- Mary-Ellis Bunim
-
Mary-Ellis Bunim Born July 9, 1946
Northampton, Massachusetts, United StatesDied January 29, 2004 (aged 57)
Burbank, California, United StatesMary-Ellis Bunim (July 9, 1946 - January 29, 2004) was an American television producer and co-creator of MTV's The Real World and Road Rules.
Biography
A native of Massachusetts, Bunim began her career in daytime dramas. She oversaw more than 2,500 hours of programming as executive producer of Search for Tomorrow (1974-1981), As the World Turns (1981-1984), Santa Barbara (1984-1987) and Loving (1989-1990). She subsequently developed numerous shows in her job as VP of tape programs for New World Entertainment.
Bunim founded Bunim-Murray with business partner Jonathan Murray. Agent Mark Itkin of the William Morris Agency put the two together to develop a scripted soap opera for MTV. When that was too expensive, they decided to try an unscripted soap and the Real World was born. "We knew within 20 minutes of shooting that we had a show," Bunim said.
Her company, Bunim/Murray Productions, spearheaded the reality television genre. Among the numerous other reality programs that Bunim co-created over the years were Road Rules, Love Cruise, Making the Band, The Real World/Road Rules Challenge, the reality feature film The Real Cancun, the real-life daily syndicated Starting Over, as well as Fox's smash hit, The Simple Life. She died in Los Angeles at 57, after a lengthy battle with breast cancer. She is survived by her daughter, Juliana Bunim.[1]
References
- ^ "'Real World' co-creator dies". CNN.com. 2004-01-31. http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/30/obit.bunim/index.html. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
External links
- Mary-Ellis Bunim at the Internet Movie Database
- Official Website of The Real World
- Official Website of Road Rules
- Official Website of The Simple Life
- Official Website of Bunim/Murray Productions
- Official Website of MTV
- Official Website of MTV Networks
- Official Website of Viacom
- Official Website of CBS Corporation
- Official Website of National Amusements
- Brent Redstone
Preceded by
Bridget and Jerome Dobson,
Charles Pratt, Sr.Executive producer of Santa Barbara
(with Bridget and Jerome Dobson)
October 1984 - November 1987Succeeded by
Bridget and Jerome Dobson,
Jill Farren PhelpsThe Real World, Road Rules, and The Challenge The Real World seasons New York • Los Angeles • San Francisco • London • Miami • Boston • Seattle • Hawaii • New Orleans • Back to New York • Chicago • Las Vegas • Paris • San Diego • Philadelphia • Austin • Key West • Denver • Sydney • Hollywood • Brooklyn • Cancun • D.C. • New Orleans (2010) • Las Vegas (2011) • San Diego (2011)
Road Rules seasons USA – The First Adventure • USA – The Second Adventure • Europe • Islands • Northern Trail • Down Under • Latin America • Semester at Sea • Maximum Velocity Tour • The Quest • Campus Crawl • South Pacific • X-Treme • Viewers' Revenge
The Challenge seasons Road Rules: All Stars • Real World/Road Rules Challenge • Challenge 2000 • Extreme Challenge • Battle of the Seasons • Battle of the Sexes • The Gauntlet • The Inferno • Battle of the Sexes 2 • The Inferno II • The Gauntlet 2 • Fresh Meat • The Duel • The Inferno 3 • The Gauntlet III • The Island • The Duel II • The Ruins • Fresh Meat II • Cutthroat • Rivals
Related Bunim/Murray Productions • Mary-Ellis Bunim • Jonathan Murray • The Real World Movie: The Lost Season • T.J. Lavin • Reunited: The Real World Las Vegas • Pedro • Real World Presents: Return to Duty • Spring Break Challenge
Categories:- 1946 births
- 2004 deaths
- American television producers
- Soap opera producers
- Deaths from breast cancer
- Cancer deaths in California
- American television producer stubs
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