The production company that brought the world “Jersey Shore” and “Party Down South” has a new owner. “American Idol” producers FremantleMedia has acquired a majority stake in 495 Productions, further strengthening its North American operation. Also read: Vice and Fremantle to Launch Online Food Network 495, founded in 2006 by SallyAnn Salsano, has also produced series such as Spike TV's “Tattoo Nightmares,” MTV's dating series “Friendzone” and “Repo Games,” as well as numerous “Jersey Shore” spinoffs. “495 Productions is undeniably one of the Us's leading reality production companies with a unique approach to formatted character-driven reality shows which have proved compelling TV in.
- 3/26/2014
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
The consolidation of independent unscripted production companies continues, with FremantleMedia buying a 75% stake in SallyAnn Salsano‘s 495 Prods. with the option to acquire the remaining 25%g in the future. Founded in 2006 by Salsano, 495 Prods. is behind such unscripted series as MTV’s Jersey Shore and spinoffs Snooki And Jwoww, The Show With Vinny and The Pauly D Project; Spike TV’s Tattoo Nightmares, which FremantleMedia distributes internationally, and Repo Games; MTV’s dating show Friendzone and the daytime syndicated talk show The Real. The company also produces Jerks With Cameras for MTV, Tattoos After Dark for Oxygen and Cmt breakout hit Party Down South. “Our ambition is to continue to grow 495 Productions in the U.S. and to broaden its global footprint even further through our extensive distribution and production network,” FremantleMedia CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz said. This is the latest in a rash of acquisitions involving U.S. and European indie production companies.
- 3/26/2014
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Reality TV veteran Stephanie Lydecker has been named Svp of Development for Asylum Entertainment. In her new role, Lydecker will oversee unscripted development for Asylum and will also develop for the company’s scripted business. Lydecker comes to Asylum from 495 Productions where she served as Head of Development. Her credits there include Jersey Shore, The Pauly D Project, Shot At Love, Repo Games, More To Love, and Wedding Wars, among others. On the film side, Lydecker co-wrote with Jesse Russell her first feature screenplay, Like Lightning, which is currently in pre-production.
- 9/17/2013
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
The fourth annual Produced By Conference runs June 8-10 on the Sony lot in Culver City and last month set its speakers for the event sponsored by the Producers Guild in association with the International CES. The workshops and panels confirmed today include producer-centric topics from new media and global finance to distribution, marketing and brand identity. Here’s the program: Passion Projects: Making Films Everyone Says Will Never Get Made Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, American Gangster) and Peter Berg (Battleship, Hancock, Friday Night Lights) discuss how a producer convinces a studio – and ultimately, an audience – to take a risk on an unconventional or challenging story, and how to stake out your own creative ground between “tentpole” productions. TV’S “Mega Producers”: Storytelling Across Multiple Series And Networks Shonda Rhimes (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Private Practice,” “Scandal”), SallyAnn Salsano (“Jersey Shore,” “Repo Games,” “Nail Files”) and Bill Lawrence (“Cougar Town,...
- 4/26/2012
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
One of the oddest reality game shows returned Wednesday night with the Season 2 premiere of "Repo Games" (Wed., 11 p.m. Et on Spike). The basic premise is that real-life repo men give people the opportunity to win their cars back via a trivia game.
Show creator SallyAnn Salsano once described the show as "it's like 'Jaywalking' meets 'Jeopardy!'" She told the "New York Daily News" in an interview that "I genuinely feel like I'm helping people. They have a 50/50 chance of keeping their cars, which they're losing."
Before the game can start, however, the repo men have to run the gauntlet of some seriously angry car-owners. One guy even pulled a gun on Tom De Tone, who said "everything in my life" flashed right before his eyes as it went down. According to Zap2It the crew has security guys standing by in case the situation gets out of control.
Show creator SallyAnn Salsano once described the show as "it's like 'Jaywalking' meets 'Jeopardy!'" She told the "New York Daily News" in an interview that "I genuinely feel like I'm helping people. They have a 50/50 chance of keeping their cars, which they're losing."
