Founded in 1994, ZOO has broadcast nearly 500 hours of original programming, all blending reality with comedy.
ZOO founders and Co-CEOs, Barry Poznick and John Stevens, have a strong reputation for creating shows that fit a network’s brand and attitude. ZOO recently completed Season 3 of the hit primetime game show “ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER?” for FOX (seen in over 150 countries and produced with Mark Burnett); Season 4 of “SPEEDERS” for truTV; Season 1 of “SPEEDERS FIGHT BACK” (“Speeders” spin-off) for truTV; Season 1 of MTV’s “BUSTED” (“Cops” for the MTV demo); and Season 1 of “HOW’D YOU GET SO RICH?” hosted by Joan Rivers for TVLAND. Specials include “REDNECK DREAMS” (a feel-good special for CMT), MTV’s “Tila Tequila’s Spring Break Fantasy Couple” and “LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL” (a Vegas docu-soap for Lifetime).
ZOO produced 4 seasons of the hilarious Oxygen prank show, “GIRLS BEHAVING BADLY” (syndicated in over 50 countries and the entire US) and launched two caught-on-camera spin-offs: “GUYS BEHAVING BADLY” and “KIDS BEHAVING BADLY”. A twist on hidden-camera comedies, “HARSH”, was shot for Showtime.
In a continuing relationship with MTV, ZOO has produced several successful series: “THE BLAME GAME” (135 episodes), “THE MORNING AFTER” (35 episodes) and “THE MANDY MOORE SHOW” (40 episodes). As part of a 3-year overall deal, ZOO also produced Spring Break, Summer Beach House and Snowed-In specials.
During a 2-year (2003-2005) contract with 20th Television, ZOO developed “The All-New American Bandstand”, “Secret Lives”, and “On-Tourage with Britney Spears”.
In 2000, ZOO’s interactive internet game show
DareForDollars.com was featured on “Oprah” and “The Today Show”. That playful web series inspired Poznick and Stevens to create CELEBRITY DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT - a charity event benefiting the Elizabeth Glaser Ped-AIDS foundation. With Courtney Cox, Brendan Frasier, Matthew Perry and Ben Stiller, the effort raised $300,000.
Prior to teaming up and forming ZOO, Poznick produced "The Joan Rivers Show," "Extra" and other talk-reality shows. Stevens, who began at “The Late Show with David Letterman”, went on to produce the FOX classic, "When Animals Attack".
ZOO President, Charles Steenveld, was Executive Vice President & General Counsel for Reveille where he oversaw business, operations and legal affairs for several hundred hours of programming worldwide (including The Biggest Loser, The Office, Ugly Betty, and Nashville Star). Prior to that, Charles was at Rocket Science for 7 years, leaving as its COO, General Counsel and Head of Business Affairs, after having overseen more than 160 hours of primetime programming (including Temptation Island, Joe Millionaire, and Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancé).
Rachel Brill Stella, Vice President of Development and Richard Valenzuela, Vice President of Production have been pivotal in creating new projects including “DUMB LUCK with Larry the Cable Guy”, “ANTHONY’S ANGELS: The Pellicano Girls”, “Hotel Security”, “All-Girl Trucker School” and “Muscle Beach House”.
ZOO was acquired by ALL3MEDIA in June 2008 and is represented by Greg Lipstone (ICM) and
Eric Wattenberg (N.S. Bienstock).
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