Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 11, 2026

Brian Graden

Brian Graden is an American television executive and founder and CEO of Emmy-winning Brian Graden Media, founded in 2013. Its series include Create Together, Escape the Night, HitRECord on TV, Finding Prince Charming, Lance Loves Michael: The Lance Bass Wedding Special, Walk of Shame, Gay Skit Happens, and The Disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

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Brian Graden
Born (1963-03-23) March 23, 1963
EducationOral Roberts University (BA)
Harvard University (MBA)
OccupationMedia executive

Brian Graden (born March 23, 1963) is an American television executive and founder and CEO of Emmy-winning Brian Graden Media, founded in 2013. Its series include Create Together (Emmy winner), Escape the Night, HitRECord on TV (Emmy winner), Finding Prince Charming, Lance Loves Michael: The Lance Bass Wedding Special, Walk of Shame, Gay Skit Happens, and The Disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

Graden was previously a senior vice president at Fox Lab, Fox’s alternative programming unit. While there he oversaw shows like COPS and America’s Most Wanted. He also created the relationship show, STUDS. In 1997, he became MTV’s executive VP of programming, and was put in charge of all programming. This was a change for MTV, as the network previously had four programming executives. In 2002, he was promoted to president of programming for MTV and MTV2. Later that year, after being asked to assess a struggling VH1, he was named President of Entertainment, MTV and VH1. He was responsible for the programming strategy and development slate for VH1, and the creative and business developments of MTV, MTV2, CMT, and eventually Logo, which was launched in 2005 as the first 24 hour gay and lesbian network with Graden as president.

As President of Entertainment, Graden oversaw and/or greenlit shows like Total Request Live, The Osbournes, Jackass, Jersey Shore, and Teen Moms for MTV; Best Week Ever and I Love the 80s for VH1; and RuPaul’s Drag Race for Logo.

Prior to his work with MTV, Graden worked with Trey Parker and Matt Stone as an executive producer of the hit animated series South Park.

Early life and education

Graden grew up in Hillsboro, Illinois,1 and graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1981. He graduated from Oral Roberts University1 in 1985 with a degree in business, and later graduated with an MBA from Harvard University.2

Career

Fox Network

Graden began working in television, ultimately becoming a senior vice president at Foxlab, Fox's alternative-programming unit, where he oversaw shows like COPS3 and America's Most Wanted.45261

South Park/Comedy Central

In 1995, he hired Trey Parker and Matt Stone to create a video Christmas card after seeing their animated short The Spirit of Christmas.718 This led to the hit video “Jesus vs. Santa.”1 Parker and Stone decided to further develop their characters and pitch a show to Fox.7 When the network decided not to pursue Stone’s and Parker’s animated series South Park, Graden left Fox and became an executive producer for the series.71910 It was picked up by Comedy Central.7

MTV Networks

In November 1997, Graden joined MTV as executive vice president of programming.1112 Under the role, Graden was responsible for all of MTV’s programming.12 This was a new structure for the network as it had previously had four programming executives.1213

In 2001, MTV partnered with groups including the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) to run a campaign that examined hate crimes.14 The campaign included using 17 hours of air time to run a scroll listing the names of hundreds of victims of hate crimes.14

In 2002, Graden was promoted to president of programming for MTV and MTV2.15 He was responsible for creative content on all platforms, and oversaw music, news and specials, production, talent and artist relations, animation, scheduling, and series development.10

In the spring of 2002 he was asked to assess VH1, which was struggling.1 After his review, he was put in charge of restructuring the network and was named President Entertainment, MTV and VH1.110 This made him additionally responsible for developing the programming strategy and development slate for VH1, as well as the creative and business developments of MTV, MTV2, CMT, and Logo.110

In 2005, Graden helped oversee the launch of Logo, the first 24-hour, completely ad-supported gay and lesbian cable network.16171819 Graden was also president of Logo.1617

In the April 2007 issue of Out, Graden was ranked the number ten most powerful gay person in America.20 He has also been named one of the most influential executives in reality programming.21