Before the game can start, however, the repo men have to run the gauntlet of some seriously angry car-owners. One guy even pulled a gun on Tom De Tone, who said "everything in my life" flashed right before his eyes as it went down. According to Zap2It the crew has security guys standing by in case the situation gets out of control.
- 3/29/2012
- by Catherine Lawson
- Huffington Post
One of the oddest reality game shows returned Wednesday night with the Season 2 premiere of "Repo Games" (Wed., 11 p.m. Et on Spike). The basic premise is that real-life repo men give people the opportunity to win their cars back via a trivia game.
Show creator SallyAnn Salsano once described the show as "it's like 'Jaywalking' meets 'Jeopardy!'" She told the "New York Daily News" in an interview that "I genuinely feel like I'm helping people. They have a 50/50 chance of keeping their cars, which they're losing."
Before the game can start, however, the repo men have to run the gauntlet of some seriously angry car-owners. One guy even pulled a gun on Tom De Tone, who said "everything in my life" flashed right before his eyes as it went down. According to Zap2It the crew has security guys standing by in case the situation gets out of control.
Show creator SallyAnn Salsano once described the show as "it's like 'Jaywalking' meets 'Jeopardy!'" She told the "New York Daily News" in an interview that "I genuinely feel like I'm helping people. They have a 50/50 chance of keeping their cars, which they're losing."
Before the game can start, however, the repo men have to run the gauntlet of some seriously angry car-owners. One guy even pulled a gun on Tom De Tone, who said "everything in my life" flashed right before his eyes as it went down. According to Zap2It the crew has security guys standing by in case the situation gets out of control.
- 3/29/2012
- by Catherine Lawson
- Aol TV.
The last time Zap2it talked to Sally Ann Salsano about "Repo Games," she recounted the tale of the caught-on-tape gun battle that went down during Season 1 of the Spike reality series. The premise: "contestants" -- real life people who are facing repossession of their cars -- answer trivia questions. If they get them right, they get to keep them. If not.
But, says the executive producer, the show is even more action-packed this season -- which kicks off Wednesday night on Spike at 11 p.m. Et.
"The people are more prone to being threatening to the hosts," she tells us.
Don't worry, they've got security at all times. As for other changes, Salsano says that since the show has already aired for one season repo men Josh Lewis and Tom DeTone found themselves being recognized more often.
"Now that [repossessees] recognize the hosts, they're acting like they're on 'The Price is Right.
But, says the executive producer, the show is even more action-packed this season -- which kicks off Wednesday night on Spike at 11 p.m. Et.
"The people are more prone to being threatening to the hosts," she tells us.
Don't worry, they've got security at all times. As for other changes, Salsano says that since the show has already aired for one season repo men Josh Lewis and Tom DeTone found themselves being recognized more often.
"Now that [repossessees] recognize the hosts, they're acting like they're on 'The Price is Right.
- 3/28/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
“Repo Games” host and resident tough guy Josh Lewis is ready to kick some serious ass ... and we’re not talking missed car payment ass ... we mean hard core Tna wrestling ass. TMZ has learned ... the Spike TV host and real life repo man has struck a deal to get in the ring with Tna wrestling in the very near future. It's unclear if Josh will actually wrestle a match ... but we're told things will "definitely get physical.
- 3/17/2012
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Filed under: TV Previews, TV News
Though the concept of Spike TV's 'Repo Games' is slightly disconcerting -- real-life repo men give people the opportunity to win their cars back via a basic trivia game -- it actually makes sense once you think about it. After all, the contestants were getting their vehicles repossessed anyway, why not give 'em a chance to get them paid off instead?
Show creator SallyAnn Salsano told AOL TV in April, "People say to us, 'You must feel so bad because you do have to take some of the cars.' We've been about 50/50, I would say about 50 percent of the people have won Repo Games and 50 percent have lost. That being said, when we show up at their house, they've already lost. It can't get any worse. So it's like we're just giving them a chance to win. Nobody, when we leave,...
