Christopher Cucci
Chris Cucci is a six-time Emmy Award-winning producer and creative executive with over 15 years working in unscripted television. His credits include producing over 2,500 episodes of daytime television as a Co-Executive Producer for The Ellen DeGeneres Show, as well as over a hundred hours of primetime television on hit shows like, Ellen’s Game of Games, Ellen’s Greatest Night of Giveaways, Family Game Fight with Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard, and HLN’s Heads Up: The Game Show.
During his time at The Ellen DeGeneres Show, he produced heart-warming, funny and innovative content, while managing the entire production process and working with talent of all levels. While leading the Human Interest department at the show, he booked and produced many exclusive topical news stories and headline-making guests, including the first in- studio appearances of the Thai soccer team rescued from a cave, teen climate activist Greta Thunberg, “Miracle on the Hudson” survivors, and many others… consistently outperforming morning and daytime show competitors. He also produced hundreds of celebrities and athletes, and field produced tape pieces at countless major events, including Super Bowls, NBA All Star Weekends, and the Presidential Conventions.
In the digital space, he has created and produced branded original digital series under Warner Bros’ Ellen Digital Ventures banner, garnering over 100 million views across platforms. These series created viral, meaningful moments while seamlessly integrating multi-million dollar brand partnerships, with brands such as Walmart, Target, Shutterfly, and Hasbro. Series include: Summit (docu-follow unscripted series), Young Dylan’s Mixtape (celebrity interview show), Go RVing with tWitch & Allison (travel series), Aidan’s Magic Corner (magic-based celebrity interview show), and many others.
PRODUCING REEL
PORTFOLIO
With hundreds of hours of interview segments, tape pieces, and digital series’ produced, this is just a small selection of some of my work.
RESUME
ABOUT
Six-time Emmy Award-winning Producer and Creative Executive, with a successful history of developing and producing innovative and high-quality content for television and digital audiences. A creative story-teller adept at managing the entire production process with a keen ability to develop and collaborate with talent of all levels.
EDUCATION
Ithaca College
Park School of Communications
Ithaca, NY
EXPERIENCE
DEVELOPMENT PRODUCER & WRITER
January 2022 – Present
Created and developed television shows in the unscripted and game show space. Created formats, pitch decks and materials to pitch to executives and buyers from Netflix, NBC Universal, Paramount, ABC/Hulu, and Lifetime. Current series optioned by Warner Bros.
THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW / Telepictures
Co-Executive Producer
August 2007-May 2022
Produced talk show interviews ranging from celebrities, athletes, topical news stories, and talented kids. Executed every step of the process; researching, pitching, booking, pre-interviewing, media training, briefing guests and host. Also produced variety acts in-studio, including musical performances, extreme talents, magicians, cooking and science demos. Field produced and directed segments outside of the studio while leading crews of 30 people or more at a time. Executed multi-million dollar integrations and branded segments.
ELLEN DIGITAL VENTURES /
Warner Bros
Supervising Producer
August 2016 – August 2021
Created, produced and oversaw the edit of multiple branded digital series that garnered millions of views on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
FAMILY GAME FIGHT / NBC
Supervising Producer
June 2021
Led the contestant producing team for a primetime game show hosted by Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard. Prepared all contestants to interact with celebrity hosts and play various games.
ELLEN’S GAME OF GAMES / NBC
Supervising Producer
May 2017 – August 2020
Led the contestant producing team for NBC’s #1 primetime game show hosted by Ellen DeGeneres. Worked with casting team to pitch contestants to Executive Producers and Network Executives. Prepared all contestants to interact with celebrity host and play various games.
ELLEN’S GREATEST NIGHT OF GIVEAWAYS / NBC
Supervising Producer
August 2019 – October 2019
Researched and booked heartwarming stories to be featured in NBC Primetime holiday special. Pitched guests and creative to Executive Producers and Network Executives. Field produced and executed gigantic surprises for tape pieces, involving multiple locations and upwards of 50 crew and talent at a time. Produced celebrity talent in the field and in-studio.
HEADS UP! THE GAME SHOW / HLN / Telepictures
Producer
May 2015 – July 2015
Worked on the contestant producing team for a game show hosted by Loni Love. Ran open casting calls with hundreds of potential contestants. Pitched contestants to network executives. Prepared all contestants to interact with celebrity host and play game.
BETHENNY / Telepictures
Producer
May 2012 – JULY 2012
Booked and produced segments for a successful Bethenny Frankel talk show 6-week test run on Fox stations.
ELLEN’S SOMEWHAT SPECIAL SPECIAL / TBS / Telepictures
Associate Producer
May 2010 – June 2010
Booked and produced variety acts for Ellen’s TBS special as part of Chicago’s Just for Laughs Festival.
Contact
If you’re looking for a producer for any upcoming projects, please reach out!