The unscripted veteran starts his new gig, leading creative for the reality house, this week.
SallyAnn Salsano is bringing in some new blood to lead creative efforts at her reality shingle. The Jersey Shore creator has tapped unscripted TV veteran Drew Tappon as the new chief creative officer at her 495 Productions.
“I have known and worked with Drew for years, and we see this game the same way: Bring junk food to network pitch meetings, laugh a lot, then go make jaw-dropping TV that attracts passionate audiences,” Salsano said Wednesday in a statement. “I look forward to seeing him work his Emmy-winning magic as we build on our current momentum in broadcast and cable.”
Tappon, who relocates to Los Angeles with the appointment, comes to 495 after a five-year tenure at A&E, where he most recently served as senior vp of reality development and programming. His lengthy TV résumé includes credits on 60 Days In, The Real World and the Bachelor franchise and tenures at Warner Horizon Television and MTV. He recently received an Emmy for his work on A&E docuseries Born This Way.
“It’s amazing to be back at 495 and reunite with SallyAnn to grow the company,” said Tappon, who started his new job on Tuesday. “We have always had so much fun working together that it makes an already exciting business opportunity even more enticing. I’ve already picked out the sweatpants and hoodie I’ll be wearing to work.”
495 Productions was acquired by FremantleMedia in 2014 when Salsano sold a controlling stake. The company is responsible for talker The Real, CMT’s Party Down South and upcoming VH1 series Martha and Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party.
