Exec/Producer With Noah Pollack

Today's episode is a little different because our guests are also our moderators, Bunim/Murray founder, Jon Murray and SpringHill CCO, Jamal Henderson. Jon and Jamal came together for an event that I was fortunate enough to have produced with some very talented friends and colleagues at the TV Academy and which I am now sharing in podcast form for all of you. These two prolific creators are proof positive that there is no one precise path to success in the entertainment industry, but I do hope you pick up on some of the many commonalities and nuggets of wisdom shared by these two wonderful men and are able to apply it to your own journey. Enjoy!

Few companies have navigated the transition from linear to digital content production as well as B17. Founded and operated by Brien Meagher & Rhett Bachner, B17 has blazed their incredible path by looking forward and focusing on where their audience is going...not by digging their heels in and relying on where they have been. Not bad for an idea cooked up over a few beers on Venice beach. Enjoy!!!

The TV Academy may be best known for giving out Emmy Awards each year, but membership in this esteemed group brings a great deal more than simply awards participation and eligibility, it creates a true professional community. Made up of a variety of peer groups for most every conceivable category and trade within the genre, the academy serves as the heart center of the TV world and never has an anchor been more necessary than in this year of social distancing. Joining me on the podcast today in their work as Governors for the reality peer group are Jill Dickerson and Bob Boden. Jill and Bob both wear a variety wonderful hats which we value on this show - executive, producer and friend - and the work they do on behalf of the unscripted community is second to none. Enjoy!!!

The documentary boom is undeniable and today, we cover our first one, HBO's TRANSHOOD. Shot over 5 years in Kansas City, this incredible film showcases the triumphs and challenges for 4 transgender children - and their families - over this extended period of time. Directed by Sharon Liese and Produced by Sasha Alpert, TRANSHOOD is a story of patience, resilience and faith, both in front of and behind the camera. Enjoy!

4 years ago, Aliza Rosen turned a job interview into her very own podcast... and she hasn't looked back. Her weekly show, REALITY OF REALITY, features the best from all corners of unscripted tv and has become a staple for reality fans and producers alike. As with all of her projects, Aliza jumped into the fray by DOING and her straight talk advice is vital for anyone figuring out their professional journey, podcast or otherwise. Enjoy!

Noelle Lindsay Stewart and Elizabeth Voorhees join me today as representatives from an incredible organization, DEFINE AMERICAN, whose primary purpose is to assist all corners of the media landscape in portraying a more accurate depiction of our nation and the people who inhabit it. By providing knowledge to creators and producers - a group of people with an outsized ability to impact culture - Noelle, Elizabeth and their colleagues amplify the more marginalized voices of society and make the stories we consume better in all ways. The importance of their mission has never been more vital. 

My dear friend, Dr. Lisa Dabby, took some time off from saving lives in the ER to join the podcast and offer her guidance on how to re-open Hollywood production in as safe a manner as possible. No matter how much we will it to be, Covid-19 isn't going anywhere any time soon. Please enjoy this conversation with Lisa as she provides a great deal of meaningful and actionable advice on the measures industry professionals should consider taking in order to resume production in the summer of Covid-19. Enjoy...while wearing a mask!!!

Andrew Fried founded Boardwalk Pictures with a goal of making premium unscripted programming at a time when the market for that type of content simply did not exist. Shortly thereafter, Dane Lillegard joined the team...and the market for their preferred type of content still did not exist. Throughout it all, they kept their heads down and stayed true to their mission, their hard work begat more hard work until finally, the winds began to blow with heavy force from behind. Today they find themselves at the center of the premium unscripted explosion that defines much of television with trophies on their shelves and series all over the streaming landscape. Theirs is a story of patience, discipline and a standard of excellence that I know you will enjoy!

My old friend, Ari Ingel, is the Director of the Creative Community For Peace, an entertainment industry non-profit which aims to promote music and the arts as a bridge for cultural peace.  Ari and the CCFP organized a zoom panel this week for their members about COVID's impact on the entertainment business and asked me to moderate - and I am now sharing a recording of the panel in podcast form. This episode is a bit different from our previous episodes (and please excuse any zoom related glitches) but it remains full of all the information and takeaway that you've grown to expect from EXEC/PRODUCER. Enjoy some realism, optimism and many great streaming recommendations from a fantastic cross section of industry leaders!

