Fox hires ‘Naked and Afraid,’ ‘Curiosity’ vet to replace Mike Darnell as reality chief
While Fox may have brought in David Hill for a while in an effort to measure and oversee the production of “American Idol” and “The X Factor,” they were still looking for that ultimate replacement for the reality TV icon known as Mike Darnell. While the man may have brought us such flops as “The Choice” and “The Swan,” he also did help to create some of the biggest hits in the history of the genre.
Today, the network confirmed that they have brought in their new boss in Simon Andreae, who previously held the title at the Discovery Channel of Senior Vice President of Development and Production, West Coast. He was responsible in part for the development of one of the network’s new hits in “Naked and Afraid,” and he also brought the powerful documentary series “Curiosity” to the air. Basically, he has shown a knowledge of taking on both serious and silly unscripted fare over the years, which works well for trying to bring Fox a great mixture of programming in the future.
In a statement, Fox’s programming head in Kevin Reilly explained why Andreae was the right fit for what the network is trying to do:
“This was a highly sought-after role in town, and given FOX’s legacy in groundbreaking unscripted entertainment, we were looking for a particular caliber of executive – and we found the perfect fit in Simon,” said Reilly. “Not only is Simon known for innovative thinking, he’s a dynamic leader who has been a producer and a network executive on both sides of the pond, and he has the energy and drive to open a new chapter in FOX unscripted.”
Meanwhile, Andreae himself expressed gratitude for getting the opportunity to take on one of the best gigs of its kind on TV:
“I’m very grateful to Kevin and his team for giving me this opportunity. My intention is to help build on FOX’s rich heritage of risk and innovation and to help support and extend its range of category-defining shows and world-leading talent.”
What do you think about this news: Is it a good hire on Fox’s part? Be sure to share your thoughts below!
Photo: Fox