Sharon Levy has been elevated to chief executive officer of Endemol Shine North America, the Banijay-owned studio behind the Emmy Award-nominated “Lego Masters,” “MasterChef,” “Wipeout” and upcoming Showtime series “Ripley,” starring Andrew Scott.
The announcement was made on Thursday by Ben Samek, CEO of Banijay Americas, as Endemol shifts from being a holding company to an independent production studio alongside the nine other Banijay-owned studios.
In her new role, Levy, who previously served as chief content officer since 2021, will manage all aspects of the business and its growth. She will also continue to lead all of the studio’s unscripted and scripted programming efforts from the company’s North Hollywood headquarters.
Also Read:
HBO’s Ben Wasserstein Inks First-Look Deal With Richard Plepler’s Eden Productions
“Sharon is one of the most strategic executives in the business, someone whose creative vision is matched only by her market savvy,” Samek said in a statement.
The announcement was made on Thursday by Ben Samek, CEO of Banijay Americas, as Endemol shifts from being a holding company to an independent production studio alongside the nine other Banijay-owned studios.
In her new role, Levy, who previously served as chief content officer since 2021, will manage all aspects of the business and its growth. She will also continue to lead all of the studio’s unscripted and scripted programming efforts from the company’s North Hollywood headquarters.
Also Read:
HBO’s Ben Wasserstein Inks First-Look Deal With Richard Plepler’s Eden Productions
“Sharon is one of the most strategic executives in the business, someone whose creative vision is matched only by her market savvy,” Samek said in a statement.
- 2/9/2023
- by Natalie Oganesyan
- The Wrap
Argonon, the super-indie behind “The Masked Singer U.K.” and “Hard Cell,” has launched a new U.S. production company that marks its first joint venture Stateside.
The new outfit, Rose Rock Entertainment, is a Jv with producer and former Spoke Studios executive Joe Weinstock, whose executive producer credits include reality hit “Duck Dynasty” for A&e and “Assembly Required” with “Home Improvement” star Tim Allen for History Channel.
Launching with offices on the West Coast and Oklahoma, Rose Rock will focus on delivering “cinematic Americana factual content” with an entertainment edge. The company will lean on Weinstock’s extensive track record finding talent in the heart of America, and build on his expertise of male-skewed factual.
The banner becomes the ninth global label in the group and underlines Argonon’s ambitions to boost its U.S. growth, build on its growing West Coast presence and long-term East Coast base,...
The new outfit, Rose Rock Entertainment, is a Jv with producer and former Spoke Studios executive Joe Weinstock, whose executive producer credits include reality hit “Duck Dynasty” for A&e and “Assembly Required” with “Home Improvement” star Tim Allen for History Channel.
Launching with offices on the West Coast and Oklahoma, Rose Rock will focus on delivering “cinematic Americana factual content” with an entertainment edge. The company will lean on Weinstock’s extensive track record finding talent in the heart of America, and build on his expertise of male-skewed factual.
The banner becomes the ninth global label in the group and underlines Argonon’s ambitions to boost its U.S. growth, build on its growing West Coast presence and long-term East Coast base,...
- 5/31/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
“Auction Hunters” has unearthed another season. The series, which features Allen Haff and Ton Jones digging for buried treasure at storage-unit auctions, has been renewed for a 20-episode fifth season. The new season starts production this summer for a fall premiere. Also read: Adam Carolla's ‘Catch a Contractor’ Debut Is Spike's Best in 3 Years The new season will find Haff and Jones expanding beyond storage unit auctions and traversing the country in search of the best deals — from cattle auctions to police auctions to, of course, their favorite storage auctions. All in the service of finding fortune. “We are thrilled to.