Today, we discuss one of the most acclaimed new shows of the current television season, NBC's ZOEY'S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST. Extraordinary is the perfect adjective to describe this series and its multiple Broadway caliber song and dance numbers performed to mega-hit music each episode (to say nothing of its exceptional balance of both comedy and drama.) There is no show on television quite like this one and it was my absolute honor to discuss it's fantastic and personal origin story with series creator, Austin Winsberg, and NBC's EVP of Drama, Cara Dellaverson. The three of us also all went to high school together, so there's that! Enjoy!!!

Our season 4 premiere features MIZ & MRS., a hilarious series which was 20 years in the making! The show itself didn't take 2 decades to develop, but the relationships at its core most certainly did. Driving the show are married WWE Superstars Mike "The Miz" Mizanin and Maryse Mizanin. Mike introduced his wrestling persona in 2001 as a breakout cast member on MTV's THE REAL WORLD and has subsequently willed himself into becoming one of the greatest WWE superstars of his generation. Maryse's story of wrestling fame and success is equally unlikely and their life as one of the first families of wrestling is now a hit entering its second season on USA (dropping tomorrow, Wednesday January 29 at 10/9 Central on USA). Rounding out the conversation is showrunner Russell Jay Staglik, a super talent who has been in Mike's orbit since the very beginning and who has stayed there because of one simple word, TRUST. I am also lucky to have known this crew since the very beginning and am so excited to bring this story to you all. Enjoy this episode and watch M&M starting tomorrow night!!!

I am thrilled to conclude our third season with the story of Path Content Group and two of its founders, veteran television producer, Andrew Jameson, and Turner Classic Movie host, Ben Mankiewicz. Path Content's model is to create broadcast quality legacy videos for anyone looking to document the story of their life. With Andrew in the producer's chair and Ben is the hosting seat, Path provides a modern day video memoir for those who can afford it. In a world where the traditional rules of media have been upended, Andrew, Ben and their partners have created a model where they can ply their expertise without all of the typical constraints. It's a wonderful story of entrepreneurship that I know you will enjoy!

Casey Kriley & Jo Sharon are the dynamic new leaders of one of the leading names in the history of unscripted television, the Magical Elves. Longtime lieutenants who took over after the departure of the company co-founders, Casey & Jo share their thoughts on leadership, maintaining the company culture and how to continue to grow a successful business in a climate that isn't nearly as open as it was even a few years ago. These two fantastic producers are just beginning their story as the newly appointed Co-CEO's and their frank advice is spot on. Enjoy!

Matt Belloni was an up and coming entertainment attorney who chose the road less traveled by ditching his law career at age 30 for the riskier path - but his true passion - journalism. That move paid off, as Matt methodically rose through the ranks and now finds himself as the Editorial Director for the most important news source in all of entertainment, The Hollywood Reporter. We discuss so much of what has changed in the media landscape since Matt made his move 13 years ago, including the story he's most proud of breaking and of course, the one that got away. I am privileged to have known Matt since our days as summer camp counselors many moons ago and I am honored to bring his insights to the show. Enjoy!

Jed Elinoff & Scott Thomas are the dynamic writing and producing team at the core of Netflix's summer smash, MALIBU RESCUE. As industry forces continue to box creators into one specific genre/lane, Jed & Scott continue to defy those trends and labels. They've written both comedy & horror, created unscripted formats and now are go to creators in the world of kids and family.  I've known and worked with and admired these 2 great talents for many years and am excited to share their wisdom with you. Enjoy!

DESCENDANTS started as a mere notion about the progeny of the most famous Disney villains only to become the Disney Channel's most successful film of the decade. In anticipation of next week's 8/2 premiere of DESCENDANTS 3, I sat down with the movie's co-writer and producer, Josann McGibbon, as well as the executive who championed it, Wonderland Sound and Vision's Corey Marsh, to discuss the many twists and turns which eventually produced this mega hit franchise and Halloween costume staple.  It's a wonderful conversation with two long time friends about patience, passion and creativity. Enjoy!    

Today's episode covers more than a show, it covers a business. More specifically, I sat down with the three founders of SIGNATURE TRACKS, one of the premiere TV & Film music companies working today. Russell Howard, David Lasman and Adam Malka are childhood best friends who in 2008, at the height of the economic downturn, went all in together on this business venture. Spoiler alert, but over a decade later, they're still going strong and were gracious enough to offer up some of their secrets of success for all of our listeners. Music is the unseen cast member in so many productions and these three are proof positive despite what the adage says, going into business with your friends can be a wonderful thing. Enjoy!

