Real World Creator Dies

[DreamGirl]

Last night I heard that Real World creator Mary Ellis-Bunim died. There was a little blurb scrolling on the bottom of the TV on the E! channel, and MTV mentioned it on their little news thing they do at ten minutes of every hour. Other than that, I haven't heard much else. Anyone hear anything more? I've been doing web searches but come up empty. I guess maybe no official press release has been issued yet. I think she was 57 or 58. Pretty young. MTV didn't go into much detail except that she is survived by her daughter.

 

[jazzy4u]

Holy shit, RIP

 

[Kenny Guido]

wish he would have taken his shows with him!

 

[NESSAVA]

I heard about her death too. There's an article on the mtv website...


Mary-Ellis Bunim, who helped launch the reality TV genre by co-creating the long-running MTV hits "The Real World" and "Road Rules," has died. She was 57.

Bunim passed away in Burbank, California, on Thursday after a lengthy battle with breast cancer.

Born in North Hampton, Massachusetts, Bunim started her work in television with soap operas, serving as the executive producer for "As the World Turns," "Santa Barbara" and "Loving." In 1987 she paired with Jonathan Murray, whose background was in TV news, to merge the documentary nature of news and the intrigue of soap operas for a dramatic series that would feature real people and their stories rather than actors and scripts — "The Real World."

After the 1992 debut of "The Real World," Bunim's work in reality television continued with partner Murray as their company, Bunim/Murray Productions, launched such MTV shows as "Road Rules" and "Making the Band" (which first aired in 1995 and 2000, respectively) as well as shows for FOX such as 2001's "Love Cruise" and the recent smash hit "The Simple Life," starring Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. Bunim teamed with New Line for the 2003 feature film "The Real Cancun."

"Mary-Ellis was a one-in-a-million partner and friend, and I will always treasure our incredible years of collaboration," Murray said in a statement. "Even as the family at Bunim/Murray Productions mourns her loss, we will honor her memory by remaining committed to her ideals of creativity, adventure and excellence, both on the screen and in our lives."

MTV Networks Group President Judy McGrath said Bunim opened the channel's eyes to "a whole new way of looking at young adult programming. She will certainly be imitated forever, but no one will quite get the care and elegance of her touch with young people and their stories. Everyone at MTV remembers her creativity and thoughtfulness, and we will toast her at every gathering. We were fortunate to be in her orbit for over 13 years, and we extend our sympathy to her family and her partner, Jon Murray. Her imprint on the popular culture is a great benefit to us and all her fans and loyal viewers."

"In her life and in her work, she dared to dream, followed her inward passion and entertained millions along the way," MTV and VH1 President of Entertainment Brian Graden said in a statement. "She brought the world groundbreaking and unforgettable television and taught generations of viewers how to transcend differences, to love each other and to, quite literally, live together."

Bunim is survived by a daughter, Juliana.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. February 7 at the Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn cemetery in Los Angeles. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be sent to the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund, 1101 17th St. NW, Suite 1300, Washington DC 20036.



—MTV News staff report

 

[DreamGirl]

Found an article on the Optimum home page.

Reality TV Pioneer Mary-Ellis Bunim Dies
Sat Jan 31, 7:25 AM



Producer Mary-Ellis Bunim, who brought television into the age of reality with MTV's "The Real World" and whose latest hit series was "The Simple Life," has died at age 57.

Bunim died Thursday after a long battle with breast cancer, MTV announced Friday.

She and business partner Jonathan Murray, who kicked off the reality trend in 1992 with "The Real World," were among the genre's most prolific producers.

Their series included "Road Rules," "The Love Cruise," "Making the Band," "Starting Over" and, most recently, Fox's "The Simple Life" with party girl and headline-maker Paris Hilton.

Bunim was "an extraordinary talent who pioneered an entire genre of television," Fox's entertainment president, Gail Berman said in a statement Friday.

Bunim, Murray and other producers upended the TV order as reality shows soared in popularity, eventually wresting chunks of broadcast and cable schedules away from traditional scripted series.

While some critics decried the shows as base, sometimes exploitive entertainment, audiences and networks embraced them.

The Bunim-Murray productions targeted a young audience. "The Real World," for instance, threw a mixed group of young adults together as roommates, with an unblinking camera keeping tabs on them.

"Mary-Ellis opened our eyes and our hearts to a whole new way of looking at young adult programming," Judy McGrath, MTV Networks Group president, said in a statement.

The Bunim-Murray magic didn't translate to films, however. Their movie "The Real Cancun" was a critical and box-office dud.

Before she turned to real-life soap opera, Bunim had vast experience in the traditional kind. She was responsible for more than 2,500 hours of daytime TV as executive producer of "Search for Tomorrow," "As the World Turns," "Santa Barbara" and "Loving."

As a New World Entertainment vice president, she developed programming for children as well as for daytime and late-night.

The native of Northampton, Mass., is survived by her daughter, Juliana.

 

[Orgntr1]

Wow. R.I.P.