Television Career
Kunitz was supervising producer of The Real World, 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 Wednesday-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 2011, ABC announced a summer pick up of "101 Ways to Leave a Game Show" In June 2011, NBC announced the return of Fear Factor. NBC ordered 10 hours of the series to return in the fall.
After six years at NBC Universal and six at Endemol, It was announced on March 20, 2012 that Kunitz would join FremantleMedia North America in a multi-year overall deal with the company behind Fox’s American Idol and The X Factor and NBC’s America's Got Talent to develop and produce new unscripted shows.
Kunitz was named number 69 on Bernard Goldberg's list of 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America.
Read more about this topic: Matt Kunitz
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