Though the concept of Spike TV's 'Repo Games' is slightly disconcerting -- real-life repo men give people the opportunity to win their cars back via a basic trivia game -- it actually makes sense once you think about it. After all, the contestants were getting their vehicles repossessed anyway, why not give 'em a chance to get them paid off instead?
Show creator SallyAnn Salsano told AOL TV in April, "People say to us, 'You must feel so bad because you do have to take some of the cars.' We've been about 50/50, I would say about 50 percent of the people have won Repo Games and 50 percent have lost. That being said, when we show up at their house, they've already lost. It can't get any worse. So it's like we're just giving them a chance to win. Nobody, when we leave,...
- 8/16/2011
- by Jean Bentley
- Aol TV.
Photo by Jeff Lewis (chicagophotoshop.com)
People who love reality TV should be as familiar with SallyAnn Salsano as Mark Burnett. First of all she’s produced big name shows like The Bachelorette, Dance Your Ass Off and A Shot at Love. But her real claim to fame is bringing the kids from the Jersey Shore into your living room. In a recent exclusive interview she talked about creating the controversial series and the other shows on her production company’s slate.
SallyAnn talked about a career-changing call that she got from a cable network executive, “There was a woman at VH1 named Shelley Tatro that called me and goes, ‘You’re the biggest Guido I know. We need to do a show on the Guido.’” And with that Jersey Shore was born.
An exhaustive casting process for the ideal cast of characters to share a Shore house began. Having...
People who love reality TV should be as familiar with SallyAnn Salsano as Mark Burnett. First of all she’s produced big name shows like The Bachelorette, Dance Your Ass Off and A Shot at Love. But her real claim to fame is bringing the kids from the Jersey Shore into your living room. In a recent exclusive interview she talked about creating the controversial series and the other shows on her production company’s slate.
SallyAnn talked about a career-changing call that she got from a cable network executive, “There was a woman at VH1 named Shelley Tatro that called me and goes, ‘You’re the biggest Guido I know. We need to do a show on the Guido.’” And with that Jersey Shore was born.
An exhaustive casting process for the ideal cast of characters to share a Shore house began. Having...
- 8/11/2011
- by Pop Culture Passionistas
- popculturepassionistas
Spike TV has announced pickups of four new series and the renewal of its original series Repo Games for 2012. Repo Games, which premiered in April, is currently averaging 1 million viewers for new episodes. Repo men/trivia masters Josh Lewis and Tom DeTone (pictured) will return for at least 20 new episodes in season 2.
According to Spike’s statement, the four new series follow “a distinctive theme of genuine men in high pressure situations where the stakes are real.” (I love genuine men! Stakes I could give or take.)
In World’s Worst Tenants, professional evictor Todd Howard confronts the dirtiest and...
According to Spike’s statement, the four new series follow “a distinctive theme of genuine men in high pressure situations where the stakes are real.” (I love genuine men! Stakes I could give or take.)
In World’s Worst Tenants, professional evictor Todd Howard confronts the dirtiest and...
- 8/10/2011
- by Annie Barrett
- EW - Inside TV
Man-centric cable network Spike TV has renewed "Rep Games" and announced four new series aimed at young men, covering such subjects as evictions, digging for artifacts, bounty hunting in New Orleans, and police stings. The network ordered a 20-episode second season of "Repo Games," the successful game show from "Jersey Shore" creator SallyAnn Salsano in which down-on-their-luck contestants try to win back their cars by answering trivia questions. The new season will debut next year. The new shows include “American Digger,” “Big Easy Justice,” “World’s Worst Tenants,” and “Undercover Stings.” All will...
