Brian Graden
Brian Graden | |
---|---|
Born | March 23, 1963 |
Education | Oral Roberts University (BA) Harvard University (MPA) |
Occupation | Media executive |
Brian Graden (born March 23, 1963) is an American television executive.
Early life and education
Graden grew up in Hillsboro, Illinois,[1] and graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1981. He graduated from Oral Roberts University[1] in 1985 with a degree in business, and later graduated with an MBA from Harvard University.[2]
Career
Fox Network
Graden began working in television, ultimately becoming a senior vice president at Foxlab, Fox's alternative-programming unit, where he oversaw shows like COPS[3] and America's Most Wanted.[4][5][2][6][1]
South Park (Comedy Central)
In 1995, he hired Trey Parker and Matt Stone to create a video Christmas card after seeing their animated short The Spirit of Christmas.[7][1][8] This led to the hit video “Jesus vs. Santa.”[1] Parker and Stone decided to further develop their characters and pitch a show to Fox.[7] When the network decided not to pursue Stone’s and Parker’s animated series South Park, Graden left Fox and became an executive producer for the series.[7][1][9][10] It was picked up by Comedy Central.[7]
South Park celebrated its 25th anniversary in August 2022 with a concert in Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheater.[11] It was a three-hour, 30-song event with Trey Parker and Matt Stone, performances from Primus and Ween, and a musical cameo from two members of Rush.[11][12][13]
MTV Networks
In November 1997, Graden joined MTV as executive vice president of programming.[14][15] Under the role, Graden was responsible for all of MTV’s programming.[15] This was a new structure for the network as it had previously had four programming executives.[15][16]
In 2001, MTV partnered with groups including the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) to run a campaign that examined hate crimes.[17]
In 2002, Graden was promoted to president of programming for MTV and MTV2.[18] He was responsible for creative content on all platforms, and oversaw music, news and specials, production, talent and artist relations, animation, scheduling, and series development.[10]
In the spring of 2002 he was asked to assess VH1, which was struggling.[1] After his review, he was put in charge of restructuring the network and was named President Entertainment, MTV and VH1.[1][10] This made him additionally responsible for developing the programming strategy and development slate for VH1, as well as the creative and business developments of MTV, MTV2, CMT, and Logo.[1][10]
In 2005, Graden helped oversee the launch of Logo, the first 24-hour, completely ad-supported gay and lesbian cable network.[19][20][21][22] Graden was also president of Logo.[19][20]
In the April 2007 issue of Out, Graden was ranked the number ten most powerful gay person in America.[23] He has also been named one of the most influential executives in reality programming.[24]
Brian Graden Media
In 2009, Graden announced he was stepping down as the president of entertainment at MTV Networks in order to focus on writing a musical, Limbo, and two books.[1] In 2013, he founded Brian Graden Media (BGM) and serves as CEO.[25][4][26] The company’s original works have aired on Oxygen, Logo, YouTube, Netflix, and other networks.[4][27] This includes Finding Prince Charming (Logo), Lance Loves Michael: The Lance Bass Wedding Special (E!), Walk of Shame (VH1), The Disappearance of Natalee Holloway (Oxygen), and Gay Skit Happens (Logo).[27][28]
In November 2021, BGM signed TikTok stars Robert Reeves, Mick Peterson, Bill Lyons, and Jessay Martin, to develop a docuseries about their lives.[25] The four are known as the “Old Gays.”[25]
In June 2022, Netflix greenlit Stand Out: The Documentary, which examines the history of LGBTQ stand-up comedy.[29] It will combine original performances, interviews, archival materials, and backstage vérité footage while exploring themes such as “comedy as activism, diversity in stand-up, new queer culture, and mainstreaming the alternative.”[29] The executive producers are Graden, Dave Mace, and LB Horschler from BGM, and Wanda Sykes from Push It Productions.[29]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Gillette, Felix (2009-08-18). "The Reinvention of Brian Graden". Observer. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
- ^ a b Romano, Allison (2003-09-08). "His Finger Is on the Pulse of Pop Culture". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
- ^ "Cops". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
- ^ a b c "Brian Graden: Stress Less and Trust the Work". Los Angeles, CA Patch. 2018-11-01. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
- ^ "America's Most Wanted". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
- ^ "Graden". Los Angeles Business Journal. 1998-09-13. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
- ^ a b c d Wilson, George (2022-09-09). "10 Influential Early Web Animations". Listverse. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
- ^ Greene, Andy (2019-12-24). "Watch the First 'South Park' Short 'The Spirit of Christmas'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
- ^ "South Park". Television Academy. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
- ^ a b c d "Brian Graden Named President Entertainment, MTV and VH1". idobi Network. 2002-05-15. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ^ a b Kluft, Alex (2022-08-15). "Bass Magazine's South Park: The 25th Anniversary Concert Recap". Bass Magazine. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ^ Parker, Ryan (2022-07-20). "Comedy Central to Air South Park 25th Anniversary Concert Event (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ^ Eustice, Kyle (2022-08-11). "South Park's 25th Anniversary Concert at Red Rocks Is a Rush, in More Ways Than One". Variety. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ^ Hay, Carla (27 December 1997). "Vid channels feel merger mania; Strides made online". Billboard. ProQuest 227102196.
- ^ a b c "Graden's MTV mandate". Variety. 1997-12-17. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
- ^ Epstein, Jeffrey (2000-05-23). The Advocate. Here Publishing. pp. 77–79. ISSN 0001-8996.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Wehrman, Jessica (2001-01-10). "MTV to help head off hate". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2009-06-15). "Brian Graden leaving MTV Networks". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
- ^ a b Fonseca, Nicholas (2005-07-01). "The Logo channel begins its run this week". Entertainment. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
- ^ a b "Brian Graden looks forward to Logo launch (16370)". www.advocate.com. 2005-06-28. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
- ^ Sternbergh, Adam (2005-06-16). "Brian Graden and Logo, the New Gay TV Channel". New York Magazine. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
- ^ Thomas, June (2012-07-04). "Gay TV is not just for gays anymore, Logo is finding". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
- ^ "The Power 50". www.out.com. 2007-04-03. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
- ^ "Brian Graden: President of entertainment, MTV Networks Music Channels". Tvweek.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
- ^ a b c Kacala, Alexander (2021-11-05). "The 'Old Gays' are getting their own docuseries". NBC News. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
- ^ Petski, Denise (2021-10-29). "Brian Graden Media Bolsters Development Team With John Magennis As SVP & Bri Reed As Manager". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
- ^ a b Tartaglione, Nancy (2016-07-12). "Lance Bass To Host Logo's 'Finding Prince Charming' Gay Dating Competition Series". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
- ^ Robbins, Caryn. "THE DISAPPEARANCE OF NATALEE HOLLOWAY is Highest-Rated True Crime Series Premiere in Oxygen History". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
- ^ a b c Petski, Denise (2022-06-09). "Netflix Greenlights 'Stand Out: The Documentary', A Look At The History Of LGBTQ Stand-Up Comedy". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
External links
- Interview with USA Today
- Brian Graden at IMDb
- 1963 births
- Living people
- Oral Roberts University alumni
- Harvard Business School alumni
- American television executives
- 20th-century American Jews
- LGBT businesspeople from the United States
- LGBT people from Illinois
- Fox Broadcasting Company executives
- MTV executives
- 21st-century American Jews
- 21st-century LGBT people
- American television biography stubs