- 4/11/2014
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
Auction Hunters has won its bid for another season. Spike TV announced Friday that it has renewed the reality series for a 20-episode fifth season. The series, produced by Duck Dynasty's Gurney Productions, ranks as the male-skewing network's longest-running nonscripted original series. In announcing the pickup, Spike noted that the series has helped the cable network broaden and expand the network's reach. The current fourth season, which wrapped April 5, averaged 1.5 million total viewers on Saturdays at 9 p.m. -- up 25 percent among adults 18-34. List: The Hollywood Reporter's Top 25 Reality
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- 4/11/2014
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Spike TV‘s longest-running non-scripted original series Auction Hunters has been renewed for a fifth season, with the network ordering 20 episodes that will go into production this summer and debut in the fall. The fourth season of the series, which wrapped last week, averaged 1.5 million viewers in the Saturday 9 Pm time slot, growing the slot in the adults 18-34 demo by 25%. The new season of the series, produced by Duck Dynasty producer Gurney Productions, will see stars Allen Haff and Ton Jones expand their horizons to more than just storage unit auctions, hitting the road in search of the best deals from cattle to police auctions to uncover hidden fortunes.
- 4/11/2014
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Spike TV is back in business this January 18th at 9pm Et/Pt with an all new episode from hit series “Auction Hunters” followed immediately by the new half-hour non-scripted series “Thrift Hunters.” “Auction Hunters” is back with all new episodes featuring Allen Haff and Ton Jones, two of the best prospectors in the storage unit auction business. The series cuts the lock and opens the door into the high stakes, financial risks and potential rewards where the right purchase can bring in serious cash. The series follows Haff and Jones in their quest to win auctions, dig for abandoned historical treasure and sell them for a profit. In the premiere episode, Jones is taking a break from the partnership...
- 12/16/2013
- by April Neale
- Monsters and Critics
Art Lyons will exclusively produce series and specials for Discovery Studios under the overall deal announced today. “Art is an industry visionary who understands Discovery’s brand promise and sensibilities. The addition of his expertise to our already strong roster will ensure Discovery Studios continues to deliver high quality and compelling content,” said Lee Bartlett, President, Discovery Studios, in a statement. Lyons has been producing unscripted series for broadcast and cable networks for over a decade, beginning his career in development at Fox Family Channel (now ABC Family). He had a hand in launching ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Ultimate Fighter and Spike TV’s Auction Hunters. Lyons’ recent original projects include Discovery Channel’s The Bluegrass Boys, Treasure Chase and National Geographic’s Appalachia 911.
- 9/26/2013
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Exclusive: TruTV has picked up Container Wars for a second season with 13-episode order. The series, from Jenny Daly’s T Group, follows treasure hunters as they descend upon commercial shipping ports to bid on what they hope are containers filled with big-ticket items. “This is modern-day treasure hunting at its best,” Daly said. “The characters are passionate, the stakes are high, and scores found in any container are limitless.” Container Wars, which debuted in January, is the latest entry in the popular unscripted genre of storage unit/container auctions that also includes A&E’s Storage Wars and its offshoots, TruTV’s Storage Hunters and Spike’s Auction Hunters. Container Wars, whose first-season back order is wrapping its run, is executive produced by Daly and Michael Binko. T Group’s portfolio includes nearly a dozen pilot and series orders so far this season, including Secret Celebrity on Oxygen, Thingamabob...
- 9/12/2013
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Dave has become one of the surprise digital channels to achieve some pretty decent ratings over the past few years, thanks to the combined use of original programming (Red Dwarf, Argumental), repeats of much-loved shows (Top Gear, Qi) and the acquisition of shows from across the pond which haven't yet reached mainstream status here (Man Vs Food).
One such show from the latter group is one of the least authentic and most fake shows you will ever see, and comes under the umbrella of 'trashy reality' programmes that the Us are very good at. Yet, somehow, it is strangely addictive and enjoyable, and has clearly become a big guilty pleasure of many UK viewers.
New episodes regularly beat shows on Channel 4, ITV2 and E4, at just under a million viewers. For a Us show with hardly any promotion on a channel like Dave, that is pretty damn good numbers.
One such show from the latter group is one of the least authentic and most fake shows you will ever see, and comes under the umbrella of 'trashy reality' programmes that the Us are very good at. Yet, somehow, it is strangely addictive and enjoyable, and has clearly become a big guilty pleasure of many UK viewers.
New episodes regularly beat shows on Channel 4, ITV2 and E4, at just under a million viewers. For a Us show with hardly any promotion on a channel like Dave, that is pretty damn good numbers.
