This article is about the reality show. For the fictional government agency, see The Shop (Stephen King)

The Shop (Stephen King)

The Shop is a fictional, top secret United States government agency in the writings of Stephen King. It plays a central role as the antagonist in the novel Firestarter, the miniseries Golden Years, and the film The Lawnmower Man, and is an element of the novel The Tommyknockers...

.
The Shop is a reality show on 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....

 about a barbershop

Barber

A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....

 located in the heart of Jamaica, Queens

Jamaica, Queens

Jamaica is a neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, United States. It was settled under Dutch rule in 1656 in New Netherland as Rustdorp. Under British rule, the Village of Jamaica became the center of the "Town of Jamaica"...

. The shop is owned by music producer Cory Rooney

Cory Rooney

Cory Rooney is an American songwriter, record producer, and C.E.O. of Cory Rooney Group. He has written, produced, and developed many hits and careers for artists such as Mariah Carey, Mary J...

, who has produced for some of the big names out there like hits for Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige

Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...

, Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...

, Destiny's Child

Destiny's Child

Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...

 and more. The Shop never misses a topic that goes on in the hip hop

Hip hop

Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...

 world and pop culture. Rappers stop through on a regular basis to get reactions to their latest tracks. Customers come to learn about what are on the barber’s minds. The shop is the truth: nothing goes by unnoticed.

As they say in the opening of the show: "If they ain't talking about you in the barbershop, they probably ain't talking about you at all."

The Shop is where performers come for cuts.

The series had a sterling cast of barbers, who all have aspirations in the music business. There is Deb, the only female barber; Tim, The Manager of the Shop "who doesn't really manage," according to Cory Rooney; Ted, the handsome one of the bunch who is always finely put together and can also dance with the best of them; Pop, the voice of reason in the shop with the engaging smile; Bob, the shop musician with dreams of producing hits; and Van, the man of confrontation and one million opinions, who wants to use this platform to "go Hollywood."

Review-wise, the series made its mark on the airwaves. The New York Times

The New York Times

The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...

, certainly a tough critic, said in its review, "A reality show set in a barbershop is a remarkably promising idea. Into this noble tradition, then, comes "The Shop" on MTV. It's irresistible." only aired for one season.

Ratings-wise, the show also delivered strong numbers for MTV. Its final episode reached over 2 million viewers, which for cable television is a strong showing. The full season ranked number one in its time period (Thu 10:30-11p) among P12-34 versus cable competition. The full season of The Shop reached 41 million viewers.

The show also had a stellar list of behind-the-scenes personnel. The series is executive produced by Tommy Mottola

Tommy Mottola

Thomas Daniel "Tommy" Mottola is an American music executive, co-owner of Casablanca Records in a joint venture with the Universal Music Group. He is the ex-husband of Mariah Carey and is married to Mexican singer Thalía...

 and Jeb Brien

Jeb Brien

Jeb Brien is an award winning Executive Producer who has produced and directed television series and specials for some of the most talented artists of a generation, helping to forge their careers through careful imaging and innovative productions....

 for Mottola Entertainment; Matt Morchower and David Kaufman for Varsity Entertainment; and Rushion McDonald. Tony Disanto

Tony DiSanto

Tony DiSanto is a founding partner and co-owner, along with Liz Gateley, of DiGa,a studio and production company hybrid staked by IAC mogul Barry Diller and Electus founder Ben Silverman....

 and Liz Gateley

Liz Gateley

Liz Gateley currently serves as Senior Vice President, Series Development, for . Liz is also a founding partner and co-owner, along with Tony DiSanto, of DiGa, a studio and production company hybrid...

are Executive Producers for MTV. Currently though there has been no talks about a second season.