Exclusive: After four years at Verve, veteran unscripted television agent Bill Thompson has joined Vital Artists Agency, reuniting with former colleague Phil Irven.
At Verve, Thompson launched an unscripted division in 2018 and oversaw that area for the agency. His departure followed the July hire of former ICM agent Andy Stabile as Verve Partner and Head of Unscripted. Thompson met with a couple of companies and went with upstart Vital, which was launched in late 2020 by Rebel Entertainment Partners’ Irven, April Yuan and Cal Boyington. They were joined by veteran unscripted executive Nicole Zien earlier this year.
During his Verve tenure, Thompson built a department that packaged and sold over 100 hours of programming including Pants on Fire (Disney +) American Dreams (Discovery +) and the upcoming USA series Barmageddon with Blake Shelton. On the talent side, Thompson brokered Leah Remini’s seven-figure People Puzzler game show deal and the reboot of Kat Von D’s LA Ink.
At Verve, Thompson launched an unscripted division in 2018 and oversaw that area for the agency. His departure followed the July hire of former ICM agent Andy Stabile as Verve Partner and Head of Unscripted. Thompson met with a couple of companies and went with upstart Vital, which was launched in late 2020 by Rebel Entertainment Partners’ Irven, April Yuan and Cal Boyington. They were joined by veteran unscripted executive Nicole Zien earlier this year.
During his Verve tenure, Thompson built a department that packaged and sold over 100 hours of programming including Pants on Fire (Disney +) American Dreams (Discovery +) and the upcoming USA series Barmageddon with Blake Shelton. On the talent side, Thompson brokered Leah Remini’s seven-figure People Puzzler game show deal and the reboot of Kat Von D’s LA Ink.
- 9/16/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Good Clean Fun, the production company behind VH1’s Barely Famous and TBS’ Meet The Smiths among others, has promoted Nick Lee to president and shored up its executive ranks with the appointment of five staffers. The announcement was made today by founder and CEO Jason Carbone. Lee moves into his new role after serving as the company's head of development and executive producer. He will continue to be an executive producer on the company's production slate and will…...
- 6/22/2015
- Deadline TV
VH1 has commissioned a presentation for a comedy reality series created, executive produced by and starring actresses Erin Foster and Sara Foster, daughters of David Foster. The show explores the hypocrisy of reality TV by centering around two sisters (Erin & Sara Foster) who say they would never do a reality show, but are being filmed by a camera crew. 3 Arts Entertainment and Good Clean Fun are producing, with 3 Arts’s Oly Obst, Kimberly Carver and Josh Lieberman executive producing alongside Good Clean Fun’s Jason Carbone. Last year, Erin, repped by 3 Arts and CAA, was a writer on NBC’s The New Normal. Sara, managed by Luber Roklin, co-starred on the CW’s 90210.
- 12/5/2013
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Phoenix -- Arizona restaurateur Amy Bouzaglo became an instant Internet celebrity last month after demonstrating an impressively short temper on a reality TV show that helps reform struggling businesses.
The episode of "Kitchen Nightmares" drew more than a million viewers on YouTube, and Bouzaglo's vitriolic rants became popular fodder on Twitter and Facebook.
So it should surprise no one that her next step was to announce she was shopping around her own reality TV show.
These days, head butting, table flipping, belly slapping, hair pulling, smack talking and other behavior generally considered impolite have become a tested strategy for reality TV fame, as seen in the proliferation of such shows as "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo," `'Basketball Wives" and the "Real Housewives" franchise.
Some reality "stars" have become brands of their own after churning out self-help books, hair products, cocktail lines and flavored water. And the next generation of more shocking,...
The episode of "Kitchen Nightmares" drew more than a million viewers on YouTube, and Bouzaglo's vitriolic rants became popular fodder on Twitter and Facebook.
So it should surprise no one that her next step was to announce she was shopping around her own reality TV show.
These days, head butting, table flipping, belly slapping, hair pulling, smack talking and other behavior generally considered impolite have become a tested strategy for reality TV fame, as seen in the proliferation of such shows as "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo," `'Basketball Wives" and the "Real Housewives" franchise.
Some reality "stars" have become brands of their own after churning out self-help books, hair products, cocktail lines and flavored water. And the next generation of more shocking,...