- 7/22/2013
- Digital Spy
London – U.K. commercial TV network broadcaster ITV has snapped up a 61.5 per cent controlling stake in Gurney Productions, the U.S. production arm best known for cable show Duck Dynasty as well as Auction Hunters, American Digger and Haunted Collector. ITV said Saturday (Dec. 22) it is paying $40 million for the stake, giving its U.S. production arm ITV Studios America a sizeable output boost. ITV also said it has an option to snap up the remaining 38.5 per cent over the next three to five years. Photos: Tim Goodman's 15 Best TV Dramas
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- 12/22/2012
- by Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The makers of hot cable show Duck Dynasty have just cashed out. British television giant ITV announced today that it’s expanding its U.S. production arm ITV Studios America with the acquisition of Gurney Productions. ITV is paying $40 million for a 61.5% controlling stake in Gurney Productions, best known for Duck Dynasty as well as Auction Hunters, American Digger and Haunted Collector. ITV also has a put and call option to buy the remaining 38.5% which can be exercised from 3 to 5 years after the initial deal. “Gurney Productions is a high margin business with three quarters of its revenues coming from returnable series. The company’s Ebita for 2012 is forecast to be at least $10M,” ITV said Saturday. Gurney Productions will report directly to Paul Buccieri, Managing Director of ITV Studios International and President/CEO of ITV Studios America. Further, Gurney Productions’ revenues will be included in ITV Studio’s international...
- 12/22/2012
- by NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief
- Deadline TV
The makers of hot cable show Duck Dynasty have just cashed out. British television giant ITV announced today that it’s expanding its U.S. production arm ITV Studios America with the acquisition of Gurney Productions. ITV is paying $40 million for a 61.5% controlling stake in Gurney Productions, best known for Duck Dynasty as well as Auction Hunters, American Digger and Haunted Collector. ITV also has a put and call option to buy the remaining 38.5% which can be exercised from 3 to 5 years after the initial deal. “Gurney Productions is a high margin business with three quarters of its revenues coming from returnable series. The company’s Ebita for 2012 is forecast to be at least $10M,” ITV said Saturday. Gurney Productions will report directly to Paul Buccieri, Managing Director of ITV Studios International and President/CEO of ITV Studios America. Further, Gurney Productions’ revenues will be included in ITV Studio’s international...
- 12/22/2012
- by NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief
- Deadline Hollywood
Exclusive: Spike TV has renewed two of its highest-rated non-scripted series. The network has picked up a 26-episode fourth season of Auction Hunters, which follows prospectors Allen Haff and Ton Jones in their quest to win auctions, dig for abandoned historical treasure and sell them for a profit. The network also has ordered 13 episodes of American Digger, starring the American Savage team, led by former professional wrestler-turned-modern-day relic hunter Ric Savage. Auction Hunters and American Digger, which aired together on Wednesday night and are both produced by Gurney Prods., will go into production on their new seasons this fall for a 2013 premiere. The recently completed season three of Auction Hunters, which included a live season premiere, averaged 1.9 million viewers and improved the Wednesday 9 Pm timeslot with Men 18-49 by +102% and Men 35-49 by +121%. The debut season of American Digger delivered 1.2 million viewers and improved the Wednesday 10 Pm timeslot with Men...
- 8/7/2012
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
So what if they're over 200 years old, if anyone finds a pair of dueling pistols, they're going to want to try them out. So that's exactly what Allen and Ton did when they took "Auction Hunters" (Wed., 9 p.m. Et on Spike) to New Orleans and found the pistols.
The guys didn't use the guns for exactly what they were intended, obviously, though a high noon faceoff would have been impressive. Maybe if they'd been filming in Texas. Instead, they did some outdoor target practice.
There, the two century old guns proved they still had it, both in firing power and aim. They were certainly well crafted and well maintained for how old they were. The performance helped them score an offer of $7,500 for the pair of them. It was an offer too good to refuse.
See what they find next on "Auction Hunters," Wednesdays at 9 p.m. Et on Spike.
