<span style="font-size:18pt;">Tony DiSanto exits top job at MTV</span>

<span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Forming new production company with Ben Silverman</span>

By James Hibberd and Andrew Wallenstein

<span style="font-size:9pt;">MTV programming president Tony DiSanto is leaving the network after more than 20 years.

He and his top programming executive, Liz Gateley, are departing to form a production company backed by Ben Silverman's Electus.

Scripted programming head David Janollari is expected to take DiSanto's place.

DiSanto helped MTV rebound with such reality fare as "Jersey Shore" and "Teen Mom," with the network set to go wider into scripted programming with such series as "Skins" and "Teen Wolf." The executive first joined MTV as an intern in 1989.

Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music and Logo Group, said DiSanto's departure has been in the works for the past year. DiSanto has been continuing at the network these past months, Toffler said, after he requested that DiSanto stay on to help set the network up for its ongoing programming "reinvention," which includes adding scripted and animated shows as well as boosting its reality stable.

"We've built such a great team of people underneath Tony and are having so much success right now, with three quarters of ratings growth," Toffler said.

He expressed confidence that DiSanto's programming acumen will continue serving the network as a producer.

"We'll have a continuing relationship with Tony," he said. "He'll provide programming for us moving forward."

Gateley, who is senior vp series development, is credited with being the driving force behind the ultra-stylized crop of reality series that rejuvenated MTV as far back as 2004, beginning with "Laguna Beach." That series begat several spinoffs including "The Hills" and "The City" that made stars out of unknown teenagers like Lauren Conrad, who recently announced that she is returning to the network for a new series.

Toffler said he's "pretty sure" Janollari will stay on, with a formal announcement expected in the next couple of weeks. Janollari and other MTV executives will be elevated as DiSanto and Gateley exit.

Since joining MTV in July as executive vp scripted development, Janollari has begun adding scripted series including "The Hard Times of RJ Berger" to a primetime schedule previously composed entirely of reality shows. He has a strong track record in the genre, having produced scripted series in previous stints at the WB Network and Warner Bros. TV as well as at Greenblatt/Janollari, his joint shingle with Robert Greenblatt, whose credits include "Six Feet Under" and the CBS miniseries "Elvis."

Since leaving the top programming job at NBC in July, Silverman formed Electus with backing from Barry Diller's IAC. The digital media company, which concentrates on TV and multiplatform programming, already announced a deal with MTV for an interactive telenovela complete with brand integration, another Silverman specialty.

The Hollywood Reporter</span>

Edited October 1, 201015 yr by Sylph

He and his top programming executive, Liz Gateley, are departing to form a production company backed by Ben Silverman's Electus.

I hope this means less Z-list and badly staged "reality" on MTV.

You didn't like any of it – Laguna Beach, The Hills, The City...? Why? What bugged you the most?

You didn't like any of it – Laguna Beach, The Hills, The City...? Why? What bugged you the most?

It just all seems the same to me. I think I would be less annoyed if not for the awful "Speidi." And I also hate what has been done to Real World over the last ten years.

You are right: it was the same show. But I have honestly idea why you gave them a chance in the first place. They're something really distant from you, as I see it. You need genuine, raw emotions, slow pace, heart... There's no such thing in today's world. And thus in TV either. That is to pursue these shows wanting something so extraneous to them is doomed. There were other reasons why they were fun. When they were good.

People can bash the quality of the content all they want but lb/the hills are by far the best looking reality show ever.

People can bash the quality of the content all they want but lb/the hills are by far the best looking reality show ever.

Yep.

Plus, a quality reality show is kind of an oxymoron.

People can bash the quality of the content all they want but lb/the hills are by far the best looking reality show ever.

Can you get past the dead eyes and badly reconstructed faces/bodies?

Can you get past the dead eyes and badly reconstructed faces/bodies?

Yes, yes I can. I guess you're just not "cool" and "hip" Carl.

Can you get past the dead eyes and badly reconstructed faces/bodies?

Don't you watch ABC soaps?

Yes, yes I can. I guess you're just not "cool" and "hip" Carl.

Carl is jealous of fake bodies! LOL!

Don't you watch ABC soaps?

I have a history with those from when they weren't so plastic.

It doesn't help that a lot of the big media personalities from The Hills are either Speidi or that Audrina girl. She is nice, but on DWTS (although her plastic surgery fits in there as well), she is so vacant, and has these contrived little scenes where she weeps over how HARD this is for her and what a burden it is and her boyfriend is so upset, and Tony has to hug her as she boo hoos.

It's almost like having any actual personality of your own is not part of the contract of these shows.

Can you get past the dead eyes and badly reconstructed faces/bodies?

yes, because...

I have a history with those from when they weren't so plastic.

me too! i watched KCav, LC, Heidi, Audrina, Stephanie (Who got AMAZING surgery) all before they did surgery. To be honest i HATED a good chuck of them, yet was addicted.

I loved The Hills, it was this odd hybrid of reality and scripted. You never really KNEW one way or another. The things that went down were relatable, despite the over the top glamorous lifestyle. Who hasnt had a best fiend who dated a douche and caused tension, who hasnt dealt with rumors that got out of control, cheating, work drama, roommate drama, friends competing with eachother, relationships that are hard to end even though you know you should, etc. Sure most people dont deal with this at a hollywood club or on a yacht or in fiji, but still. Real or not, it was the best damn soap opera of the decade, by far. And the best looking show.

Furthermore, the finale of The Hills top any finale to a soap opera I have ever seen, and to most primetime shows for that matter.

Well, Jack, if you recommend it this highly, then I'm going to try it out.

Jack really put it right.

Well, Jack, if you recommend it this highly, then I'm going to try it out.

Id love it if you did, honestly.