One day I was writing and producing television. The next, I was competing on it.

Courtesy: TV Guide Channel/America's Next Producer

In 2007, I traded the CNN newsroom for reality television when I became a contestant on the TV Guide Channel's reality competition series America's Next Producer.

Competing against nine other contestants from across the country, I ultimately finished in fourth place. But the experience taught me far more than how reality television works. It revealed the strange intersection between authenticity, performance, storytelling, and editing.

The Hollywood Reporter

As someone who had spent years working behind the scenes in television, I found that stepping in front of the cameras offered an entirely different perspective.

These stories explore what it was really like to compete on reality TV and how the experience changed the way I think about the shows we watch.

What to Expect

  • Behind-the-scenes stories from America's Next Producer
  • How I got cast
  • What surprised me most about being on reality television
  • The difference between what happened and what made it to air
  • Lessons learned from moving from producer to participant

Coming Soon: Featured Stories

I'm currently writing a memoir about my experiences during Guiding Light's final years. I worked in the newsroom right next door to the soap's soundstage. Subscribe here for updates.