Brian Graden Media

In 2009, Graden announced he was stepping down as the president of entertainment at MTV Networks in order to focus on writing a musical, Limbo, and two books.1 In 2013, he founded Brian Graden Media (BGM) and is CEO.22423 The company’s original works have aired on Oxygen, Logo, YouTube, Netflix, and other networks.424 This includes Finding Prince Charming (Logo), Lance Loves Michael: The Lance Bass Wedding Special (E!), Walk of Shame (VH1), The Disappearance of Natalee Holloway (Oxygen), and Gay Skit Happens (Logo).2425

BGM’s show HitRECord on TV, which was created, hosted, and directed by Joseph Gordon Levitt,2426 has been nominated for Emmys twice, and won an Emmy in 2014, and the program Create Together won an Emmy in 2020.42728

In November 2021, BGM signed TikTok stars Robert Reeves, Mick Peterson, Bill Lyons, and Jessay Martin, to develop a docuseries about their lives.22 The four are known as the “Old Gays.”22

In June 2022, Netflix greenlit Stand Out: The Documentary, which examines the history of LGBTQ stand-up comedy.29 It will combine original performances, interviews, archival materials, and backstage vérité footage while exploring themes such as “comedy as activism, diversity in stand-up, new queer culture, and mainstreaming the alternative.”29 The executive producers are Graden, Dave Mace, and LB Horschler from BGM, and Wanda Sykes from Push It Productions.29

Series

Graden assisted in the development of and/or at one time oversaw:

Fox:

  • America's Most Wanted45
  • COPS53

Comedy Central:

MTV:

  • Boiling Points3132
  • Celebrity Death Match233
  • Cribs10
  • High School Stories3134
  • Jackass135
  • Jersey Shore4
  • Laguna Beach1536
  • Next31
  • Pimp My Ride4
  • Punk’d4
  • Room Raiders3137
  • Teen Mom38
  • The Hills15
  • The Newlyweds139
  • The Osbournes4041
  • Total Request Live (TRL)16

VH1:

  • Best Week Ever42
  • I Love the 80s43

Logo:

  • RuPaul’s Drag Race (moved to VH1 in 2017)44

Brian Graden Media:

  • Create Together - Emmy winner4546
  • Escape the Night47
  • Finding Prince Charming48
  • Gay Skit Happens24
  • HitRECord on TV - Emmy winner4728
  • Lance Loves Michael: The Lance Bass Wedding Special24
  • Walk of Shame24
  • The Disappearance of Natalee Holloway25

Awards

Graden received:

  • The EQCA Equality Leadership Award in 200549
  • The GLAAD Media Vito Russo Award for Excellence in Media4
  • The EQCA Award for Commitment to Advancing LGBT Equality4
  • The Equality Forum’s National Role Model award for his commitment to civil rights for the LGBT community4

Brian Graden Media received:

  • 2014 Emmy Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media - Social TV Experience - HitRECord on TV28
  • 2020 Creative Arts Emmy Award - Outstanding Innovation in Interactive Programming - Create Together2745