- 8/10/2011
- by Tim Molloy
- The Wrap
Spike TV has greenlighted four new reality series: Undercover Stings from Cops creator John Langley, about cops orchestrating sting operations; Big Easy Justice from Al Roker and Jennifer Lopez's production companies, about a New Orleans bounty hunter; American Digger from the producers of Spike's hit Auction Hunters, about a relic hunter digging up people's properties for histotic artifacts; and World's Worst Tenants from Zoo Prods., about a professional evictor. Additionally, Spike has ordered 20 more episodes of the SallyAnn Salsano-produced Repo Games. Sharon Levy, Spike's Evp original series, said that the new shows are part of the network's push to expand its core men 18-34 demo to the older men 34-49 demographic that was launched with such recent series as Auction Hunters, Bar Rescue and Repo Games. In primetime, Spike's median age is currently 40, up from 38 last year. The median age for the network's highest-rated unscripted original, Auction Hunters,...
- 8/10/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Filed under: TV Schedules, TV News
When 'Jersey Shore' mastermind SallyAnn Salsano pitched the idea for her new reality show, 'Repo Games,' she knew it would be controversial. After all, it follows two brawny repo men as they offer contestants a chance to win back the vehicles they're there to repossess.
But little did they know they would actually be in physical danger. A few months ago, a crazed man actually shot at the production team while they were filming an episode in Las Vegas.
Thankfully no one was hurt, and police arrested the suspect and charged him with attempted murder. The episode featuring the terrifying event airs on Spike tonight, but the network released a sneak peek at the shooting.
The incident will be addressed in the second episode of tonight's 'Repo Games' double header (airing at 11:30Pm Et), but you can...
When 'Jersey Shore' mastermind SallyAnn Salsano pitched the idea for her new reality show, 'Repo Games,' she knew it would be controversial. After all, it follows two brawny repo men as they offer contestants a chance to win back the vehicles they're there to repossess.
But little did they know they would actually be in physical danger. A few months ago, a crazed man actually shot at the production team while they were filming an episode in Las Vegas.
Thankfully no one was hurt, and police arrested the suspect and charged him with attempted murder. The episode featuring the terrifying event airs on Spike tonight, but the network released a sneak peek at the shooting.
The incident will be addressed in the second episode of tonight's 'Repo Games' double header (airing at 11:30Pm Et), but you can...
- 7/12/2011
- by Jean Bentley
- Aol TV.
The host of " Repo Games " got a whole new lease on life after that shootout -- in fact, he hit the Vegas strip One Day after the incident to celebrate ... by ferociously motorboating some chick. Josh Lewis repossessed the tatas of a woman (consensually, we're told) at Pure nightclub -- and based on the picture, he couldn't be happier to be alive. As we previously reported, Lewis was caught in the middle of a shootout...
- 7/12/2011
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Sally Ann Salsano sleeps approximately 3 to 4 hours a night. This is because she is one of the most hands-on producers in reality TV, unable to stay away from the sets of her shows. And that attention to detail pays off. "Jersey Shore," Salsano's spin on "The Real World" is a runaway hit -- scoring some of the biggest ratings numbers in MTV history and making stars out of heretofore unknowns Snooki, JWoww, Sammi, Ronnie, Vinny, Pauly and Deena.
On Tuesday (July 12), another one of Salsano's projects, "Repo Games," returns to Spike TV. Zap2it recently talked to the producer about some of the show's more harrowing moments and the elements that make a reality show a success.
For folks who haven't watched it yet, could you explain "Repo Games?"
SallyAnn Salsano: It's literally crazy. It's the only game show where you've lost before you've won. Basically we show up...
On Tuesday (July 12), another one of Salsano's projects, "Repo Games," returns to Spike TV. Zap2it recently talked to the producer about some of the show's more harrowing moments and the elements that make a reality show a success.
For folks who haven't watched it yet, could you explain "Repo Games?"
SallyAnn Salsano: It's literally crazy. It's the only game show where you've lost before you've won. Basically we show up...
