Brian Graden
Brian Graden | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1963 (age 57–58) |
| Education | Oral Roberts University (BA) Harvard University (MPA) |
| Occupation | Media executive |
Brian Graden (born 1963) is an American television executive.
Early life and education[]
Graden grew up in Hillsboro, Illinois,[1] and graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1981. He graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1985 with a degree in business, and later graduated with an MBA from Harvard University.
Career[]
He began working in television, ultimately becoming an executive at FOX, during which time he saw Trey Parker and Matt Stone's animated short film Jesus vs Frosty. He commissioned them to make another film to give as a Christmas card to his friends. The film, The Spirit of Christmas, became well known online and among celebrities and college students. He later helped Parker and Stone develop the animation into the series South Park.
In November 1997, Graden was promoted to executive vice president of programming at MTV following the abrupt resignation of Andy Schuon.[2]
In the April 2007 issue of Out, he was ranked the number ten most powerful gay person in America.[3] He has also been named one of the most influential executives in reality programming.[4]
Graden is the former President of Programming at MTV, VH1, CMT, and the LGBT channel, Logo, the launch of which he assisted in. He departed MTV Networks in late 2009.
References[]
- ^ Newcomb, Horace (June 2005). Encyclopedia of Television. pp. 1243–44. ISBN 9781419608353.
- ^ Hay, Carla (27 December 1997). "Vid channels feel merger mania; Strides made online". Billboard. ProQuest 227102196.
- ^ Oxfield, Jesse, Idov, Michael (March 4, 2007), ‘Out’ Ranks the Top 50 Gays; Anderson Is No. 2, New York Magazine. Retrieved June 28, 2007.
- ^ "Brian Graden: President of entertainment, MTV Networks Music Channels". Tvweek.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
External links[]
- Interview with USA Today
- Brian Graden at IMDb
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- 1963 births
- Living people
- Oral Roberts University alumni
- Harvard Business School alumni
- American television executives
- American Jews
- LGBT businesspeople from the United States
- LGBT people from Illinois
- Fox Broadcasting Company executives
- MTV executives
- American television biography stubs