Hirschorn Departs As VH1’s ‘Celebreality’ King
Olde Elevated Into Network’s Lead Original Programming Role
By Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 1/18/2008 4:04:00 AM
Sometime soon Michael Hirschorn will dish about projects from his new production company Ish Entertainment.
In the meantime, Hirschorn, who drove VH1 to consistent ratings growth over the past six year by embracing the “celebreality” phenom, is departing the network, but has inked a first-look deal for three shows with MTV Networks Music and Logo Group.
VH1’s ex-executive vice president of original programming is taking VH1 senior vice president of celebrity talent development Stella Stolper with him as they form Ish, which will focus primarily, but not exclusively, on non-scripted programming. Chris Choun, VH1 vice president of production management/executive from 2001-05, will lead Ish’s production. Choun was co-executive producer of the 2007 Video Music Awards for MTV.
Back at VH1, the network elevated Jeff Olde and Ben Zurier to help fill the gaps. Olde is now executive vice president, original programming and production, while Zurier is executive vice president strategy for VH1, VH1 Classis and MHD, MTVN’s high-definition music service.
Elsewhere, VH1 has green-lighted three new reality series. A female follow-up to ego trip’sThe White Rapper Show and Celebracadabra, a magic competition series are both slated to bow in April. Another, in which contestants aspire to be P. Diddy’s assistant, will likely launch this summer.
Under Hirschorn’s direction, VH1 rang up 22 straight quarters of ratings advances through “I Love The…” and Best Week Ever franchises, as well as such celebrity-tinged fare as The Salt n' Pepa Show, Hogan Knows Best and Flavor of Love, and its many spin-offs, notably I Love New York.
“The word ‘brilliant’ should be reserved for very special examples … like Michael Hirschorn,” MTVN Music Group president of entertainment Brian Graden said in a statement. “He possesses one of the fastest, most vibrant minds I’ve ever had the pleasure to witness working. Where some fail to even master a single medium, Michael went from being a magazine editor to mastering network-TV development in far less than a lifetime. An unparalleled listener, it must be Michael’s ability to take it all in that allows him to unerringly output universally appealing content that speaks so perfectly to our collective culture.”
Noted Hirschorn, who came to VH1, after a career in journalism that included stints as editor-in-chief of Inside.com and Spin magazine, in his own statement: “I owe to Brian most of what I understand about TV, so I’m thrilled that I will be able to continue working with and learning from him in this new venture, while gaining the opportunity to deliver shows to a wider range of networks. And I’m eager to continue my relationship, albeit in a new form, with my successor, Jeff Olde, who has been instrumental in delivering so many of VH1’s hits over the past five years.”
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