- 7/11/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
A bullet ripped a Massive hole through the side of the " Repo Games " van when a crazed gunman opened fire on the reality show crew back in April ... and now TMZ has footage of the frightening incident. Terrified crew members can be seen running for their lives ... when 40-year-old Carlos Barron emerged from his Las Vegas home with a pistol on April 25 and began shooting ... all because he felt the production was too close to his house.
- 7/3/2011
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Spike TV has picked up six unscripted pilots from such producers as SallyAnn Salsano (Jersey Shore), who is behind Pawn Games, a pawn shop-set version of her hit for the network Repo Games; Ben Silverman; Tom Forman; David Page; and companies Zodiak USA and Zoo Prods. “All feature real men in real high-stakes situations with great take-away information,” said Spike's Evp original series Sharon Levy. The orders are part of Spike's effort to broaden its target male audience from the core men 18-34 to men 18-49 demos. The network is ready to pick up to series all of the pilots that turn up well. Spike's upcoming reality series include Bar Rescue, InkMasters and Car Boss as well as the returning Deadliest Warrior and Auction Hunters. Here is a list of Spike's newly picked up pilots: The Sheriff With 15 years of experience in the intelligence community on three continents, Tony Schiena...
- 5/11/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Tune in alert for Josh's first ever double repo. Repo Games on Spike ramps up the action as dim Crystal is about to get her Beamer -- and her Corvette all repo'd, but can she answer three questions right to save her wheels? Find out in this preview from .Repo Games,. airing Tuesday, May 10 (8:00 . 8:30 Pm, Et/Pt) Reality got a bit touch and go for SallyAnn Salsano's production crews in Nevada, as one unwitting Repo Games contestant, Carlos Barron, was arrested for allegedly opening fire on the "Repo Games" reality TV crew that had their van parked in his neighborhood. Police say Barron, 40, became angry after a van that belonged to a film crew...
- 5/10/2011
- by April MacIntyre
- Monsters and Critics
"Jersey Shore" creator SallyAnn Salsano continues her roll of TV reality shows that tap into the viewers' sensitivities with "Love Handles," one of Lifetime's newly announced super-sized batch of reality shows for 2011-2012.
"In each episode," Lifetime's President Nancy Dubuc tells THR of Salsano's new show, "One or both members of the couple go through the weight loss process and have to ask themselves the tough question of should they stay together."
Well, that's not at all terrifying, is it? Salsano and her production company have a knack for tapping into people's insecurities or topics people would rather sweep under the carpet, i.e. young Italian-Americans boozing it up at The Shore in "Jersey Shore" or having one's car repossessed in Spike TV's "Repo Games."
"We have a strong point of view, and we're not afraid to share it," Salsano tells Zap2it about her production company's shows. "Like...
"In each episode," Lifetime's President Nancy Dubuc tells THR of Salsano's new show, "One or both members of the couple go through the weight loss process and have to ask themselves the tough question of should they stay together."
Well, that's not at all terrifying, is it? Salsano and her production company have a knack for tapping into people's insecurities or topics people would rather sweep under the carpet, i.e. young Italian-Americans boozing it up at The Shore in "Jersey Shore" or having one's car repossessed in Spike TV's "Repo Games."
"We have a strong point of view, and we're not afraid to share it," Salsano tells Zap2it about her production company's shows. "Like...
- 5/3/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Days before a man was accused of opening fire on the crew of "Repo Games," creator SallyAnn Salsano talked to TheWrap about the prospect of people getting violent over losing their cars. The show, in which real repo men (left) let people answer trivia questions to try to keep their cars from being repossessed, debuts tonight on Spike TV. See also: 'Rep Games' Makes Losing Your Car Seem Fun! (Video) In an interview with Salsano, who is also the executive producer of "Jersey Shore," we asked if anyone involved with "Repo" has been...
