Vanderpump and Boston Rob are some of the most unforgettable unscripted characters. They are genuinely stalwarts of the genre, not just this year but year over year. It’s impossible not to admire how prolific Lisa is, with fantastic shows across three platforms this year alone — Bravo, Hulu and Fox. Boston Rob was one of reality television’s first breakout stars on ‘Survivor’ and now ‘Deal or No Deal Island,’ and few people do reality villain with his focus, ambition and sheer will to win,” he says.
Connor Schell, Libby Geist and David Chamberlin
Connor Schell, CEO and founder, Words + Pictures
Libby Geist, President, Words + Pictures
David Chamberlin, President, Full Day
Words + Pictures saw success of the sporting kind with Amazon’s “Giannis: The Marvelous Journey,”
Netflix’s “Under Pressure: The U.S. Women’s World Team” and “NASCAR: Full Speed.” Geist, promoted to president this year, developed and exec produced ESPN+’s “Full Court Press,” featuring Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso and Kiki Rice. Chamberlin, leading Full Day, developed and produced “The Netflix Cup,” the streamer’s first-ever live sports event, and “The Netflix Slam.”
Change you’d like to see? “I wonder if the appetite for big ‘tentpole’ documentaries and series will calm a bit, making space for smaller stories, which I often find the most compelling,” says Geist. “There are so many incredible, unknown stories and we are rooting for there to be a strong market for that again.”
Most memorable personality? “Caitlin Clark. Sports is the ultimate reality show and she was consistently amazing,” Schell says. Chamberlin agrees: “Caitlin Clark. The Caitlin Clark show
was the biggest thing on TV this spring. She’s so fun to watch and consistently does things you’ve never seen before.”
Matt Sharp
CEO and founder, Sharp Entertainment
Sharp Entertainment, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, has delivered thousands of hours of unscripted programming. Most notable is “90 Day Fiancé,” which continues to be a top performer across cable, with more than 30 spinoffs. The premiere of “90 Day: The Last Resort” became cable’s highest-rated unscripted series premiere in three years.
Most memorable personality? “Gerry Turner of ‘The Golden Bachelor.’ I’m a firm believer that audiences care about the love stories of ordinary Americans, so it was heartening to see a show about a 72-year-old man’s quest for love set ratings records on network television. (Even if the relationship crashed and burned after only three months.)”
Rachel Smith and Corie Henson
Rachel Smith, Exec VP, unscripted content, lifestyle and documentaries
Corie Henson, Executive VP, unscripted content, competition and game shows
NBCUniversal Entertainment
Smith was promoted at the end of 2023, overseeing some of the biggest unscripted hits — from “Vanderpump Rules” and “Southern Charm” to “The Real Housewives.” E! Launched its highest-performing new original series since 2020, “House of Villains,” while Bravo saw one of its strongest seasons yet of “Summer House.” Under Henson, “The Traitors” became the No. 1 unscripted series across all streaming platforms with its second season while “The Voice” remained top of the alternative series.
Change you’d like to see? “I would like to let creative lead the conversation instead of the budget,” Henson says.
Most memorable personality? “This last season’s cast of Bravo’s ‘The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’ was beyond epic: ‘Receipts, Proof, Timeline, Screenshots.’ The finale episode in Bermuda had all the tragicomedy elements of a great Shakespearean play.” says Smith.
Allison Wallach
President, unscripted programming, Fox
Responsible for Fox’s unscripted programming, Wallach also oversees Studio Ramsay Global, TMZ & Fox Alternative Entertainment. Following the double strikes, she launched “The Floor” and brought back successful hits “The Masked Singer” and “Next Level Chef.”
Change you’d like to see? “With the given state of the industry and the financial headwinds companies are facing, many producers have been guided towards pitching ideas that are ‘affordable,’ thus tend to feel smaller. But what the unscripted business really needs now is the next wave of big ideas that break through the clutter. Big swings can still be executed in a responsible and effective way where everyone wins,” she says.
Steven Weinstock and Glenda Hersh
Co-CEOs, co-presidents and exec producers, Truly Original
With three “Housewives” hits — “Atlanta,” “Potomac” and “Dubai” — the first international “Housewives” series, along with Bravo’s “Summer House,” Truly has also built a new franchise for History Channel with “Swamp People.” Their unscripted partnership with Taylor Sheridan has yielded “The Last Cowboy,” now in production on Season 5. This year, “Family Karma” earned a GLAAD Award nomination, while “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” landed an NAACP Award nomination.
Most memorable personality? “I have to say Andy Cohen. No matter what drama is happening in and around the ‘Housewives’ universe, Andy maintains his true commitment to and love for the space,”
Weinstock says.
Change you’d like to see? “I’d love to see a return to some of the crazy, creative chance-taking that was front and center in the early days of unscripted. There was a heightened, even ridiculous sense of fun and humor that I think a lot of us miss, and that audiences loved,” says Hersh.
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