- 6/4/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
TBS and TNT announced on Wednesday that they are about to become the first national networks to live stream on-air content across multiple platforms 24/7.
The networks made the announcement during TNT and TBS's annual upfront presentation in New York, noting that their content will be streamed through their websites and a pair of newly created apps: Watch TNT and Watch TBS.
"Starting this summer, subscribers will be able to watch TBS and TNT live –- anytime, anywhere, on multiple devices," Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks, told the upfront audience. Additional platforms for TBS and TNT's live streaming will be added by the end of the year.
TNT's coverage of the NBA games, TBS's coverage of Major League Baseball and both network's coverage of the Ncaa will be available for live streaming as well.
Audiences will soon have the opportunity to watch some new content from some...
The networks made the announcement during TNT and TBS's annual upfront presentation in New York, noting that their content will be streamed through their websites and a pair of newly created apps: Watch TNT and Watch TBS.
"Starting this summer, subscribers will be able to watch TBS and TNT live –- anytime, anywhere, on multiple devices," Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks, told the upfront audience. Additional platforms for TBS and TNT's live streaming will be added by the end of the year.
TNT's coverage of the NBA games, TBS's coverage of Major League Baseball and both network's coverage of the Ncaa will be available for live streaming as well.
Audiences will soon have the opportunity to watch some new content from some...
- 5/15/2013
- by Jaimie Etkin
- Huffington Post
We already know TNT is bringing Sean Bean, Eric Dane, and the mind of Frank Darabont back to our TVs, but at today’s Turner Upfront, TNT and TBS announced some more big names developing potential shows for the networks — including Steven Spielberg, Sylvester Stallone, Steve Carell, Jamie Foxx, Elizabeth Banks, Diablo Cody, Denis Leary, Dick Wolf, and Nicholas Sparks. The loglines:
TNT Scripted Series:
• Portal House: This project is the story of a group of young scientists who, while investigating what they believe to be a haunted house, stumble upon a portal into the time-space continuum. Things then take...
TNT Scripted Series:
• Portal House: This project is the story of a group of young scientists who, while investigating what they believe to be a haunted house, stumble upon a portal into the time-space continuum. Things then take...
- 5/15/2013
- by Mandi Bierly
- EW - Inside TV
Own: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today that the new docu-series Beverly’s Full House, featuring supermodel Beverly Johnson, will premiere in February. It will be a “humorous and heartfelt” look at what happens when three generations of Johnson’s family — her daughter, son-in-law and their newborn daughter — comes together under one roof in her Palm Springs home. The series is produced for Own by Good Clean Fun; Jason Carbone, Nick Lee and Johnson executive produce.
- 11/16/2011
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Exclusive: Style Network has renewed breakout reality hit Tia & Tamera for a second season. The docu-series starring twin sisters Tia and Tamera Mowry premiered Aug. 8, posting the network’s most-watched series launch in history with 750,000 viewers. The following week, the series shot up to 920,000 viewers to log Style’s most watched telecast ever. Production on the second season, which will chronicle Tia’s new role as a working mom and Tamera’s life as a newlywed, is slated to begin later this year. “We are excited to continue following Tia and Tamera’s journeys both personally and professionally,” Style president Salaam Coleman Smith said. “Being a part of their major life transformations, including the fun, dramatic and private moments, has resonated with our viewers who come to Style for the inspirational and aspirational stories.” After five weeks on the air, Tia & Tamera is tracking to become Style’s highest-rated series ever across all key demos,...
- 9/15/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Exclusive: Twelve years after their sitcom Sister, Sister ended its run on ABC, identical twin sisters Tia and Tamera Mowry are headlining another series together. The Style Network has given a six-episode order to Tia & Tamera Take 2, a docu-series about the current lives of the former child stars, with Tia going through her first pregnancy and Tamera planning her wedding. The series, which will premiere in late summer, stems from the Tia & Tamera Take 2 reality special the network aired in July. "The feedback from their special on Style last year was incredibly positive and showed us how much our viewers identify with these women, their humor and optimistic outlook on life and their daily journey to balance successful professional pursuits with their equally important personal and social lives,” said Style president Salaam Coleman Smith. Tia & Tamera Take 2 is produced by Good Clean Fun (Harry Loves Lisa), with...
