Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato and RuPaul Charles
THE FRANCHISE RuPaul’s Drag Race
As Paramount Global further consolidates its portfolio, the value placed on its 26-time Emmy winner is clear. RuPaul’s Drag Race (and spinoff All the stars) migrated from VH1 to MTV in early 2023, boosting ratings 17 percent. Produced by Charles and his longtime collaborators, World of Wonder’s Bailey and Barbato, the property now offers 15 international versions to streamer Paramount+. Drag Race Mexico released on June 22.
alex baskin
THE FRANCHISE Vander Pump Rules
Fueled by wild public interest in a cheating scandal (see interview below), Vander Pump Rules it achieved series-high ratings and drove Bravo’s strongest viewership in nine years: the first of three reunion specials that garnered 4.6 million viewers over three days. Led by Baskin, who stayed on as showrunner after leaving production company Evolution Media to launch his own shingle, 32 Flavors Entertainment, the decade-long series is suddenly the most relevant cable show not written by Taylor Sheridan.
Jack Burgess, Tim Harcourt and Stephen Lambert
THE FRANCHISE the traitors
Studio Lambert delivered this spin on a Dutch format to the UK and US last year, making it the rare reality franchise to launch in multiple territories at the same time. Part Eldest brother and part Cluethe US version of the traitorsHosted by Alan Cumming, it brought a much-needed hit to the NBCUniversal broadcast, Peacock, generating buzz and earning a quick renewal despite the absence of a disclosed audience.
Andy Cohen
THE FRANCHISE The real housewives
Most of the series that populate the strong title of 10 real housewives The franchises are produced by different tiles, but they all have one thing in common. Cohen, the former Bravo exec who left the C-suite to host and produce a talk show Watch What Happens live with Andy Cohenremains an active EP throughout the Housewives universe. He keeps the lights on at Bravo and keeps Cohen busy. Cycle 14 of the New York iteration opens on July 16 with an all-new cast.
adam divello
THE FRANCHISE sunset sale
In reality and without a script, broadcast success is most often awarded to competition shows. sunset sale break that trend. Produced by DiVello’s Done and Done Productions, docudrama sunset sale took the #1 spot on Netflix’s top 10 as soon as its sixth season premiered in May. Your success may already have doubled. Late 2022 spin-off I sell the OC it was quickly renewed for a second and third season.
charles king
THE FRANCHISE I love marriage
After the success of Love and Marriage: Huntsville, OWN has greenlit spin-offs set in Washington, DC and Detroit from King’s Kingdom Reign Entertainment. With an ever-increasing chunk of OWN real estate, and his footprint now doubling down on Warner Bros. Discovery streamer Max, it’s no surprise King is leaning heavily into his genre. He talks about his own series and his competition on the podcast. reality with the king.
Zachary Klein and Christian Sarabia
THE FRANCHISE below deck
Yes, there is a lot of Bravo on this list. But the network has the ability to make shows that launch other shows, and before the recent vander pump Renaissance, below deck he was the best dog. He also has the distinction of launching four successful spin-offs: Beneath the Mediterranean deck, sailing yacht below deck, below deck and adventure below deck — all from Klein and Sarabia at 51 Minds Entertainment.
Casey Krilley and Jo Sharon
THE FRANCHISE The best chef
They have other food shows (see: Netflix’s enduring hit He got over it!), but the producers of Magical Elves, Kriley and Sharon, have the king of all culinary television on The best chef. Its recent 20th cycle was a celebration of the franchise’s relevance, drawing previous winners and finalists from 11 of the 30 international versions for a global showdown. Up next: the daunting task of reinventing the series with a new host. Previous winner Kristen Kish replaces Padma Lakshmi, who retired after 19 seasons.
julie pizzi
THE FRANCHISE The challenge
A 1998 spin-off of the Bunim/Murray Productions landmark entries The real world and Traffic rules, The challenge it is technically the longest-running reality competition on American television. (I’m sorry, Survivor!) The fact that an MTV show has evolved so much so late in its life cycle is a testament to its relevance. In the last year alone, Bunim/Murray president Pizzi has streamed spin-offs (Paramount+’s The challenge: world championship) and broadcast (CBS’ The Challenge: United States).
sharp matte
THE FRANCHISE 90 day fiance
Consumers curious as to why Warner Bros. Discovery would load its unscripted linear offerings onto its prestigious streamer need look no further than Sharp Entertainment. 90 day fiance. The highest-rated series on TLC, it boasts an ever-growing set of spin-offs and was one of the main casts in the recent release of Max.
This story first appeared in the July 14 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here for subscribe.
