{{Short description|American television producer, writer}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2014}} {{BLP sources|date=July 2009}}
'''Cris Abrego''' is an American television producer, writer, and former CEO of [[Endemol Shine North America]]. Abrego is now the Chairman of Banijay America Group and president and CEO of Endemol Shine Holdings.
==Early life== Abrego grew up in [[El Monte, California]]. He was a wrestler at [[California State University, Fullerton]] before graduating and moving to Los Angeles to work on reality television shows.<ref name="bc">{{cite web|url = http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/109651-The_Celebreality_Duo.php | title = The Celebreality Duo: The creators of The Surreal Life franchise keep on rocking the reality-TV world|first = Anne|last = Becker|date = July 22, 2007|publisher = Broadcasting & Cable|accessdate = July 14, 2009}}</ref>
==Career== After graduation from Mountain View High School, Abrego attended California State University, Fullerton. After graduation, he joined Bunim-Murray, working on ''[[The Real World (TV series)|The Real World]]'' and ''[[Road Rules]]'' television shows.<ref name="bc" /> While working for Bunim-Murray, Abrego freelanced as a coordinating producer for ''[[MTV's Fear|Fear]]'' and ''[[Making the Band]]''.<ref name="bc" /> In addition, he was the co-creator and executive producer for a reality version of the movie [[The Cannonball Run]].<ref name="bc" />
In 2002, Abrego created Brass Ring; a production company responsible for ''[[Next Action Star]]'', ''[[Surf Girls]]'' and ''[[The Hitchhiker Chronicles]]''.<ref name="bc" /> Soon after, he created 51 Pictures.<ref name="bc" />
In 2003, Abrego's 51 Pictures merged with [[Mark Cronin]]'s Mindless Entertainment to form [[51 Minds Entertainment]]. The two met through Abrego's agent.<ref name="bc" /> Together, they created ''[[The Surreal Life]]'' for the [[The WB Television Network|WB]] network. Soon after, the team created a string of "Celebreality" shows for [[VH1]], including ''[[Strange Love]]'', ''[[My Fair Brady]]'', ''[[The Surreal Life Fame Games]]'', ''[[Celebrity Paranormal Project]]'', ''[[Flavor of Love]]'', ''[[I Love New York (TV series)|I Love New York]]'', ''[[New York Goes to Hollywood]]'', ''[[Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School]]'', ''[[Rock of Love with Bret Michaels]]'', ''[[I Love Money]]'', ''[[America's Most Smartest Model]]'', ''[[Rock of Love Girls: Charm School 2]]'', ''[[La La's Full Court Life]]'', ''[[Real Chance of Love]]'', ''[[For the Love of Ray J]]'', ''[[Daisy of Love]]'', ''[[Megan Wants a Millionaire]]'', and ''[[Bridal Plasty]]''.
In 2014, Abrego became co-chairman and co-CEO of Endemol North America along with Charlie Corwin.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cris Abrego, Charlie Corwin to Head Combined Shine-Endemol-Core Media in North America|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cris-abrego-charlie-corwin-head-744560|access-date=2020-06-22|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 28, 2014 |language=en}}</ref> In January 2016, he was named Co-Chairman, Endemol Shine Americas. In November 2016, Abrego became CEO of Endemol Shine North America, and Chairman of Endemol Shine Americas.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|date=2016-11-02|title=Charlie Corwin Out at Endemol Shine North America, Cris Abrego Becomes Solo CEO (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/charlie-corwin-endemol-shine-north-america-big-brother-1201906590/|access-date=2020-06-22|website=Variety|language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0009312}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Abrego, Cris}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Cal State Fullerton Titans wrestlers]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Television producers from California]] [[Category:People from El Monte, California]] [[Category:American reality television producers]] [[Category:Henry Crown Fellows]]