Mark Cronin
Encyclopedia
Biography
Cronin graduated from Upper Darby High SchoolUpper Darby High School
Upper Darby High School is a four-year public high school located in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, United States, as part of the Upper Darby School District. UDHS is also the oldest high school in Delaware County, PA, having been established in 1895...
and the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, where he earned a degree in Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
. He spent five years working as an engineer in research and marketing. His first job in entertainment was moonlighting as a freelance joke writer for an Ace Award winning newsbreak spoof on Nick at Nite
Nick at Nite
Nick at Nite is the nighttime Cable network that broadcasts over the channel space of Nickelodeon on Sundays from 8.p.m.-7.am., Monday through Fridays from 9 p.m.-7 a.m. and Saturdays from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. . Though it shares channel space with Nickelodeon, A.C. Nielsen Co...
called Global Village News.
Cronin switched careers permanently when he joined Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
’s nationally syndicated Saturday night television show The Howard Stern Show (also known as the infamous Channel 9 Show) as a staff writer in 1991. His responsibilities expanded to include scripting entire episodes, producing celebrity interviews, and producing comedic field pieces. He went on to contribute to Stern’s national radio show and serve as producer/writer on his television and video projects, including Stern's New Year's Rotten Eve pay per view special — the most watched entertainment pay per view event of all time. Cronin also scripted an entire E! Entertainment Television special for Stern’s book Miss America.
In 1995, he moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to become head writer for MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
’s dating show Singled Out
Singled Out
Singled Out was a game show that ran on MTV from 1995-1998. Each episode featured a group of 50 men and a group of 50 women competing for a date with one main contestant of the opposite sex.The original hosts were Chris Hardwick and Jenny McCarthy...
with Chris Hardwick
Chris Hardwick
Christopher Ryan "Chris" Hardwick is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, musician, podcaster, television personality, and voice artist...
and Jenny McCarthy
Jenny McCarthy
Jennifer Ann "Jenny" McCarthy is an American model, comedian, actress, author, activist, and game show host. She began her career in 1993 as a nude model for Playboy magazine and was later named their Playmate of the Year. McCarthy then parlayed her Playboy fame into a successful television and...
. He eventually was promoted to show-runner for two seasons.
In 1996, Cronin joined the Fox network, supervising production for their first prime-time game show, Big Deal
Big Deal (game show)
Big Deal is a television game show that aired in the United States for six weeks in 1996 on FOX. It was hosted by Mark DeCarlo and packaged by Stone-Stanley Productions, with swing group Big Bad Voodoo Daddy as the house band....
. In 1997, he returned to late night and served as supervising producer for The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show
The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show
The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show was a late night syndicated television talk show hosted by Keenen Ivory Wayans. The show premiered August 4, 1997 and was cancelled in March 1998. The show had an opening monologue and comedy sketches. His in house band was an all girl band called Ladies of the Night...
.
In 1997 Cronin founded Mindless Entertainment with then-partner Gary Auerbach
Gary Auerbach
Dr. Gary Alan Auerbach, DC, was born April 24, 1948 in Monticello, New York, to Norman and Judith Auerbach. He received his BS in accounting in 1971 from the University of Arizona in Tucson, and worked for Coopers & Lybrand in San Francisco. He received his Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from...
, who left the company in 2001. The inspiration for the company name came from Cronin's mother, who called TV "that mindless entertainment". Mindless' initial production slate included The X Show
The X Show
The X Show was a magazine, variety, and interview/talk program that aired on FX Network in the US from May 1999 to April 2001. Running time was originally one hour, but this was later reduced to a half-hour. The show was 'guy-themed' much like a TV equivalent of Maxim magazine , though seldom as...
and The New Movie Show with Chris Gore
The New Movie Show with Chris Gore
The New Movie Show with Chris Gore was a movie review television program hosted by Chris Gore and aired on FX in which a panel of critics shared opinions of newly released films.-References:...
for FX
FX
- Entertainment :* FX , an international cable/satellite television network * F/X, a movie set in the world of special effects* F/X: The Series, a television program based on the movie...
; Beat the Geeks
Beat the Geeks
Beat the Geeks is an American comedy game show that aired on Comedy Central from 2001 to 2002. The show was rerun on The Comedy Network in Canada and reruns currently air on G4techTV Canada and Prime in New Zealand....
for Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
; America's Most Talented Kids for PAX
Pax
Pax may refer to:* Pax , the Roman goddess of peace- Organizations :* PAX Association in Poland* Pax Forlag, a Norwegian publishing house* PAX Network, a U.S. television network now known as ION Television...
