CURREN FLOWS AT MTV
The veteran MTV exec has been promoted to President, Entertainment and Programming, with oversight over all development, production, program planning and scheduling for the channel, reporting to MTV Networks Music Group President Brian Graden.
In addition, MTV has greenlighted a new programming slate under Curren, with a brand-new series of shows.
The slate includes the user-generated content series, Scarred, showcasing the individuals behind some of the web’s most popular clips as they share the stories behind their scars; Room 401, the latest supernatural invention from Katalyst Film and TV; Kaya, the scripted story of a musically-gifted girl who struggles with becoming an overnight sensation; Me & Mr. Jones, a half-hour music series documenting the lives of Nas and Kelis; and The Kentucky Kid, chronicling the life of pro motorcycle racer Nicky Hayden.
Curren has presided over a number of hits which has solidified MTV’s position as the #1 rated 24-hour ad-supported cable network among the P12-24 demo for the 15th straight year.
Commented Graden: “Lois has an amazingly steady, intuitive creative touch, and over the past eight years, has delivered an unparalleled string of cultural touchstones, including The Osbournes, Punk’d, Pimp My Ride, and most recently, Yo Momma. Her hit-making consistency, paradoxically, underpins MTV’s ceaseless creative reinvention. Lois, like our audience, is perpetually drawn to the next great idea, and she knows it when she sees it. We trust her gut, and our many artist partners trust her genuine passion, inarguable track record, and the fact that she herself began her television career as a writer. Lois has earned the title of President many times over, a moniker simply affirming the obvious and earned. Now, where’s my coffee, girl?”
During her tenure at MTV, Ms. Curren and her team have led the charge in the development and production of such hit series as Rob & Big, DanceLife, Bam’s Unholy Union, Newlyweds, Run’s House, Meet the Barkers, Making the Band, The Real World, Nick Cannon Presents: Wild N Out, Real World/Road Rules Challenges and a string of afternoon hits including Next, Exposed and Date My Mom.
Curren will also oversee all new and returning series including Adventures In HollyHood, Living Lahaina, Human Giant, Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz, Taquita and Kaui, Engaged and Underage and Rob & Big, all scheduled to begin airing in the second quarter this year.
Curren first joined MTV in June 1998 and has held a succession of positions, culminating in her most recent promotion this year to EVP MTV Series Entertainment. Before joining MTV, Curren developed and produced programming for Columbia Tristar Television. Prior to that, she was a development executive at Foxlab, where she was responsible for turning television concepts into programming, and spit-polishing Rupert Murdoch’s loafers.
