Master of Reality - Scott A. Stone

Award-Winning Exec Producer Scott A. Stone Has Made His Home at HCS for Nearly Two Decades
In 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, the new reality series that Scott A. Stone is executive producing for The Travel Channel, an adventurous young couple will embark on a 4-month, round-the-world journey of a lifetime. As anyone familiar with Scott's previous projects knows, the couple's trip will be chock full of surprising twists and turns, and getting there will be more than than half the fun.

Stone is one of the most successful independent producers in Hollywood with more than thirty television series under his belt. Like 1,000 Places…, many of them are reality series including such classic titles as, The Mole (ABC), The Joe Schmo Show (Spike TV), and Popstars (The WB).


What does it take to produce a great reality show?

Stone has an elegant answer: "A simple idea and a great cast."

Currently, Stone operates under the banner of Stone & Company Entertainment. He was previously a partner in Stone Stanley Entertainment and also served as Senior Vice President, First-Run Television at Lorimar-Telepictures, where he oversaw such hit series as The People's Court, Love Connection, and Let's Make a Deal. He has won many awards over the course of his career, including a Cable ACE Award for Legends of the Hidden Temple (Nickelodeon) and an Emmy for the syndicated Fox children's series Fun House.

For nearly 20 years, Stone has run his shows out of a suite of offices at Hollywood Center Studios. Several of his shows have also been produced on the lot including Fame for NBC, Shop 'til You Drop for Lifetime/Family Channel/PAX, Loveline for MTV and Comedy Central's The Man Show, which helped launch the careers of Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla. Depending on his production schedule, Stone may have anywhere from 50 to 500 people working for him at HCS.

Stone says that he likes the vibe of the lot ("It immediately feels like you're in show business.") and it's also very practical. "When we need a big stage it's here for me, and when we need a small one, that's here too. The studio's staff is always great at accommodating us," he says. "But what I really like is being able to walk out of my office and visit the set, then hit Kober Post Production, and still make it back to the office for a meeting by the end of the day. It saves time and energy."

Although he doesn't mind sending others on globe-trotting adventures, Stone prefers to do his work close to home. From his office at Hollywood Center Studios, he notes, Burbank, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica are all just a short drive away. He is also very near his residence in Hancock Park. "I can leave my office at 7:15," he says with a smile, "and be home by 7:25."