The guys didn't use the guns for exactly what they were intended, obviously, though a high noon faceoff would have been impressive. Maybe if they'd been filming in Texas. Instead, they did some outdoor target practice.
There, the two century old guns proved they still had it, both in firing power and aim. They were certainly well crafted and well maintained for how old they were. The performance helped them score an offer of $7,500 for the pair of them. It was an offer too good to refuse.
See what they find next on "Auction Hunters," Wednesdays at 9 p.m. Et on Spike.
- 4/12/2012
- by Jason Hughes
- Huffington Post
So what if they're over 200-years-old? If anyone finds a pair of dueling pistols, they're going to want to try them out. So that's exactly what Allen and Ton did when they took "Auction Hunters" (Wed., 9 p.m. Et on Spike) to New Orleans and found the pistols.
The guys didn't use the guns for exactly what they were intended, obviously, though a high noon faceoff would have been impressive. Maybe if they'd been filming in Texas. Instead, they did some outdoor target practice.
There, the two century old guns proved they still had it, both in firing power and aim. They were certainly well crafted and well maintained for how old they were. The performance helped them score an offer of $7,500 for the pair of them. It was an offer too good to refuse.
See what they find next on "Auction Hunters," Wednesdays at 9 p.m. Et on Spike.
The guys didn't use the guns for exactly what they were intended, obviously, though a high noon faceoff would have been impressive. Maybe if they'd been filming in Texas. Instead, they did some outdoor target practice.
There, the two century old guns proved they still had it, both in firing power and aim. They were certainly well crafted and well maintained for how old they were. The performance helped them score an offer of $7,500 for the pair of them. It was an offer too good to refuse.
See what they find next on "Auction Hunters," Wednesdays at 9 p.m. Et on Spike.
- 4/12/2012
- by Jason Hughes
- Aol TV.
Finding things like classic car hubcaps, vintage lunchboxes and even a gun that turned out to be from World War II is nothing unusual for those who dabble in storage unit auctions. But the "Auction Hunters" (Wed., 9 p.m. Et on Spike) were absolutely stunned by what they uncovered in one storage locker.
Inside the locker, under a plastic cover and in pristine condition was a classic 1969 Chevelle. As the guys uncovered the vehicle, they couldn't believe what they were seeing. They'd already profited more than $3,500 on the unit from those aforementioned knick-knacks, but this one put them way over the top. The Chevelle sold for $9,000, making this one of the best finds they've ever scored.
You never know what people will leave behind when the "Auction Hunters" start digging every Wednesday at 9 p.m. Et on Spike.
TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting,...
Inside the locker, under a plastic cover and in pristine condition was a classic 1969 Chevelle. As the guys uncovered the vehicle, they couldn't believe what they were seeing. They'd already profited more than $3,500 on the unit from those aforementioned knick-knacks, but this one put them way over the top. The Chevelle sold for $9,000, making this one of the best finds they've ever scored.
You never know what people will leave behind when the "Auction Hunters" start digging every Wednesday at 9 p.m. Et on Spike.
TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting,...
- 4/5/2012
- by Jason Hughes
- Huffington Post
Finding things like classic car hubcaps, vintage lunchboxes and even a gun that turned out to be from World War II is nothing unusual for those who dabble in storage unit auctions. But the "Auction Hunters" (Wed., 9 p.m. Et on Spike) were absolutely stunned by what they uncovered in one storage locker.
Inside the locker, under a plastic cover and in pristine condition was a classic 1969 Chevelle. As the guys uncovered the vehicle, they couldn't believe what they were seeing. They'd already profited more than $3,500 on the unit from those aforementioned knick-knacks, but this one put them way over the top. The Chevelle sold for $9,000, making this one of the best finds they've ever scored.
You never know what people will leave behind when the "Auction Hunters" start digging every Wednesday at 9 p.m. Et on Spike.
TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting,...
Inside the locker, under a plastic cover and in pristine condition was a classic 1969 Chevelle. As the guys uncovered the vehicle, they couldn't believe what they were seeing. They'd already profited more than $3,500 on the unit from those aforementioned knick-knacks, but this one put them way over the top. The Chevelle sold for $9,000, making this one of the best finds they've ever scored.
