51 Minds Entertainment (or Fifty One Minds Entertainment) is a production company founded by Cris Abrego and Mark Cronin, that specializes in reality TV.[1][2] It was created in 2004 as a merger between Cris Abrego's 51 Pictures (formerly Brass Ring Entertainment) and Mark Cronin's Mindless Entertainment.
The company is best known for producing the "celebreality" programs on VH1 (such as Flavor of Love, Rock of Love with Bret Michaels, Real Chance of Love, etc.) and other shows such as The Surreal Life, La La's Full Court Life, and the Below Deck franchise.
History
In 2005, the company signed a two-year, seven series production deal with VH1.[3] The company has been credited in helping revive VH1 ratings during this time.[4] In 2008, the company was purchased by Endemol (later Endemol Shine Group, now Banijay Entertainment).[5]
In 2009, after the Murder of Jasmine Fiore case, VH1 canceled Megan Wants a Millionaire and the third season of I Love Money, and 51 Minds was forced to reimburse VH1 for over $12 million in losses.[6][7]
In 2010, the company branched out in Internet distributed programming, producing The Tester for the PlayStation Network.[8] Other popular shows include Below Deck and their franchises on the NBCUniversal network Bravo.
In 2014, Cronin left the company to form Little Wooden Boat Productions, but still continued to work on shows by 51 Minds, such as Below Deck and Idiotest.[9][10][11]
Filmography
As 51 Minds Entertainment
2000s
2010s
2020s
2000s
2010s
2020s
References
- Bill Keveney. It's Flavor's time to shine; Rapper looks for love; genre finds success USA Today, 4 August 2006, retrieved 10 October 2010^
- Jon Lafayette. Outrageous Folks Fuel 51 Minds' Ideas; Building on VH1 Success, Producers Look to Broadcast Nets Television Week, 5 November 2007, retrieved 10 October 2010^
- Denise Martin. VH1 makes 'Surreal' deal; Cabler pacts with 'Life' producers for series Variety, 12 July 2005, retrieved 26 September 2010^
- Lynn Elber. At VH1, Two Reality Producers Rule The Boston Globe, 4 October 2007, retrieved 10 October 2010^
- Josef Adalian. Endemol lands reality house Variety, 2008-04-01, retrieved 2009-07-14^
- Megan Wants A Millionaire Officially Canceled blog.vh1.com, retrieved 2026-04-09^
- The murder that changed reality TV EW.com, retrieved 2026-04-09^
- Mike Snider. Have a PlayStation? You can watch 'The Tester'; Reality series is available only on consoles USA Today, 5 March 2010, retrieved 10 October 2010^
- Sadie Dean. Shaping Reality: An Interview with Prolific Emmy-Nominated Television Creator and Producer Mark Cronin Script Magazine, 2021-12-14, retrieved 2026-04-09^
- Interview with Reality TV Executive Producer Mark Cronin, Little Wooden Boat Prod, 51 Minds ipitch.tv, retrieved 2026-04-09^
- Mark Cronin natfluence, retrieved 2026-04-09^