What goes into the development of your favorite reality television shows? This special panel discussion event brings together producers and personalities from some of television’s most popular reality shows for a candid, behind-the-scenes conversation about the craft of the genre. Featuring professionals who have worked on such shows as Love Island, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Biggest Loser, Bar Rescue, and many others, the discussion will explore the creative and editorial decisions that shape these programs, and the experiences of those who appear on them. Presented in the spirit of our benefactors Marcy Carsey and Dick Wolf, two major television producers who believe in opening up thoughtful conversations about the medium of television, this panel offers a rare opportunity to hear from the reality television professionals on the complex process of crafting reality for the screen.

In this special panel discussion event, we will be joined by Sol Dean (reality television personality, Love Island USA), Jeff Jenkins (president of Jeff Jenkins Productions; producer, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives), John Polly (co-executive producer, RuPaul’s Drag Race), JD Roth (founder of 3 Ball Productions and GoodStory Entertainment; executive producer, The Biggest Loser), and moderator Hunter Hargraves (California State University, Fullerton).

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Sol Dean (reality television personality)

Sol Dean is a reality TV personality, model, and content creator who won over audiences as the unapologetically authentic bombshell on Love Island USA. Known for her confidence, humor, and refreshing honesty, Sol has built a loyal community drawn to her genuine personality and relatable take on beauty, fashion, and lifestyle. Based in Los Angeles, she also shares her passions for wellness, fitness, pottery, music, singing, and songwriting.

Jeff Jenkins (producer)

Jeff Jenkins is president of Jeff Jenkins Productions, a full-service content company and joint venture launched in 2018 focusing on docu-series and unscripted formats. A twenty-year industry veteran, Jenkins previously was co-president of Bunim/Murray, overseeing development, sale, and executive production on an array of unscripted hits, including E!’s Kardashians franchise, encompassing flagship series Keeping Up With the Kardashians and the award-winning I Am Cait. He also served as executive producer on all five seasons of The Simple Life, Living Lohan, and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

John Polly (producer)

John Polly is a Co-Executive Producer for RuPaul’s Drag Race, a show he’s worked on since 2012. He’s produced fourteen regular seasons of the Emmy-winning series, as well as twelve seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars. He’s also worked as an Executive Producer on several other Drag Race-related projects, and served as a producer on other World of Wonder series such as Life With La Toya for OWN and The Trixie & Katya Show for Vice.

JD Roth (producer)

Award-winning producer JD Roth has built a television empire, creating some of the industry’s most successful and compelling entertainment programming. A reality television pioneer, Roth founded production company 3 Ball Productions in 2001 and championed "transformation television" with the creation of The Biggest Loser on NBC. JD’s passion for transformation became the foundation of his company’s brand, reflected in series like Bar Rescue, My Cat from Hell, and Master Chef, and many others. JD is currently a professor at USC Film School teaching development and production in unscripted television.

Moderator Hunter Hargraves (California State University, Fullerton)

Hunter Hargraves is Associate Professor in the Department of Cinema and Television Arts at California State University, Fullerton. He is the author of Uncomfortable Television (Duke University Press, 2023), the editor of a special issue of the journal Television & New Media on “Pandemic TV,” and many other journal articles, book chapters, and short-form essays on contemporary television, including reality TV.