You never know what people will leave behind when the "Auction Hunters" start digging every Wednesday at 9 p.m. Et on Spike.
TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting,...
- 4/5/2012
- by Jason Hughes
- Aol TV.
It is amazing what some people leave behind in abandoned storage lockers. On Wednesday night's episode of "Auction Hunters" (Wed., 9 p.m. Et on Spike) Ton Jones discovered a Smith & Wesson .500 pistol.
Referring to it as "the wrist-breaker," Ton told Allen Haff that the .500 is generally acknowledged to be the most powerful handgun in the world.
Boasting the same recoil force as a .12 shotgun, the .500 is capable of shooting straight through concrete breeze blocks. As Ton discovered when he and Allen tried it out at the range.
See what other treasures the "Auction Hunters" unearth every Wednesday at 9 p.m. Et on Spike.
TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.
Referring to it as "the wrist-breaker," Ton told Allen Haff that the .500 is generally acknowledged to be the most powerful handgun in the world.
Boasting the same recoil force as a .12 shotgun, the .500 is capable of shooting straight through concrete breeze blocks. As Ton discovered when he and Allen tried it out at the range.
See what other treasures the "Auction Hunters" unearth every Wednesday at 9 p.m. Et on Spike.
TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.
- 3/29/2012
- by Catherine Lawson
- Huffington Post
It is amazing what some people leave behind in abandoned storage lockers. On Wednesday night's episode of "Auction Hunters" (Wed., 9 p.m. Et on Spike) Ton Jones discovered a Smith & Wesson .500 pistol.
Referring to it as "the wrist-breaker," Ton told Allen Haff that the .500 is generally acknowledged to be the most powerful handgun in the world.
Boasting the same recoil force as a .12 shotgun, the .500 is capable of shooting straight through concrete breeze blocks. As Ton discovered when he and Allen tried it out at the range.
See what other treasures the "Auction Hunters" unearth every Wednesday at 9 p.m. Et on Spike.
TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.
Referring to it as "the wrist-breaker," Ton told Allen Haff that the .500 is generally acknowledged to be the most powerful handgun in the world.
Boasting the same recoil force as a .12 shotgun, the .500 is capable of shooting straight through concrete breeze blocks. As Ton discovered when he and Allen tried it out at the range.
See what other treasures the "Auction Hunters" unearth every Wednesday at 9 p.m. Et on Spike.
TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.
- 3/29/2012
- by Catherine Lawson
- Aol TV.
Radio host and "Dancing With the Stars." alum Mike Catherwood is hosting the live premiere of "Auction Hunters" tonight (Mar. 21) on Spike TV. Otherwise known as "Psycho Mike," Catherwood has appeared on K-roq and is currently the co-host of "Love Line."
Catherwood tells Zap2it he watched the premiere of "DWTS." If you recall, he was on Season 12, but was voted off first. He says, "My experience was great. Obviously it was embarrassing being the first person voted off, but everyone on that show was so nice and so supportive." I'll root for whoever Cheryl Burke dances with. I'm also rooting for Maria Menounos, because she's a real friend."
Catherwood says he's been a fan of "Auction Hunters" from the beginning. "It's one of my favorite shows to begin with. I'm hosting a live event of what happens on a typical episode of "Auction Hunters" within an hour on live television.
Catherwood tells Zap2it he watched the premiere of "DWTS." If you recall, he was on Season 12, but was voted off first. He says, "My experience was great. Obviously it was embarrassing being the first person voted off, but everyone on that show was so nice and so supportive." I'll root for whoever Cheryl Burke dances with. I'm also rooting for Maria Menounos, because she's a real friend."
Catherwood says he's been a fan of "Auction Hunters" from the beginning. "It's one of my favorite shows to begin with. I'm hosting a live event of what happens on a typical episode of "Auction Hunters" within an hour on live television.
- 3/22/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Celebrities: They're just as obsessed with reality TV as we are! That's why Mike Catherwood, former "Dancing With the Stars" contestant and Dr. Drew's "Loveline" co-host, has signed on to host Spike TV's first-ever live auction event in the "Auction Hunters" Season 3 premiere.