Graden and Logo TV received the 2018 Media Award.4

References

References

  1. Gillette, Felix (2009-08-18). "The Reinvention of Brian Graden". Observer. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
  2. Romano, Allison (2003-09-08). "His Finger Is on the Pulse of Pop Culture". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  3. "Cops". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  4. "Brian Graden: Stress Less and Trust the Work". Los Angeles, CA Patch. 2018-11-01. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  5. "America's Most Wanted". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  6. "Graden". Los Angeles Business Journal. 1998-09-13. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  7. Wilson, George (2022-09-09). "10 Influential Early Web Animations". Listverse. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
  8. Greene, Andy (2019-12-24). "Watch the First 'South Park' Short 'The Spirit of Christmas'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
  9. "South Park". Television Academy. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
  10. "Brian Graden Named President Entertainment, MTV and VH1". idobi Network. 2002-05-15. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  11. Hay, Carla (27 December 1997). "Vid channels feel merger mania; Strides made online". Billboard. ProQuest 227102196.
  12. "Graden's MTV mandate". Variety. 1997-12-17. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  13. Epstein, Jeffrey (2000-05-23). The Advocate. Here Publishing. pp. 77–79. ISSN 0001-8996.
  14. Wehrman, Jessica (2001-01-10). "MTV to help head off hate". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  15. Andreeva, Nellie (2009-06-15). "Brian Graden leaving MTV Networks". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  16. Fonseca, Nicholas (2005-07-01). "The Logo channel begins its run this week". Entertainment. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  17. "Brian Graden looks forward to Logo launch (16370)". www.advocate.com. 2005-06-28. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  18. Sternbergh, Adam (2005-06-16). "Brian Graden and Logo, the New Gay TV Channel". New York Magazine. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  19. Thomas, June (2012-07-04). "Gay TV is not just for gays anymore, Logo is finding". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  20. "The Power 50". www.out.com. 2007-04-03. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  21. "Brian Graden: President of entertainment, MTV Networks Music Channels". Tvweek.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  22. Kacala, Alexander (2021-11-05). "The 'Old Gays' are getting their own docuseries". NBC News. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  23. Petski, Denise (2021-10-29). "Brian Graden Media Bolsters Development Team With John Magennis As SVP & Bri Reed As Manager". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  24. Tartaglione, Nancy (2016-07-12). "Lance Bass To Host Logo's 'Finding Prince Charming' Gay Dating Competition Series". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  25. Robbins, Caryn. "THE DISAPPEARANCE OF NATALEE HOLLOWAY is Highest-Rated True Crime Series Premiere in Oxygen History". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  26. Easton, Anne (2015-06-10). "Joseph Gordon-Levitt on Why 'HitRECord ON TV' Is 'Bizarre and F*cking Awesome'". Observer. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  27. "Television Academy Announces Juried Winners for 72nd Emmy Awards". Sound & Picture. 2020-09-01. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  28. Bolden, Juliana J. (2014-08-14). "Joseph Gordon-Levitt on 'Hitrecord On TV' Winning an Emmy Award". Television Academy. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  29. Petski, Denise (2022-06-09). "Netflix Greenlights 'Stand Out: The Documentary', A Look At The History Of LGBTQ Stand-Up Comedy". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  30. "South Park". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  31. Martin, Denise (2004-12-10). "MTV dreaming of teens". Variety. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  32. "Boiling Points". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  33. "Celebrity Deathmatch". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  34. "High School Stories". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  35. "Jackass: An Oral History". www.maxim.com. 2010-10-26. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  36. "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  37. "Room Raiders". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  38. Hawks, Asa (2015-04-21). "MTV announces Teen Mom 2 Season 6 premiere date, more at 2015 Upfront presentation * starcasm.net". starcasm.net. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  39. Sternbergh, Adam (2005-06-16). "Brian Graden and Logo, the New Gay TV Channel". New York Magazine. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  40. Alexander, Bryan (2014-07-10). "What's the life cycle of a reality TV family?". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  41. Hartmann, Graham (2021-05-03). "'The Osbournes' Is the Most Iconic Reality Show of All Time". Loudwire. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  42. "Best Week Ever". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  43. "VH1 becomes the nostalgia network". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  44. Littleton, Cynthia (2019-10-14). "How RuPaul Paved the Way for the Art of Drag to Be Celebrated by the Masses". Variety. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  45. "Create Together With Joseph Gordon-Levitt". Television Academy. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  46. Andreeva, Nellie (2022-02-22). "Brian Graden Media Promotes Dave Mace To President, LB Horschler Rejoins Company As EVP Production". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  47. Smith, Alexandra (2018-10-11). "Brian Graden: Trust That the Universe Will Open the Right Doors". Los Angeles, CA Patch. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  48. Petski, Denise (2016-09-29). "'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' & 'Finding Prince Charming' Push Logo To Ratings Record". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  49. "Equality California Makes 2005 Awards". SM Mirror. 2005-08-25. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
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