GAME ON
Michael Agbabian’s original approach to the TV game show pays off with critics and fans S E G A M
Michael Agbabian proud- /GETTYI
ly holds the Critics Choice LD
Television Award for best OFIE
reality competition series CH E S E
presented to Face Off. V STE
20 THE INSIDER | www.agbu.org Te
Entertainment SPECIAL GAME ON
Michael Agbabian Profession: Executive Producer Show: Hollywood Game Night Location: Los Angeles, California
www.agbu.org | THE INSIDER 21 FOR ARMENIANS NOT TO BE PART OF [THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUS“TRY] IS TO MISS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY EXPRESS THEMSELVES BUT TO HAVE SOME INFLUENCE OVER WHAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE SEE AND HEAR… ”
In Hollywood Game Night, viewers are invited into a secret world of celebrity party-style game nights
he realm of reality tele- and his partner at Mission Control Media, Te company is no stranger to awards, vision is largely defned Dwight D. Smith, have hit their mark. During punching way above its weight class. Its by a widely held and the 2014 Critics Choice Television Awards, most recent hit series is the popular Hol- often imitated belief presented by the Broadcast Television Journal- lywood Game Night (HGN), where viewers that bigger is better. ists Association, the nod to the Best Reality are invited into a secret world of celebrity From American Idol to Competition series didn’t go to the highly-fa- party-style game nights. Inspired by real The Apprentice, Survi- vored big network productions Te Amazing house parties hosted by Will and Grace ac- vor to Shark Tank, real- Race, America’s Got Talent, Dancing with the tor Sean Hayes, the show features a mix of ity competitions are multimillion-dollar Stars or The Voice, but instead was bestowed celebrities and contestants participating in Tproductions where show producers are con- upon Mission Control Media’s underdog can- off-the-wall original contests where the stantly chasing the biggest celebrities, most didate Face Of, airing on the Syfy network. contestants play for cash and the celebrities exotic shoot locations or billionaire investors Now in its tenth season, the compelling try to win money for charity. Unlike the to inject a wow factor. It’s a familiar formula series pulls back the curtain on a rarely cel- high-pressure atmosphere under the blue Michael Agbabian has spent his entire ca- ebrated Hollywood occupation—special lights of other reality games shows, Holly- reer adamantly avoiding—to remarkable effects makeup artists—and showcases wood Game Night ofers a relaxed environ- success. “Every format has been tried and their incredible artistic talents as they mas- ment where guests can even order an drink fgured out and has famed out or been suc- terfully transform their subjects into aliens, from the on set bar. “It’s about fun, not cessful and it’s really hard to come up with a dinosaurs, hybrids and other remarkable prize money,” says Agbabian. “Te games fresh concept, but that’s what we do here creations while providing television’s argu- are fun and diferent and haven’t been seen —original concepts,” says Agbabian. ably most dramatic reveal moment. For before, and the biggest piece of it is that
As co-president of Mission Control Media, Agbabian, what’s even more gratifying than celebrities are being themselves.” HGN, C Agbabian specializes in producing original, the recognition is being able to impact peo- which will enter its fourth season next year, NB non-scripted television that takes risks to pro- ple’s lives who appear on the show. “We’ve has won every award for which it has been vide viewers with something they have never launched the careers of so many people in nominated, including an Emmy for Jane RAE PATTON/ RAE seen before. Judging by the critics, Agbabian the makeup industry. Tat’s a big deal.” Lynch as Outstanding Host for a Reality- T
22 THE INSIDER | www.agbu.org Competition Program. Te show’s writers the likelihood that a network has already tunity you have is worthy of pursuing and were recognized this year with the Writers heard a similar pitch is extremely high. Te anyone you meet is worth pursuing.” Guild of America award in the Quiz and challenge is coming up with an original Agbabian credits his own persistent nature Audience Participation category. twist that works for one network and not and drive to work hard to his father, Mihran Te entertainment industry is where Ag- others—a challenge, it seems, Mission Agbabian, who built his own successful engi- babian says he knew he wanted to be since he Control Media relishes taking on. Agba- neering frm from the ground up and was one was young. “I felt it in high school actually. I bian draws inspiration from a wide variety of the founding members of the American felt either flm or TV was my calling. I was of surprising potential sources. “We are University of Armenia (AUA). “Visiting my always a creative person and enjoyed writing inspired by news, articles, even a title or a dad at the ofce and seeing all these employ- plays and short stories, and when I got to series of words that spurs an idea that we ees working for him and all the obstacles he high school, I realized I could make a career think would make an interesting show.” overcame to live the American dream really in flm and TV.” After graduating from the Te entertainment industry in LA is also infuenced me. I think surviving in this in- prestigious USC flm school, Agbabian pro- notoriously difcult to break into as a gradu- dustry would have been much harder had it duced an independent flm, but later gravi- ate looking for his frst job. Agbabian consid- not been for my Armenian heritage.” tated toward the fast paced and more imme- ers himself lucky to have beneftted from a Apart from friends and family, Agbabian diate medium of television, developing game two month long internship—part of the notes that he has little exposure to that and reality shows in a much more fexible and AGBU Los Angeles Summer Internship heritage working in an industry in which rewarding atmosphere. “I feel very strongly Program—with producer Scott Stone who there are relatively few Armenians. He is about creating an environment in which created the Emmy-award winning kids series hopeful that will change and encourages people feel they can do their best and that Fun House. “I learned a lot about production more Armenians to seek careers in televi- shows up on screen.” and how games are put together. It was a fan- sion and film production. “I would love Working in the entertainment industry tastic experience,” he recalls. Tat relationship more Armenians to be involved,” Agbabian has its own set of unique challenges. As with AGBU continued when he later found- says. “For Armenians not to be part of that audiences become ever more fragmented ed the AGBU Young Professionals of Los is to miss a huge opportunity to not only with the rapid expansion of specialty chan- Angeles (YP Los Angeles), organizing express themselves but to have some infu- nels and digital streaming, generating new events, exhibits and a mentorship program. ence over what millions of people see and original content has become increasingly He has some tough advice for graduates as- hear. I think that’s very valuable because difficult. “It’s very hard, to be honest, to piring to work in the industry: “Get used to ultimately what the entertainment industry come up with fresh concepts,” acknowl- rejection! But be persistent and move for- does is it helps defne popular culture which edges Agbabian. “It gets harder every year.” ward.” It’s critical, he adds, to live in either is one of the greatest exports the United Not only are the networks growing more New York or LA “Tis town is defnitely one States has and it’s become so much a part of risk averse, with that much competition of connections and networking so any oppor- people’s daily lives.”
www.agbu.org | THE INSIDER 23