Today's episode covers one of TV's greatest new trends, interactive storytelling. With streaming, viewers now have the ability to do more than simply watch a show, they can also "play" it and no show does a better job of that than Netflix's YOU VS. WILD. Produced by long time Bear Grylls' collaborators Del Shoopman and Rob Buchta, YVW takes Bear and the viewer on a "choose your own adventure" like never before. Enjoy!

Today's episode features a philosophy and not just a show. Producer, Author, corporate speaker, philanthropist, podcast host and so much more, Brant Pinvidic took his sales acumen and philosophy towards living and created a brand, REJECT AVERAGE, which aims to thrust all of us out of our safe spaces and into the great big world. Your life, goals and career are so much broader than you believe them to be, if you simply open up your eyes and Reject Average.  Brant's methodology most certainly applies to anyone looking to sell a TV show, but it goes much deeper than that and I highly recommend this episode for anyone looking for any sort of life or professional tune-up. Enjoy!

WAHLBURGERS is a ostensibly a comedy about a budding restaurant empire, but at its heart, it's a show about family...and it's no surprise that this family show is produced by a family company, 44 Blue. One of the pioneers of unscripted TV, 44 Blue is owned and operated by today's guests, the wife and husband duo, Stephanie and Rasha Drachkovitch.  Business partners before they were even partners in life, these two producing legends are evidence that love and continued hard work pays off in the end, just as it has for the protagonists at the heart of today's featured show, WAHLBURGERS. Enjoy!  

AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR is the little show that could. What started as a series of subtitled specials on the since departed G4 network is now a massive hit on NBC, entering its recently announced 8th season. Produced by sports producer turned unscripted titan, Arthur Smith and hosted by Doctor turned comedian, Matt Iseman, NINJA WARRIOR is not just a franchise, but the center of a global movement inspiring people of all ages, shapes and sizes that ANYTHING is possible. Enjoy!

For the Season 3 premiere of EXEC/PRODUCER, I am proud to bring you one of the most iconic shows of the decade, THE VOICE. Both a critical darling and ratings juggernaut, THE VOICE exploded out of the gate in 2011 and hasn't missed a beat as it approaches its 16th season and 400th episode.  Produced for the entirety of its run by Audrey Morrissey and launched/overseen by NBC's Meredith Ahr, their fantastic story of both trust and risk taking made television history has changed the relationship between unscripted tv and superstar talent forever.  Enjoy!  

For Season 2 finale of EXEC/PRODUCER, I am pleased to bring you one of the only true breakouts of recent memory, LIVE PD. Created and produced by Dan Cesareo of Big Fish and launched/overseen by A&E's Shelly Tatro, LIVE PD takes the tried and true police show format and eventizes it by adding in the thrill of live TV. The logline may sound simple, but the production is anything but, as was the run up of bringing the concept to air. Shelly and Dan are both best in class creatives who I am lucky enough to have worked with during my career. They spend many weekend nights on the set of LIVE PD and I can't thank them enough for giving up what little time they have remaining to appear on this show. I hope you love this episode and have enjoyed Season 2 as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you! More soon...

I've returned to my own vault of shows to bring you BASKETBALL WIVES, a show which I launched and oversaw during my time at Vh1. Sold to us by Tom Huffman, then of Shed Media, and produced since the beginning of its nearly 200 episode run by Sean Rankine, BASKETBALL WIVES survived a few near death experiences before becoming the network's #1 show earlier this decade. It hasn't been easy, but success never is and BASKETBALL WIVES is a prime example of that. This series has survived many cast changes, a cross country move and a ton of drama, but it's still standing strong and is now closing in on its 10th year. Enjoy!

Joining me for my first one-on-one conversation is Sam Sokolow, President of EUE/Sokolow, and Executive Producer of Nat Geo's breakout series, GENIUS. Sam and his partners labored for years to bring Walter Isaacson's acclaimed biography of Albert Einstein to the screen, first as a feature and ultimately as a series. Not only did they hit paydirt with Nat Geo, but they created a format where different geniuses would be featured in subsequent seasons, following up with Picasso and currently prepping for Mary Shelley.  Sam not only weaves a fascinating story of how GENIUS came to be, but also how he simultaneously transformed his own career from producing unscripted to producing scripted. Sam successfully "changed high schools" and gives fanstastic insight for anyone else contemplating a career pivot. It's a great conversation that I hope you enjoy!  

