Mary-Ellis Bunim: Difference between revisions

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'''Mary-Ellis Bunim''' (July 9, 1946 - January 29, 2004) was an [[United States|American]] [[television producer]] and co-creator of [[MTV]]'s ''[[The Real World]]'' and ''[[Road Rules]]''.
'''Mary-Ellis Bunim''' (July 9, 1946 – January 29, 2004) was an [[United States|American]] [[television producer]] and co-creator of [[MTV]]'s ''[[The Real World]]'' and ''[[Road Rules]]''.


==Biography==
==Biography==
A native of Massachusetts, Bunim began her career in daytime dramas. She oversaw more than 2,500 hours of programming as executive producer of ''[[Search for Tomorrow]]'' (1974-1981), ''[[As the World Turns]]'' (1981-1984), ''[[Santa Barbara (TV series)|Santa Barbara]]'' (1984-1987) and ''[[Loving (TV series)|Loving]]'' (1989-1990). She subsequently developed numerous shows in her job as VP of tape programs for New World Entertainment.
A native of Massachusetts, Bunim began her career in daytime dramas. She oversaw more than 2,500 hours of programming as executive producer of ''[[Search for Tomorrow]]'' (1974–1981), ''[[As the World Turns]]'' (1981–1984), ''[[Santa Barbara (TV series)|Santa Barbara]]'' (1984–1987) and ''[[Loving (TV series)|Loving]]'' (1989–1990). She subsequently developed numerous shows in her job as VP of tape programs for New World Entertainment.


Bunim founded Bunim-Murray with business partner [[Jonathan Murray]]. Agent Mark Itkin of the William Morris Agency put the two together to develop a scripted soap opera for MTV. When that was too expensive, they decided to try an unscripted soap and the ''Real World'' was born.
Bunim founded Bunim-Murray with business partner [[Jonathan Murray]]. Agent Mark Itkin of the William Morris Agency put the two together to develop a scripted soap opera for MTV. When that was too expensive, they decided to try an unscripted soap and the ''Real World'' was born.
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<!--{{succession box | title=Executive producer of ''[[Search for Tomorrow]]''| before=Unknown | after=Unknown | years=1974 - 1981}}-->
{{succession box | title=Executive producer of ''[[As the World Turns]]''| before=[[Freddie Bartholomew|Fred Bartholomew]]| after=Robert Calhoun | years=Fall 1981 - October 1984}}
{{succession box | title=Executive producer of ''[[As the World Turns]]''| before=[[Freddie Bartholomew|Fred Bartholomew]]| after=Robert Calhoun | years=Fall 1981 – October 1984}}
{{succession box | title=Executive producer of ''[[Santa Barbara (TV series)|Santa Barbara]]''<br>(with Bridget and Jerome Dobson)| before=[[Bridget and Jerome Dobson]]<br>[[Jeffrey Hayden]] | after=[[Jill Farren Phelps]] | years=October 1984 - November 1987}}
{{succession box | title=Executive producer of ''[[Santa Barbara (TV series)|Santa Barbara]]''<br>(with Bridget and Jerome Dobson)| before=[[Bridget and Jerome Dobson]]<br>[[Jeffrey Hayden]] | after=[[Jill Farren Phelps]] | years=October 1984 – November 1987}}
{{succession box | title=Executive producer of ''[[Loving (TV series)|Loving]]''| before=Joseph Hardy | after=[[Jacqueline Babbin]] | years=December 3, 1989 - April 1990}}
{{succession box | title=Executive producer of ''[[Loving (TV series)|Loving]]''| before=Joseph Hardy | after=[[Jacqueline Babbin]] | years=December 3, 1989 – April 1990}}
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Revision as of 00:31, 13 February 2013

Mary-Ellis Bunim
Born(1946-07-09)July 9, 1946
Northampton, Massachusetts, United States
DiedJanuary 29, 2004(2004-01-29) (aged 57)
Burbank, California, United States

Mary-Ellis Bunim (July 9, 1946 – January 29, 2004) was an American television producer and co-creator of MTV's The Real World and Road Rules.

Biography

A native of Massachusetts, Bunim began her career in daytime dramas. She oversaw more than 2,500 hours of programming as executive producer of Search for Tomorrow (1974–1981), As the World Turns (1981–1984), Santa Barbara (1984–1987) and Loving (1989–1990). She subsequently developed numerous shows in her job as VP of tape programs for New World Entertainment.

Bunim founded Bunim-Murray with business partner Jonathan Murray. Agent Mark Itkin of the William Morris Agency put the two together to develop a scripted soap opera for MTV. When that was too expensive, they decided to try an unscripted soap and the Real World was born. "We knew within 20 minutes of shooting that we had a show," Bunim said.

Her company, Bunim/Murray Productions, spearheaded the reality show genre. Among the numerous other reality programs and reality game show programs that Bunim co-created over the years, include: Road Rules; Love Cruise; Making the Band; The Challenge (formerly known as Real World/Road Rules Challenge and spun off from The Real World and Road Rules); the reality feature film, The Real Cancun; the real-life daily syndication, Starting Over; as well as Fox's smash hit, The Simple Life; etc.

She died in Los Angeles at 57, after a lengthy battle with breast cancer. She is survived by her daughter, Juliana Bunim.[1]

On November 29, 2011, it was announced that Bunim and Murray would be inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in March 2012.

References

  1. ^ "'Real World' co-creator dies". CNN.com. 2004-01-31. Retrieved 2008-04-26.

External links

Preceded by Executive producer of As the World Turns
Fall 1981 – October 1984 		Succeeded by
Robert Calhoun
Preceded by Executive producer of Santa Barbara
(with Bridget and Jerome Dobson)
October 1984 – November 1987 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Joseph Hardy
 Executive producer of Loving
December 3, 1989 – April 1990 		Succeeded by

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