America's Next Producer Contestants Announced!
America's Next Producer by Roger Erickson for TV Guide Network
Ten producer hopefuls will battle it out this summer on TV Guide Network's new reality show America's Next Producer hosted by Ananda Lewis (The Ananda Lewis Show).
The prize is $100,000 cash, a deal with TV Guide Network and a Hollywood production office.
The contestants must create compelling TV concepts in different genres each week for judges David Hill (Chairman & CEO, FOX Sports Television Group) and Matt Roush (Senior Television Critic, TV Guide magazine). The competition starts full screen on TV Guide Network Wednesday, July 18 at 8pm/7c.
From thousands of entries, here are the 10 who made the cut:
• Bradley Gallo (The Problem Solver): 29, Long Island, NY — This self-proclaimed "problem solver that talks too much" is a freelance producer based out of New York City and thinks he has this competition in the bag. He holds a directing certificate from New York University.
• Daniel Hosea (The News): 33, New York City — Hosea's a CNN writer and producer hoping to make his own news as the next big thing in comedy or drama production. He produces NBC Weather Plus and writes package intros for American Morning.
• Jessica Iaccarino (The Drama Queen): 32, Huntingon Station, NY — A true New Yorker and docu-reality fanatic, this professed drama queen wants to add her own drama to the list of TV hits. Iaccarino is a supervising producer at Speed TV.
• Lindsay Liles (The Surprise): 24, West Hollywood — Liles may be the youngest person in Style Network's production department for Clean House, but she hopes to prove the competition's naysayers wrong with her ambition and know how.
• Adam Mutterperl (The Control Freak): 32, New York City — A dabbler in comedic writing, directing and performing, Mutterperl's a self-described "control freak" who wants to show off his skills to the world. He dreams of producing his own TV comedy.
• Sharon Nash (The Veteran): 46, Alta Dena, CA — This seasoned television vet has 25 years under her belt and her own recipe for professional success: tough skin, ambition and an eye for talent. She's worked on national primetime shows to local TV news and aspires to not only be America's Next Producer but also America's Next Mogul.
• Steve "Schliz" Schleinitz (The Marine): 32, Los Angeles — A former United States Marine, Schleinitz served his country for four years and, later, the porn industry while producing the Girls Gone Wild series. Schleinitz calls himself a Hollywood ladies man who will win over the judges with his hot ideas.
• Evie Shapiro (The Competitor): 36, Los Angeles — As a Daily Show and HBO producer, Shapiro can lead a crew but doesn't always play well with others. She may just surprise everyone with her talent and leadership skills in this competition.
• Gwen Uszuko (The Newcomer): 22, Denver — Don't discount the youngest competitor in the bunch. This Notre Dame grad won TV Guide Network's online video contest last month with her personal bio submission and also works for FOX 31 in Denver.
• Alphonso "Zo" Wesson (The Entrepreneur): 46, Cincinnati — This high profile director and producer's resume is extensive, including Oprah and Gayle's Big Adventure and MTV's Making the Band reality series. Wesson has over 20 years of experience and serves as the owner, director and producer of Cincinnati-based ZoMotion Pictures.
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The last contestant is ZO WESSON from Cincinnati, someone I know. I have been on his show VIEWFINDER twice in Cincinnati and he deserves a big ass break.