; Ultimate Film Fanatic for Independent Film Channel
Independent Film Channel
The Independent Film Channel is an American cable TV network that airs independent film and related programming. IFC programming includes commercially interrupted feature-length films, original documentaries, shorts, animated series, original series, acquired series, and content exclusively for...
; and Cram
Cram
Cram may refer to:* Cram , a surname, and list of notable persons having the surname* Cram , a TV game show that aired on the Game Show Network* Cram , a fictional type of bread in J. R. R...
and Extreme Dodgeball
Extreme Dodgeball
Extreme Dodgeball is an American Sports Entertainment television show that debuted on Game Show Network in 2004. It has also been shown in the UK on Challenge.-Standard rules:...
for GSN
Game Show Network
The Game Show Network is an American cable television and direct broadcast satellite channel dedicated to game shows and casino game shows. The channel was launched on December 1, 1994. Its current slogan is "The World Needs More Winners"...
.
In 2004 Cronin’s Mindless Entertainment teamed up with Cris Abrego
Cris Abrego
Cris Abrego is an American television producer and writer.-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....
’s 51 Pictures to form 51 Minds Entertainment
51 Minds Entertainment
51 Minds Entertainment is production company specialising in reality TV, known for their "celebreality" programs on VH1. In 2005 the company signed a two year, seven series production deal with VH1. The company has been credited in helping revive VH1 ratings during this time...
— the company that produces VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
’s lineup of reality television. Anchored by the "Celebreality" flagship show The Surreal Life
The Surreal Life
The Surreal Life is a reality television series that sets a select group of past-their-prime celebrities and records them as they live together in Glen Campbell's former mansion in the Hollywood Hills for two weeks...
the company went on to create related shows including Strange Love
Strange Love
Strange Love is a reality series featuring Brigitte Nielsen and Flavor Flav that aired on VH1. Sparked by their on-screen romance in the third season of VH1's The Surreal Life, it is a spin-off that focused solely on Brigitte and Flav...
, with Flavor Flav
Flavor Flav
William Jonathan Drayton, Jr. , better known by his stage name Flavor Flav, is an American rapper and television personality who rose to prominence as a member of the rap group Public Enemy...
and Brigette Nielsen; My Fair Brady
My Fair Brady
My Fair Brady is a celebrity reality television show on VH1 that follows 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 met and fell in love on the reality show The Surreal Life.The show...
with Christopher Knight
Christopher Knight
Christopher Anton Knight is an American actor best known for playing Peter Brady on the 1970s series, The Brady Bunch. He has since gone on to become a successful businessman and enjoyed a semi-resurgence in the public eye with television appearances in the 2000s. His father, Edward Knight, was...
and Adrianne Curry; The Surreal Life Fame Games; Flavor of Love
Flavor of Love
Flavor of Love is an American reality television dating game show parody starring Flavor Flav of the rap group Public Enemy.While not a direct spin-off, the show was a result of Brigitte Nielsen and Flavor Flav's failed relationship on Strange Love, as well as The Surreal Life...
; I Love New York
I Love New York (TV series)
I Love New York is a reality television series, which first aired on VH1. It features Tiffany Pollard in a quest to find her true love. The series is a spin off of another relationship competition series, Flavor of Love, which featured Pollard as a finalist in two consecutive seasons...
; and Rock of Love with Bret Michaels
Bret Michaels
Bret Michaels is an American musician, actor, director, screenwriter, producer and reality television personality. He first gained fame as the lead vocalist of the glam metal band Poison. Besides his career as lead singer, he has several solo albums to his credit, as well as one chart single...
.
In 2008, Endemol
Endemol
Endemol is an international television production and distribution company based in the Netherlands, with subsidiaries and joint ventures in 23 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Poland,...
USA acquired a controlling interest in 51 Minds in a deal reported to be worth upward of $200 million.
Productions
- America's Most Smartest ModelAmerica's Most Smartest ModelAmerica's Most Smartest Model is an American reality television show that aired on VH1. The hosts are Ben Stein and Mary Alice Stephenson. The show attempts to find brains behind beauty in a series of challenges, and will grant the winner $100,000, a feature in an upcoming V05 ad, and the title...
