- Matt Kunitz
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Matt Kunitz Born November 5, 1968
New York, United StatesOccupation Television producer Matt Kunitz is a television executive producer known for his work on reality television programming. In July 2008, the Los Angeles Times dubbed Kunitz "The King of Reality TV."[1] Kunitz is currently the executive producer on Wipeout, a stunt based competition reality game show he created for ABC.
Television career
Kunitz was supervising producer of The Real World, one of the first reality television shows to gain a national audience, and was executive producer of NBC's Fear Factor. Kunitz spent six years in an overall production deal with NBC Universal Studios. While at NBC, Kunitz also was the executive producer of Dog Eat Dog and Late Friday and served as a consultant on Lost and Treasure Hunters. In March 2006, Kunitz left NBC Universal and began a new two year overall deal with, reality powerhouse, Endemol USA, producers of Fear Factor, Deal or No Deal, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and Big Brother. Kunitz's first assignment at Endemol was to adapt and executive produce Endemol's U.S. version of the singing competition "Operacion Triunfo" for ABC, retitled The One: Making a Music Star.
In 2008 Kunitz was the executive producer of Celebrity Circus for NBC. Kunitz is currently the executive producer on Wipeout, a stunt based competition he created for ABC. Wipeout became the highest rated new summer series of 2008.[2] The Wipeout format has been sold to more than 25 territories and Endemol has created an obstacle course in Argentina for those international editions.[3] The second season of Wipeout premiered on May 27, 2009. It topped the 8 o'clock demos — So You Think You Can Dance included. With an audience of 9.69 million, Wipeout bested its Season 1 average and gave ABC its best numbers in the Wedsnersdays-at-8 slot since November 2007.[4] On July 22, 2009, Wipeout was renewed for a third season.[5] Kunitz explained to The New York Times that Wipeout “turned out to be a real family show,” and that has led to its success.[6]
On March 26, 2010, Variety announced a new two year deal between Endemol USA and Kunitz.[7] On June 10, 2010, Variety announced that Kunitz will executive produce a new series for ABC, "101 Ways to Leave a Gameshow." [8] On August 15, 2010, Wipeout was renewed for a fourth season. [9] In March of 2011, ABC announced a summer pick up of "101 Ways to Leave a Game Show" [10] In June of 2011, NBC announced the return of Fear Factor. [11] NBC ordered 10 hours of the series to return in the fall.
Kunitz was named number 69 on Bernard Goldberg's list of 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America.
References
- ^ Collins, Scott; "Just call Matt Kunitz the king of reality TV"; los Angeles Times; July 14, 2008
- ^ "Wipeout scores top Tuesday ratings". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2008-07-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20080716020222/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3if15c9c648a5fa48d2b9e29f95cd82efd. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
- ^ Clarke, Steve (August 20, 2008). "Sales no obstacle for 'Wipeout'". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117990861.html?categoryid=19&cs=1.
- ^ http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/406658_tvgif28.html
- ^ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i00860fac3d23b30efaa44f2ef504f1f8
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/arts/television/22wipe.html?em New York Times Article: Gluttons for Punishment Are Balm for ABC
- ^ http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118016944.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&ref=bd_tv Kunitz To Stay At Endemol
- ^ http://weblogs.variety.com/on_the_air/2010/06/first-on-variety-abc-picks-up-pilot-to-101-ways-to-leave-a-game-show.html ABC picks up pilot to '101 Ways to Leave a Game Show'
- ^ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i4a25a9f106904fc10233eb3861a0e42e?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thr%2Ftelevision+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+Television%29
- ^ http://www.deadline.com/2011/03/abc-picks-up-101-ways-to-leave-a-game-show-to-series-for-summer/ ABC picks up series of '101 Ways to Leave a Game Show'
- ^ http://www.aoltv.com/2011/06/02/fear-factor-interview-matt-kunitz/?a_dgi=aolshare_facebook /'Fear Factor' is Back, But When? And What's New? Producer Matt Kunitz Gives Details
External links
Categories:- American television producers
- 1968 births
- Living people
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