Michael O'Sullivan

Michael O'Sullivan is one of the preeminent producers of unscripted television today, owing to his unique talent in creating and executing reality television formats, challenges and competition series. O'Sullivan is called upon to develop show ideas in all stages, from a simple log line, to a series in its 18th season that needs a fresh take. His unique understanding of drama, and ability to build a competition to an exciting conclusion, have given many shows the elements they needed to make it to the screen or stay on the screen. O'Sullivan has been an integral part of many primetime hits, serving as co-executive producer on Fox's Hell's Kitchen (16 seasons); designing and executing creative for CBS's Big Brother (8 seasons), multi-Emmy-winning Amazing Race (4 seasons), and Survivor (2 seasons); and NBC's The Biggest Loser (3 seasons). O'Sullivan's unique expertise in sports and kids programming comes to the forefront on The Kids Choice Sports Awards, Superstar Slimedown at Super Bowl LII, and Keep It Spotless for Nickelodeon, USA's The Secret Life of 5-Year-Olds, NBC's Endurance, CBS's Kid Nation, ABC's Superstars, and Spike's Pros vs. Joes. O'Sullivan is an idea guy, and has created some of the most memorable and comedic challenges in modern television history, such as pitting animals against humans for Fox's Man vs. Beast; sending mall Santas to the Chimney Training Facility in TruTV's Santas in the Barn; and dropping 16 "Sex In the City"-type socialites, in high heels and dresses, out of an airplane into the Australian Outback for TBS' dating show, Outback Jack. From rappelling down the highest skyscraper in Shanghai, to coordinating a fleet of helicopters over Sao Paolo, to traipsing through croc-infested waters and sleeping in a tent, O'Sullivan has created and produced in the most extreme of environments, all across the globe. O'Sullivan's ingenuity extends to all types of projects, such as consulting for international companies looking to make inroads in the US, and designing a Rube Goldberg contraption for a Coca Cola commercial. Whether involving an enormous visual stunt, or an intimate psychological game, O'Sullivan's content causes conflict and drives story. A native of Sag Harbor, New York, O'Sullivan is a FAA licensed pilot, and began his career in television as an intern at VH1's Behind The Music, before landing his first challenge department job in 2001 on UPN's gladiator-style series, Battle Dome.