- America's Most Talented Kids
- America's Next Top Zombie Idol
- Beat the GeeksBeat the GeeksBeat the Geeks is an American comedy game show that aired on Comedy Central from 2001 to 2002. The show was rerun on The Comedy Network in Canada and reruns currently air on G4techTV Canada and Prime in New Zealand....
- Brandy and Ray J: A Family BusinessBrandy and Ray J: A Family BusinessBrandy and Ray J: A Family Business is an American reality series airing on VH1, and starring Brandy and her younger brother Ray J. The series premiered on April 11, 2010.- Overview :...
- Bret Michaels: Life As I Know ItBret Michaels: Life As I Know ItBret Michaels: Life As I Know It is a follow-up to the reality series Rock of Love. The reality docu-series is about Bret Michaels and his family. Filming of the series began before Michaels' health troubles, and filming was suspended after his hospitalization...
- BridalplastyBridalplastyBridalplasty is an American reality TV show where 12 women compete to win a dream wedding and plastic surgery procedures. The show premiered on November 28, 2010 on the E! network.-Premise:...
- Celebrity Paranormal ProjectCelebrity Paranormal ProjectCelebrity Paranormal Project is a paranormal reality television series that originally aired from October 22, 2006 to November 1, 2007 on VH1. The show is currently on hiatus, so it is unknown if VH1 will re-air the show and begin with a second season...
- Charm SchoolCharm School (TV series)Charm School is a reality television series airing on VH1; a spin-off of Flavor of Love created by executive producers Cris Abrego and Mark Cronin. The first season, called Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School, is hosted by comedian Mo'Nique and features thirteen contestants from the first two...
- CramCramCram may refer to:* Cram , a surname, and list of notable persons having the surname* Cram , a TV game show that aired on the Game Show Network* Cram , a fictional type of bread in J. R. R...
- Daisy of LoveDaisy of Lovethumb|right|Daisy de la Hoya attending the premiere of VH1's "Daisy of Love" at My House, Hollywood, CA on April 26, 2009Daisy of Love is a reality television dating show which stars Daisy de la Hoya, the runner-up of the VH1 reality dating show Rock of Love 2...
- Extreme DodgeballExtreme DodgeballExtreme Dodgeball is an American Sports Entertainment television show that debuted on Game Show Network in 2004. It has also been shown in the UK on Challenge.-Standard rules:...
- Famous FoodFamous FoodFamous Food is a VH1 reality series that premiered 10 July 2011. It features seven celebrities as they work to open and take ownership in a restaurant in Hollywood owned by Mike Malin and Lonnie Moore of The Dolce Group...
- Flavor of LoveFlavor of LoveFlavor of Love is an American reality television dating game show parody starring Flavor Flav of the rap group Public Enemy.While not a direct spin-off, the show was a result of Brigitte Nielsen and Flavor Flav's failed relationship on Strange Love, as well as The Surreal Life...
- For the Love of Ray JFor the Love of Ray JFor the Love of Ray J is a dating show on VH1 featuring hip hop singer Ray J. The program has a format similar to Flavor of Love, I Love New York, and Rock of Love. One source notes that it "will be produced by the same geniuses" as those shows, 51 Minds...
- Frank the Entertainer in a Basement AffairFrank the Entertainer in a Basement AffairFrank The Entertainer in a Basement Affair is a VH1 reality television show starring Frank Maresca also known as "The Entertainer," who previously starred in I Love New York, I Love Money, and I Love Money 2. Unlike other dating shows, the contestants live with Frank and and his parents in a house...
- Gotti's Way
- Hurt Bert
- I Love MoneyI Love MoneyI Love Money is an American reality television series airing on VH1, and is a spin-off of Flavor of Love, Charm School, I Love New York, Rock of Love, Real Chance of Love, For the Love of Ray J, Daisy of Love and Megan Wants a Millionaire. Former contestants on these shows compete in physical and...
- I Love New YorkI Love New York (TV series)I Love New York is a reality television series, which first aired on VH1. It features Tiffany Pollard in a quest to find her true love. The series is a spin off of another relationship competition series, Flavor of Love, which featured Pollard as a finalist in two consecutive seasons...
