Cris Abrego is an American television producer, writer, and former CEO o
Endemol Shine North America Abrego is now the Chairman of Banijay America Group and president and CEO of Endemol Shine Holdings.
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.
Career
After graduation from Mountain View High School, Abrego attended California State University, Fullerton. After graduation, he joined Bunim-Murray, working on ''
The Real World'' and ''
Road Rules'' television shows.
While working for Bunim-Murray, Abrego freelanced as a coordinating producer for ''
Fear'' and ''
Making the Band''.
In addition, he was the co-creator and executive producer for a reality version of the movie
The Cannonball Run.
In 2002, Abrego created Brass Ring; a production company responsible for ''
Next Action Star
''Next Action Star'' is an American reality television program shown on NBC from June to July 2004.
Synopsis
The series featured 14 finalists (7 women and 7 men) vying for 2 spots as the Next Action Star in their own feature film. Each week, t ...
'', ''
Surf Girls'' and ''
The Hitchhiker Chronicles''.
Soon after, he created 51 Pictures.
In 2003, Abrego's 51 Pictures merged with
Mark Cronin's Mindless Entertainment to form
51 Minds Entertainment
51 Minds Entertainment (or Fifty One Minds Entertainment) is a production company specializing in reality TV, known for their "celebreality" programs on VH1. It was created in 2004 as a merger between Cris Abrego's 51 Pictures (formerly Brass Rin ...
. The two met through Abrego's agent.
Together, they created ''
The Surreal Life'' for the
WB network. Soon after, the team created a string of "Celebreality" shows for
VH1
VH1 (originally an initialism of Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network based in New York City and owned by Paramount Global. It was created by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Commun ...
, including ''
Strange Love'', ''
My Fair Brady
''My Fair Brady'' is an American reality television series on VH1 that followed Christopher Knight, who played Peter Brady on '' The Brady Bunch'', and Adrianne Curry, who won the first season of '' America's Next Top Model'', a year after they ...
'', ''
The Surreal Life Fame Games'', ''
Celebrity Paranormal Project'', ''
Flavor of Love'', ''
I Love New York'', ''
New York Goes to Hollywood
''New York Goes to Hollywood'' is a reality VH1 series that consists of eight, 30-minute-episodes. It premiered on August 4, 2008. It is a spin-off of the ''I Love New York'' series, features Tiffany "New York" Pollard as she tries to find an a ...
'', ''
Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School'', ''
Rock of Love with Bret Michaels'', ''
I Love Money'', ''
America's Most Smartest Model
''America's Most Smartest Model'' is an American reality television show that aired on VH1. The hosts were Ben Stein and Mary Alice Stephenson. The show attempted to find brains behind beauty in a series of challenges, and would grant the winner ...
'', ''
Rock of Love Girls: Charm School 2'', ''
La La's Full Court Life
''La La's Full Court Life'' is an American reality television series on VH1. The series debuted on August 22, 2011, and is the follow up series to ''La La's Full Court Wedding''. ''La La's Full Court Life'' chronicles the life of Alani Vasquez a ...
'', ''
Real Chance of Love'', ''
For the Love of Ray J'', ''
Daisy of Love'', ''
Megan Wants a Millionaire'', and ''
Bridal Plasty''.
In 2014, Abrego became co-chairman and co-CEO of Endemol North America along with Charlie Corwin. In January 2016, he was named Co-Chairman, Endemol Shine Americas. In November 2016, Abrego became CEO of Endemol Shine North America, and Chairman of Endemol Shine Americas.
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Abrego, Cris
Living people
Cal State Fullerton Titans wrestlers
Year of birth missing (living people)
Television producers from California
People from El Monte, California
American reality television producers
Henry Crown Fellows