The business shows keep coming with this week's episode, CNBC's flagship show, THE PROFIT. Joining me are Executive Producer, Amber Mazzola, and the star of the show, The Profit himself, Marcus Lemonis.  Amber entered the series as its Season 1 showrunner and her drive and comittment catapulted her to become the production company of record for the series. She now owns and operates her own company, Machete, built quite significantly on the strength of this show and her partnership with Marcus.  Marcus puts the "real" in reality tv by putting his own money into the businesses which he decides to invest in each week. Marcus was already an uber successful CEO when production began on this series 5 years ago. His personality, tactics and business acumen have turned him into one of the world's most iconic turnaround specialists and his many millions of dollars invested have also placed him very much in the black. It's a great conversation between two dynamos. Enjoy!

SHARK TANK originated as a hit overseas, but it struggled to find an American home and languished for some time as a format in the Sony catalogue. Mark Burnett Productions eventually caught wind of the idea and partnered with Sony to eek out a six episode order for the show on ABC. After surviving a near cancellation prior to premiere and an abysmal first week of ratings, the show ultimately found its footing and fought for and earned a second season before finally cementing its place as an American TV mainstay. 10 seasons later, hundreds of episodes produced and millions of dollars invested, SHARK TANK is a rare show that both entertains AND changes lives. Originally sold by David Eilenberg (then of MBP and now CCO of ITV America) and purchased/overseen by Corie Henson (then of ABC and now an EVP at Fox) SHARK TANK kicked off a professional relationship between these 2 highly respected members of the TV community who are now producing their 3rd franchise together. I was thrilled to bring together these 2 talents for a wonderful conversation about how SHARK TANK was born and how their own overlapping professional relationship continues to thrive. Enjoy!

You asked, I listened and today, I am proud to bring you COBRA KAI, the first scripted series discussed on our show. What began as a wild hair idea from 3 KARATE KID obsessed feature comedy writers became the signature series for Youtube's premium streaming service, Youtube Red. Today I welcome one of those creators, Jon Hurwitz, as well as Youtube Red's Head of Comedy development, Dustin Davis, for a incredible discussion of how they convinced various rights holders, wined and dined potentially reluctant stars and employed Google analytics (along with a healthy dose of good old fashioned gut instict) to bring this fantastic series to life...and not upset a legion of hard core fans along the way. It's a great one that I hope you enjoy!

LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH kicks off season 2 of EXEC/PRODUCER. This remarkable series showcases actress and former Scientologist, Leah Remini, in her journey to meet with other former members of the church and bring light to their heartbreaking stories. It has been no small feat for producer, Aaron Saidman and A&E executive, Devon Graham Hammonds, to successfully produce this series given all of its legal and procedural challenges, but they've not only walked the tightrope, but also were also rewarded with an Emmy. Devon and Aaron are both excellent at what they do and their mutual respect and appreciation for one another is something to behold.  Enjoy!  

EXEC/PRODUCER is back for season 2! I took your thoughts and feedback to heart and am proud to bring you 8 new and exciting episodes. I sit down with Emmy winners, network presidents, production company owners and even the stars themselves. I'll continue to discuss your favorite reality formats and also feature some exciting scripted series. Putting these episodes together was quite a ride and I hope you all enjoy listening to them as much as I enjoyed making them. The first episode of season 2, LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH, is up now and new episodes will follow weekly. As always, please follow the show on instagram @EPWITHNP, tell a friend and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts. Enjoy!

BORN THIS WAY's journey from passed pilot to Emmy gold was years in the making. Produced for A&E by the legendary Jon Murray, AKA the Godfather of the industry, BTW masterfully tackled the tricky subject matter of Down Syndrome with a series that is both incredibly informative AND entertaining. Overseen by Jon's longtime friend and colleague, Drew Tappon, the story of BTW is one of passion, persistence, good fortune and so much more. I started my career answering Jon's phone and often found Drew on the other end of the line, as he was our network executive at the time for all of our MTV productions. This episode not only marks the end of season 1 for EXEC/PRODUCER, but is also a true full circle moment for me that I hope you'll all enjoy!

