Matt Kunitz
Encyclopedia
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." Kunitz is currently the executive producer on Wipeout, a stunt based competition reality game show he created for ABC.
, 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. The Wipeout format has been sold to more than 25 territories and Endemol
has created an obstacle course in Argentina for those international editions. 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. On July 22, 2009, Wipeout was renewed for a third season. Kunitz explained to The New York Times
that Wipeout “turned out to be a real family show,” and that has led to its success.
On March 26, 2010, Variety
announced a new two year deal between Endemol USA and Kunitz. On June 10, 2010, Variety
announced that Kunitz will executive produce a new series for ABC, "101 Ways to Leave a Gameshow."
On August 15, 2010, Wipeout was renewed for a fourth season. In March of 2011, ABC announced a summer pick up of "101 Ways to Leave a Game Show" In June of 2011, NBC announced the return of Fear Factor
. 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
.
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
programming. In July 2008, the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
dubbed Kunitz "The King of Reality TV." 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 WorldThe Real World
The Real World is a reality television program on MTV originally produced by Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray. First broadcast in 1992, the show, which was inspired by the 1973 PBS documentary series An American Family, is the longest-running program in MTV history and one of the...
, one of the first reality television shows to gain a national audience, and was executive producer of NBC's Fear Factor
Fear Factor
Fear Factor is an American stunt/dare reality game show. The original Dutch version was called Now or Neverland. When Endemol USA and NBC adapted it to the American market in 2001, they changed the name to Fear Factor. The show pits contestants against each other in a variety of stunts for a...
. 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
Dog Eat Dog (game show)
Dog Eat Dog is a Saturday night British game show on BBC One hosted by Ulrika Jonsson, which ran from 14 April 2001 to 2 November 2002. It was devised by David Young, then a BBC producer...
and Late Friday and served as a consultant on Lost
Lost (2001 TV series)
Lost was a reality television show screened in the U.S. and UK in late 2001. It was a game show in a race format where teams raced around the world with few or no resources...
and Treasure Hunters
Treasure Hunters (TV series)
Treasure Hunters is a reality television series on NBC and Global Television in which ten teams of three solve puzzles and complete challenges in hopes of solving the ultimate puzzle and winning the grand prize. Teams travel across the United States and Europe in search of seven "artifacts" which...
. In March 2006, Kunitz left NBC Universal and began a new two year overall deal with, reality powerhouse, Endemol USA, producers of Fear Factor
Fear Factor
Fear Factor is an American stunt/dare reality game show. The original Dutch version was called Now or Neverland. When Endemol USA and NBC adapted it to the American market in 2001, they changed the name to Fear Factor. The show pits contestants against each other in a variety of stunts for a...
, Deal or No Deal
Deal or No Deal
Deal or No Deal is the name of several closely related television game shows, the first of which was the Dutch Miljoenenjacht produced by Dutch producer Endemol. It is played with up to 26 cases with certain sums of money...
, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is a reality television series providing home renovations for less fortunate families and community schools etc...
, and Big Brother
Big Brother (TV series)
Big Brother is a television show in which a group of people live together in a large house, isolated from the outside world but continuously watched by television cameras. Each series lasts for around three months, and there are usually fewer than 15 participants. The housemates try to win a cash...
. 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
The One: Making a Music Star
The One: Making a Music Star was an American reality television series that aired in July 2006 on ABC in the United States, and CBC Television in Canada. The show was hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos, known to Canadian viewers as the host of CBC's The Hour...
.
In 2008 Kunitz was the executive producer of Celebrity Circus
Celebrity Circus (U.S. TV series)
Celebrity Circus is an American version of the Celebrity Circus reality television show based on the Australian television series of the same name originally aired in 2005...
for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. 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. The Wipeout format has been sold to more than 25 territories and Endemol
Endemol
Endemol is an international television production and distribution company based in the Netherlands, with subsidiaries and joint ventures in 23 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Poland,...
has created an obstacle course in Argentina for those international editions. 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. On July 22, 2009, Wipeout was renewed for a third season. Kunitz explained to The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
that Wipeout “turned out to be a real family show,” and that has led to its success.
On March 26, 2010, Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
announced a new two year deal between Endemol USA and Kunitz. On June 10, 2010, Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
announced that Kunitz will executive produce a new series for ABC, "101 Ways to Leave a Gameshow."
101 Ways to Leave a Gameshow
101 Ways to Leave a Gameshow is a British quiz show produced by Endemol for the BBC, hosted by Steve Jones and Nemone. The show sees eight contestants compete to be the winner of a £10,000 prize by picking the right answers to general knowledge questions...
On August 15, 2010, Wipeout was renewed for a fourth season. In March of 2011, ABC announced a summer pick up of "101 Ways to Leave a Game Show" In June of 2011, NBC announced the return of Fear Factor
Fear Factor
Fear Factor is an American stunt/dare reality game show. The original Dutch version was called Now or Neverland. When Endemol USA and NBC adapted it to the American market in 2001, they changed the name to Fear Factor. The show pits contestants against each other in a variety of stunts for a...
. 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
100 People Who Are Screwing Up America
100 People Who Are Screwing Up America is a non-fiction book by Bernard Goldberg that was published in 2005. The book's central idea is to name and blame a long list of specific individuals for making the United States a "far more selfish, vulgar, and cynical place."Goldberg's book denounces many...
.