Zap2it can exclusively reveal that "Auction Hunters: Live" will kick off a brand-new season of the network's highest-rated unscripted series on Wednesday, March 21 at 9 p.m. Et. Hosted by Catherwood -- who has a storage unit himself and is a huge fan of the show -- the live edition will condense the work usually done by Allen Haff and Ton Jones in one week into just one hour.
That means they'll have to buy a storage unit, dig through it and choose items they want to sell to the experts who'll be gathered on set. The live broadcast will take place at a high-end auction in Los Angeles.
Zap2it can exclusively reveal that "Auction Hunters: Live" will kick off a brand-new season of the network's highest-rated unscripted series on Wednesday, March 21 at 9 p.m. Et. Hosted by Catherwood -- who has a storage unit himself and is a huge fan of the show -- the live edition will condense the work usually done by Allen Haff and Ton Jones in one week into just one hour.
That means they'll have to buy a storage unit, dig through it and choose items they want to sell to the experts who'll be gathered on set. The live broadcast will take place at a high-end auction in Los Angeles.
- 2/29/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Exclusive: Spike TV has formed an alliance with Submarine Entertainment’s Josh Braun to find talent from the independent film sphere and develop non-scripted programming for the cable network. It marks the first major return into television for Braun, the former Fremantle Head of Sales who now runs Submarine with Dan Braun. Braun has refocused on producing and brokering deals for films like A History Of Violence, House Of The Devil and Page One: Inside The NY Times. Braun has had a hot hand at 2012 Sundance, brokering four deals for festival films. They include an HBO acquisition of Me @ The Zoo, the Sony Pictures Classics acquisition of the documentary Searching For Sugar Man, Magnolia’s buy of the docu The Queen Of Versailles, and the Ld Entertainment acquisition of the Midnight title Black Rock. ”This deal signifies Spike’s commitment to finding fresh voices outside the traditional non-scripted world,” said Sharon Levy,...
- 1/24/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Spike TV has greenlighted four new reality series: Undercover Stings from Cops creator John Langley, about cops orchestrating sting operations; Big Easy Justice from Al Roker and Jennifer Lopez's production companies, about a New Orleans bounty hunter; American Digger from the producers of Spike's hit Auction Hunters, about a relic hunter digging up people's properties for histotic artifacts; and World's Worst Tenants from Zoo Prods., about a professional evictor. Additionally, Spike has ordered 20 more episodes of the SallyAnn Salsano-produced Repo Games. Sharon Levy, Spike's Evp original series, said that the new shows are part of the network's push to expand its core men 18-34 demo to the older men 34-49 demographic that was launched with such recent series as Auction Hunters, Bar Rescue and Repo Games. In primetime, Spike's median age is currently 40, up from 38 last year. The median age for the network's highest-rated unscripted original, Auction Hunters,...
- 8/10/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
It seems like just about every place and every thing has been made over on TV — from houses to people to restaurants to hair salons. But there is still one untapped business, until now. Restaurant and bar consultant Jon Taffer is on a quest to improve bars across the country on the new Spike series Bar Rescue. Jon is the Gordon Ramsay/Tabatha Coffey of the libations industry.
“Taffer Dynamics," his hard edge style of management, rivals that of his chef/stylist counterparts and promises to turn bars in profitable establishments. Despite the tough as nails training approach, in a video on the show's website the star says, "The bar business is about making people smile every day, and that's what I'm into."
Jon said he got involved in the industry when he started bartending in college. He reflected, "I got extremely frustrated when I found out that I was...
“Taffer Dynamics," his hard edge style of management, rivals that of his chef/stylist counterparts and promises to turn bars in profitable establishments. Despite the tough as nails training approach, in a video on the show's website the star says, "The bar business is about making people smile every day, and that's what I'm into."
Jon said he got involved in the industry when he started bartending in college. He reflected, "I got extremely frustrated when I found out that I was...