This episode is dear to my heart because we're covering CELEBRITY REHAB WITH DR. DREW, a show which I oversaw during my time at VH1. Produced by my close friend, John Irwin, CELEBRITY REHAB was an monumental team effort which translated into countless saved lives, in addition to multiple seasons, spin-offs and ratings success. Much of the soul of this series can be attributed to the efforts of our second guest, Dr. Drew's right hand man, Bob Forrest. A recovering addict himself, Bob lived a life as a rock star during the peak of the LA music scene in the 1980's and 90's before achieving sobriety and dedicating his life to helping others in need both on TV and in the real world.  CELEBRITY REHAB is a shining example of how a show can both help AND entertain and I'm thrilled to present to you the story of how it came to be. Enjoy!

Bruce Jenner's transformation to Caitlyn dominated the headlines like few other stories have before or since. From Diane Sawyer and the ESPY Awards to the tabloids and KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS, Bruce/Caitlyn's journey was EVERYWHERE for the better part of 2015. Bruce/Caitlyn ultimately decided to document the transition from him to her in the groundbreaking docuseries, I AM CAIT, a show which walked the very delicate tightrope of entertaining while informing.   Produced by Jeff Jenkins, then of Bunim/Murray, and overseen by Jeff Olde, then of E!, I AM CAIT catapulted the transgender conversation squarely into the mainstream. Jeff Jenkins is a former collegue who rose through the ranks of Bunim/Murray all the way to becoming their Co-President of Entertainment. Jeff Olde is a Peabody winning producer who has my been my beloved boss two times over. These two creators have a history of producing incredible television and it was a thrill to bring them together for this conversation. Enjoy!!!

Most celebrities on reality television set strong boundaries as to what they will allow the cameras to capture. In addition, most shows have a multi-month post-production window, so by the time this already controlled content premieres, the show runs the risk of being dated. TRUE TORI was neither of these things, featuring Tori Spelling and her family at their most real and honest and doing it in real time, with a one week production turn around between the filming and the premiere of each episode.  Produced by Studio Lambert's Greg Goldman and overseen by Eli Lehrer, then of Lifetime and now of History Channel, TRUE TORI shot out of a cannon and captivated its viewers in ways that few recent series have. Both of these talented creators have had a direct and positive impact on my career and I'm excited to bring them together for an incredible conversation...Enjoy!!! 

Adam Greener spent all of his remaining development money on a self funded pilot, only to see it go up in smoke. Months later, after being left for dead, Adam resurrected the project and his persistence paid off with an incredible 8 network offers! One of those offers came from Heather Olander at the USA Network who shared his vision and went straight to series on a show which would come to be known as CHRISLEY KNOWS BEST. I have known and worked with these 2 talented friends for many years and am excited for to share the story of this fantastic partnership. Enjoy!

I'm thrilled to welcome both the smartest and hardest working people in unscripted tv. Brian Graden co-created SOUTH PARK before embarking on a legendary 13 year run as the President of Entertainment for MTV, VH1 and Logo. Cris Abrego co-founded the wildly prolific company, 51 Minds, before selling it to Endemol Shine, where he now serves as CEO of their North American operation. These two wonderful talents and colleagues joined me to discuss THE SURREAL LIFE, a show which Cris co-created and Brian commisioned while at VH1. THE SURREAL LIFE changed the face of television history...enjoy!!!

Lisa Vanderpump burst onto the scene as a breakout star on THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS, but as a mega successful restranteur, she wanted more. One of her HOUSEWIFE producers, Alex Baskin, emailed a screen grab to Bravo from the website of one of Lisa's restaurants, Sur, and what was an immediate "yes" turned into a nearly year long adventure until officially being greenlit. The rest is television history and with over 100 episode produced, VANDERPUMP RULES shows no signs of abating.  I was fortunate enough to sit down with my childhood friend, Alex, and the one and only Lisa at her stunning home for a conversation about VANDERPUMP RULES. It's not only one of TV's greatest guilty pleasures, but it's also a shining example of how entertainment and business can intersect in some pretty incredible ways. Enjoy!

Damla Dogan walked into the halls of E! over a decade ago and her VERY FIRST PROJECT was KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS!!! The channel quickly ordered a show about this little known family, but with one caveat, it had to be produced and on the air in only 8 weeks. Enter Farnaz Farjam, showrunner extradorinare, who returned from her honeymoon to launch the series and to this day, hundreds of episodes later, hasn't stopped hustling.  I've worked with both of these incredible women multiple times in my career and brought them together for a conversation about their culture shifting ride with the most famous family in all of tv. Enjoy!