Bunim/Murray Productions
Bunim/Murray Productions is an entertainment production company based out of Glendale, California, and is considered a pioneer in the reality television genre. It is best known for The Real World, Road Rules, Bad Girls Club, and Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray co-founded Bunim/Murray after agent Mark Itkin of the William Morris Agency put the two together to develop a scripted soap opera for MTV. When that was too expensive, they decided to try an unscripted soap and The Real World was born. "We knew within 20 minutes of shooting that we had a show," Bunim said.[2] The company has expanded into music management, managing the pop punk/emo band A Cursive Memory. In March 2010, the company was acquired by Banijay Entertainment (former name of Banijay Group).[3]
Subsidiary | |
Industry | Entertainment |
Founded | 1987 |
Founder | Mary-Ellis Bunim Jonathan Murray |
Headquarters | , |
Area served | Worldwide |
Parent | Banijay Group |
Website | www |
Current television shows
- Ball in the Family
- Born This Way
- The Challenge
- The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars
- The Crystal Maze
- El Mundo Real
- Emily's Wonder Lab
- Endless Summer
- Family or Fiance
- Growing up is a Drag
- Keeping Up with the Kardashians
- Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project
- Miz & Mrs.
- Project Runway
- Project Runway All Stars
- The Real World
- Stranded with Sam and Colby
- Surviving R. Kelly
- Total Bellas
- Total Divas
- Valerie's Home Cooking
Past television shows
- #SOS stylist on set
- Allure Incubator
- American Families
- America's Psychic Challenge
- Bad Girls Club
- Bad Girls All-Star Battle
- Bad Girls Road Trip
- Best Ink
- Born to Diva
- BRKDWN
- Chachi's World
- Citizen Rose
- Dash Dolls
- Disney TRYathlon
- Dr. Steve-O
- Earth Live
- The Gary Owen Show
- Girl Next Door
- GloBugz!
- Happy Wheels
- The Healer
- Howard Stern
- I Am Cait
- Khloé & Lamar
- Kourtney and Kim Take Miami
- Kourtney and Kim Take New York
- Kourtney and Khloé Take The Hamptons
- L'Oreal Paris Academy
- Life of a Fitness Pop Star
- Life of Kylie
- Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club
- Living Lohan
- Lookbook
- Love Cruise
- Love Games: Bad Girls Need Love Too
- Love Thy Sister
- Making the Band
- Mariah's World
- Married to Rock
- Models of the Runway
- Motor City Masters
- Mrs. Eastwood & Company
- Murder
- Old Skool with Terry and Gita
- One Ocean View
- The Rebel Billionaire
- Reunited: The Real World Las Vegas
- Road Rules
- Rob & Chyna
- Saddle Ranch
- The Scholar
- The Selection
- The Simple Life
- Ski Patrol
- So Cosmo
- The Spin Crowd
- Starting Over
- Stewarts & Hamiltons
- Styl'd
- Supreme Court of Comedy
- Under the Gunn
- Undressed
- Wildlife Rescue Rangers
- WWE Legends' House
Films and documentaries
- Autism: The Musical
- Camp Steve-O
- Pedro
- Personally Yours
- The Real Cancun
- The Real World Movie: The Lost Season
- The Real World Presents: Return to Duty
- Shadow Billionaire
- They Call Us Monsters
- Transhood
- Valentine Road
- Wealth Hunters
Sexual assault controversy
In October 2011, two years after Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Ruins aired, contestant Tonya Cooley filed a lawsuit against fellow contestants Kenny Santucci and Evan Starkman, MTV, and Bunim/Murray Productions, claiming that she was sexually assaulted during filming. Cooley claimed in the lawsuit that Santucci and Starkman inserted a toothbrush into her vaginal canal while she was passed out from heavy drinking, and stated that she was subjected to an environment in which degrading and harassing behavior was directed at female contestants, including bathing suits stripped off their bodies. A representative for Bunim/Murray said that "after a thorough investigation, we have found Tonya Cooley’s claims to be completely baseless."[4] Cooley also alleged that the show's producers encouraged and rewarded such behavior, and that when she raised concerns she was told to "just deal with it." A representative for Viacom blamed Cooley for the alleged assault against her, stating in court that "in addition to failing to avail herself of VMN's policies and complaint procedures, Plaintiff failed to avoid the injuries of which she complains. For example, while she was a contestant on The Ruins, Plaintiff was frequently intoxicated (to an extent far greater than other contestants), rowdy, combative, flirtatious and on multiple occasions intentionally exposed her bare breasts and genitalia to other contestants." The lawsuit was settled out of court one year later.[5]
References
- "Bunim/Murray Productions". www.bunim-murray.com. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- Albiniak, Paige. "Real World Creator Bunim Dies at 57". www.broadcastingcable.com. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
- Schneider, Michael (25 March 2010). "Bunim-Murray acquired by Banijay; 'Real World' producer bought out by French co". Daily Variety. Retrieved 10 Jun 2010.
- McKay, Hollie (November 4, 2011). "Tonya Cooley 'Confused and Frightened' After Alleged Sexual Assault on MTV Show, Source Says". Fox News. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
- Gardner, Eriq (October 24, 2012). "MTV Settles Lawsuit With 'Real World' Cast Member Who Alleged Rape (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 13, 2018.