- 7/14/2011
- by Pop Culture Passionistas
- popculturepassionistas
Spike TV has renewed its highest-rated non-scripted series, Auction Hunters, for a third season with a 26-episode order. The series will continue to follow Allen Haff and Ton Jones as they traverse the country in search of treasure hidden in storage units. For the first time, the new season will include a live episode, in which Haff and Jones will open up a special pod live in primetime. The episode is slated to air in early 2012.
- 6/20/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Spike TV has picked up six unscripted pilots from such producers as SallyAnn Salsano (Jersey Shore), who is behind Pawn Games, a pawn shop-set version of her hit for the network Repo Games; Ben Silverman; Tom Forman; David Page; and companies Zodiak USA and Zoo Prods. “All feature real men in real high-stakes situations with great take-away information,” said Spike's Evp original series Sharon Levy. The orders are part of Spike's effort to broaden its target male audience from the core men 18-34 to men 18-49 demos. The network is ready to pick up to series all of the pilots that turn up well. Spike's upcoming reality series include Bar Rescue, InkMasters and Car Boss as well as the returning Deadliest Warrior and Auction Hunters. Here is a list of Spike's newly picked up pilots: The Sheriff With 15 years of experience in the intelligence community on three continents, Tony Schiena...
- 5/11/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Some might have heard about the story of Nicolas Cage’s prized “Superman” comic book being stolen. The end of the story, however, is that the comic book, which was stolen many years ago, was found in an auctioned storage unit in Simi Valley. The “Auction Hunters” duo Allen Haff and Ton Jones, two of the best in the business when it comes to finding treasures amongst the derelict, have weighed on what it’s like to discover such a find. “Comic books are one of the most common finds in storage,” said Haff. “We often find huge collections, but only rarely are there single issues of any major value. When [...]...
- 4/13/2011
- by monique
- ShockYa
There seems to be an over-abundance of shows aimed at turning one person’s trash into an undiscovered treasure. The most famous of these shows being Antiques Roadshow, that weekly televised garage sale which inevitably ends with my overcome with tears after realizing that not only is nothing I own is worth anything, but more importantly Mark L. Walberg will never be mine. (You will always be the only Mark Walberg for this gal, Mark L. Walberg.) But there’s something the world really doesn’t have: An Antiques Roadshow for straight guys. Sure, you could argue that Pawn Stars filled this void a while back, whereas I would argue that Pawn Stars filled this void for drug addicts and food addicts. We joke, of course, as theirs is a void that could never be filled. Well that’s about to change, straight guys who are closeted Antiques Roadshow fans!
- 4/5/2011
- by Michelle Collins
- BestWeekEver
Tune in alert for Spike's second season of hit series "Auction Hunters" coming this April. "Auction Hunters" explores the world of abandoned storage unit auctions with two of the best .treasure hunters. in the business, Allen Haff and Clinton Ton Jones. The second season follows Haff and Jones across the country in their quest to win auctions, dig for abandoned historical treasure and sell them for a profit. From Spike Every year in America, 50,000 storage facilities hold auctions for abandoned storage units and, at these auctions, over $1 billion worth of goods changes hands. Each unit has the potential to be a goldmine or a bust for those who make their living hunting unclaimed property. .Auction Hunters.
- 3/29/2011
- by April MacIntyre
- Monsters and Critics
Spike TV promoted Tim Duffy to senior vice president of original programming on Wednesday, the MTV-owned cable channel announced. Duffy, who had been vice president, will continue to report to Evp Sharon Levy. Duffy, who has been developing Spike’s original programming -- including "Deadliest Warrior," “1000 Ways To Die” and "Auction Hunters" -- is currently at work on a new slate of originals aimed at broadening Spike’s dude-centric audience. Related Articles: Spike...
- 2/2/2011
- by Dylan Stableford
- The Wrap
Spike TV has renewed freshman reality series Auction Hunters for a second season with a 20-episode order, the largest ever for a second season of a Spike original series. The first season of the show, set in the world of storage-unit auctions, was for 8 episodes. It premiered on November 9 and has averaged 1.1 million viewers, increasing in viewership each week. Auction Hunters is executive produced by Scott Gurney, Deirdre Gurney and Philip Lott.
- 12/1/2010
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
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