- 4/26/2011
- The Wrap
Spike TV premieres "Repo Games," its new reality TV game show on Tuesday, April 26. New York born and Jersey seasoned SallyAnn Salsano is the vivacious and very funny reality TV producer and mastermind behind the hit MTV series "Jersey Shore." Her latest show tails two real repo men, Tom DeTone and Josh Lewis, who applied for the hosting job of a new Spike series that she cooked up and hopes to take all over the country. The premise is simple, people who have fell behind in car payments and are set to lose their vehicles are given a second chance to not only win back their car by answering a series of questions correctly, but also have...
- 4/26/2011
- by April MacIntyre
- Monsters and Critics
Spike TV premieres "Repo Games," its new reality TV game show on Tuesday, April 26.
Hatched from the same minds behind MTV's "Jersey Shore," the show follows two very real repo men, Tom DeTone and Josh Lewis, as they give people a chance to not only win back their car by answering a series of questions correctly, but also have their cars paid off.
"I hate to sound like such a Pollyanna about it like I'm changing America," executive producer, SallyAnn Salsano, tells Zap2it. "But it is kind of like you never know. Your luck could turn around any single day, but you really don't know, and for a lot of these people, it's like the fact that we pay off their car when they win -- and it may seem like not much to a working person -- but like someone who doesn't now have to worry about spending 500 bucks every month,...
Hatched from the same minds behind MTV's "Jersey Shore," the show follows two very real repo men, Tom DeTone and Josh Lewis, as they give people a chance to not only win back their car by answering a series of questions correctly, but also have their cars paid off.
"I hate to sound like such a Pollyanna about it like I'm changing America," executive producer, SallyAnn Salsano, tells Zap2it. "But it is kind of like you never know. Your luck could turn around any single day, but you really don't know, and for a lot of these people, it's like the fact that we pay off their car when they win -- and it may seem like not much to a working person -- but like someone who doesn't now have to worry about spending 500 bucks every month,...
- 4/26/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Filed under: Features, TV Previews
SallyAnn Salsano is fully aware of how ridiculous her new show, 'Repo Games,' sounds.
"This show is so wrong it's right, you know what I mean? It comes totally back around," she told AOL TV. "It's so good, I can't even tell you."
'Repo Games' (premieres Tuesday, April 26, 8Pm Et on Spike) follows two real-life repo men, Josh Lewis and Tom DeTone, as they offer the owners of actual vehicles up for repossession the chance to win their cars back via a basic trivia game.
Salsano, otherwise known as the creator of 'Jersey Shore,' describes the series as such: "It's kind of like repo meets 'Cash Cab' meets 'Jeopardy!' meets 'Cops' meets Jaywalking, and then give it a couple of drinks."
Yep, sounds kind of amazing to us, too.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments...
SallyAnn Salsano is fully aware of how ridiculous her new show, 'Repo Games,' sounds.
"This show is so wrong it's right, you know what I mean? It comes totally back around," she told AOL TV. "It's so good, I can't even tell you."
'Repo Games' (premieres Tuesday, April 26, 8Pm Et on Spike) follows two real-life repo men, Josh Lewis and Tom DeTone, as they offer the owners of actual vehicles up for repossession the chance to win their cars back via a basic trivia game.
Salsano, otherwise known as the creator of 'Jersey Shore,' describes the series as such: "It's kind of like repo meets 'Cash Cab' meets 'Jeopardy!' meets 'Cops' meets Jaywalking, and then give it a couple of drinks."
Yep, sounds kind of amazing to us, too.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments...
- 4/26/2011
- by Jean Bentley
- Aol TV.
Finally, a TV show that brings the proper levity to these grim economic times. “Repo Games,” from the brilliant minds who brought the world “Jersey Shore,” premieres on Spike TV on April 26, giving contestants a chance to win their own cars back from imminent repossession if they correctly answer a few trivia questions. Catch a sneak peek of the series below, as real-life repo men Josh Lewis and Tom DeTone make financially struggling people jump through humiliating hoops in order to keep their property…err, offer folks a golden opportunity to turn...
- 4/19/2011
- The Wrap
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