- 2/10/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
TV Land has greenlighted "Harry Loves Lisa," a six-episode docusoap starring Lisa Rinna and husband Harry Hamlin.
The series, executive produced by Jason Carbone (MTV's "Run's House"), revolves around the duo as they navigate family and their celebrity-driven Hollywood lifestyle.
The show is slated to air in the fall as part of TV Land's Prime original-series block.
Rinna and Hamlin, married more than 11 years, re-entered the spotlight as contestants on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," Rinna on Season 2 and Hamlin on Season 3.
TV Land has been ramping up original production. It also recently ordered "Retired at 35" and "Hot in Cleveland," its first scripted pilots.
The deal for "Harry" was brokered by CAA.
The series, executive produced by Jason Carbone (MTV's "Run's House"), revolves around the duo as they navigate family and their celebrity-driven Hollywood lifestyle.
The show is slated to air in the fall as part of TV Land's Prime original-series block.
Rinna and Hamlin, married more than 11 years, re-entered the spotlight as contestants on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," Rinna on Season 2 and Hamlin on Season 3.
TV Land has been ramping up original production. It also recently ordered "Retired at 35" and "Hot in Cleveland," its first scripted pilots.
The deal for "Harry" was brokered by CAA.
- 1/11/2010
- by By Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
MTV has greenlighted a slate of eight new "aspirational, enterprising and empowering" series for 2009 as part of a push to ramp up the network's original programming.
Among them are spinoffs of "Run's House" and "Rob & Big"; a show from Nick Lachey about performing arts students in Cincinnati; another from Johnny Knoxville starring a professional daredevil; and a series that goes behind the scenes at College¬Humor.com. Also on the slate are a Donald Trump-produced series that will attempt to reform party girls, another exec produced by Matt Stone and Trey Parker that's based on the "How's Your News?" short films and a college-set series produced by students.
"These new series reflect Generation 'Why Not?' -- living, working and playing on their own terms, 'adventure capitalists' if you will, pursuing a variety of thrill-seeking, 2.0, express-yourself enterprises," said Brian Graden, president of entertainment at MTV Networks Music Group.
Tony Disanto,...
Among them are spinoffs of "Run's House" and "Rob & Big"; a show from Nick Lachey about performing arts students in Cincinnati; another from Johnny Knoxville starring a professional daredevil; and a series that goes behind the scenes at College¬Humor.com. Also on the slate are a Donald Trump-produced series that will attempt to reform party girls, another exec produced by Matt Stone and Trey Parker that's based on the "How's Your News?" short films and a college-set series produced by students.
"These new series reflect Generation 'Why Not?' -- living, working and playing on their own terms, 'adventure capitalists' if you will, pursuing a variety of thrill-seeking, 2.0, express-yourself enterprises," said Brian Graden, president of entertainment at MTV Networks Music Group.
Tony Disanto,...
- 12/16/2008
- by By Kimberly Nordyke
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Celebrity couple Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin are ready to expose their lives to the cameras in an unscripted project for TV Land.
The network has ordered a pilot presentation of a project that would follow the lives of the husband-and-wife duo along with their two daughters.
The project is executive produced by Jason Carbone.
"Ever since I started here (in May 2006), I've been out in the marketplace looking for a celebrity couple with dynamic stories to tell, and when I met Lisa and Harry, it made sense," said Keith Cox, TV Land's executive vp development and original programming.
Should TV Land go forward with the project, said to have generated interest from a few cable networks, it will go straight to a half-hour series pickup targeted for a 2009 debut, Cox said.
The network has ordered a pilot presentation of a project that would follow the lives of the husband-and-wife duo along with their two daughters.
The project is executive produced by Jason Carbone.
"Ever since I started here (in May 2006), I've been out in the marketplace looking for a celebrity couple with dynamic stories to tell, and when I met Lisa and Harry, it made sense," said Keith Cox, TV Land's executive vp development and original programming.
Should TV Land go forward with the project, said to have generated interest from a few cable networks, it will go straight to a half-hour series pickup targeted for a 2009 debut, Cox said.
- 12/4/2008
- by By Kimberly Nordyke
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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