- La La's Full Court LifeLa La's Full Court LifeLa La's Full Court Life is a natural follow-up to the VH1 series La La's Full Court Wedding which documented the road to marriage for TV personality La La Vazquez and NBA star Carmelo Anthony, La La's Full Court Life shows how the couple is adjusting after tying the knot...
- La La's Full Court WeddingLa La's Full Court WeddingLa La's Full Court Wedding is about Former MTV VJ and television personality La La Vazquez tied the knot with NBA star Carmelo Anthony in July 2010, and this series tracks all the preparations and festivities leading to the big day...
- Mario Lopez: Saved By the BabyMario Lopez: Saved By the BabyMario Lopez: Saved By the Baby was a reality series on VH1 about Mario Lopez and his girlfriend Courtney Mazza preparing for the arrival of a baby.-Season 1: 2010-2011:...
- Megan Wants a Millionaire
- Money HungryMoney HungryMoney Hungry is a reality TV weight loss competition show based around the concept of bet dieting, with twelve teams of two competing for a $100,000 prize made up from team contributions.-Contestants:-Weigh-ins and eliminations:...
- My Fair BradyMy Fair BradyMy Fair Brady is a celebrity reality television show on VH1 that follows 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 met and fell in love on the reality show The Surreal Life.The show...
- The New Movie Show with Chris GoreThe New Movie Show with Chris GoreThe New Movie Show with Chris Gore was a movie review television program hosted by Chris Gore and aired on FX in which a panel of critics shared opinions of newly released films.-References:...
- New York Goes to HollywoodNew York Goes To HollywoodNew York Goes to Hollywood is a reality VH1 series that consists of eight, 30-minute-episodes. New York Goes to Hollywood premiered on August 4, 2008. This spin-off of the I Love New York series, features Tiffany "New York" Pollard as she tries to find an acting job in Hollywood, California...
- New York Goes to WorkNew York Goes to WorkNew York Goes to Work is a reality VH1 series that first premiered on May 4, 2009. This follow-up of New York Goes to Hollywood stars Tiffany "New York" Pollard as she tries to find a regular job. The jobs are selected by fans from a list of three possible jobs for each individual episode...
- Ochocinco: The Ultimate CatchOchocinco: The Ultimate Catch-Season 1: 2010:...
- Real and Chance: The Legend HuntersReal and Chance: The Legend HuntersReal and Chance: The Legend Hunters is an American reality television that follows brothers Ahmad Givens and Kamal Givens , from VH1's Real Chance of Love, as they hunt for mythical creatures such as: The Mega Shark, Bigfoot, and Hogzilla...
- Real Chance of LoveReal Chance of LoveReal Chance of Love is an American reality television dating game show featuring two brothers Ahmad Givens and Kamal Givens , of the rap group The Stallionares, and former contestants on I Love New York, who are looking for love....
- Rock of Love
- Rock of Love: Charm School
- Strange LoveStrange LoveStrange Love is a reality series featuring Brigitte Nielsen and Flavor Flav that aired on VH1. Sparked by their on-screen romance in the third season of VH1's The Surreal Life, it is a spin-off that focused solely on Brigitte and Flav...
- The Surreal LifeThe Surreal LifeThe Surreal Life is a reality television series that sets a select group of past-their-prime celebrities and records them as they live together in Glen Campbell's former mansion in the Hollywood Hills for two weeks...
- The Surreal Life: Fame GamesThe Surreal Life: Fame GamesThe Surreal Life: Fame Games is a reality television series that was originally broadcast on the VH1 cable network. A spin-off of the VH1 show, The Surreal Life, the show assembles ten alumni of the show's 6 prior seasons to compete in a ten-week competition that takes place in Las Vegas, with the...
- Ton of CashTon of CashTon of Cash is a show on VH1 that premiered on August 17, 2011. It is hosted by Dhani Jones. The show centres around a group of contestants trying to haul $1,000,000 from L.A. to Las Vegas. It currently is shown on Thursday mornings at 2AM Eastern on VH1. The show was moved to the later timeslot...
- Ultimate Film Fanatic
- Ultimate Zoo
- Who Wants to Be Governor of California: The Debating Game
- The X Life
- The X ShowThe X ShowThe X Show was a magazine, variety, and interview/talk program that aired on FX Network in the US from May 1999 to April 2001. Running time was originally one hour, but this was later reduced to a half-hour. The show was 'guy-themed' much like a TV equivalent of Maxim magazine , though seldom as...