Cris Abrego
| Cris Abrego | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Television producer, Writer |
Cris Abrego is an American television producer, writer and CEO of Endemol USA.
Early life
Abrego grew up in El Monte, California. He was a wrestler at California State University, Fullerton before graduating and moving to Los Angeles to work on reality television shows.[1]
Career
After graduation,from Mountain View High School, Abrego joined Bunim-Murray, working on The Real World and Road Rules television shows.[1] While working for Bunim-Murray, Abrego freelanced as a coordinating producer for Fear and Making the Band.[1] In addition, he was the co-creator and executive producer for a reality version of the movie The Cannonball Run.[1]
In 2002, Abrego created Brass Ring; a production company responsible for Next Action Star, Surf Girls and The Hitchhiker Chronicles.[1] Soon after, he created 51 Pictures.[1]
In 2003, Abrego's 51 Pictures merged with Mark Cronin's Mindless Entertainment to form 51 Minds Entertainment. The two met through Abrego's agent.[1] Together, they created The Surreal Life for the WB network. Soon after, the team created a string of "Celebreality" shows for VH1, including Strange Love, My Fair Brady, The Surreal Life Fame Games, Celebrity Paranormal Project, Flavor of Love, I Love New York, New York Goes to Hollywood, Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School, Rock of Love with Bret Michaels, I Love Money, America's Most Smartest Model, Rock of Love Girls: Charm School 2, La La's Full Court Life, Real Chance of Love, For the Love of Ray J, Daisy of Love, Megan Wants a Millionaire, and Bridal Plasty.
In 2008, Endemol USA acquired 51 Minds in a deal reported to be worth "upward of $200 million."[2]
In 2013, Abrego and his company began producing the murder mystery reality competition series Whodunnit?.[3]
On October 7th, 2013 Abrego was announced as the new CEO of Endemol USA, replacing David Goldberg.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Becker, Anne (July 22, 2007). "The Celebreality Duo: The creators of The Surreal Life franchise keep on rocking the reality-TV world". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
- ↑ Adalian, Josef (April 1, 2008). "Endemol lands reality house". Variety. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (February 6, 2013). "ABC Orders New Summer Reality Series 'Whodunnit?' from 'CSI' Creator Anthony E. Zuiker – Update". TV by the Numbers. Zap2it. Retrieved August 20, 2013.