Interview by Lori Bizzoco. Written by Delaney Gilbride.
The queen of reality TV, SallyAnn Salsano, has taken VH1 by storm and is back and better than ever! The self-made American television producer is the CEO and president of 495 Productions, which launched in 2006 and has been a success ever since. Salsano has produced a number of widely-loved television shows, including MTV’s Jersey Shore with its equally successful spin-off Snooki & JWoww. The entrepreneur has also produced popular reality TV series such as Friendzone, Party Down South, Blue Collar Millionaires, and the new VH1 show that everyone has been raving about, Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party.
Celebrity Interview with Reality TV Producer SallyAnn Salsano
In our recent celebrity interview, Salsano opens up about the idea behind her latest project. She had collaborated with VH1 in the hopes of creating a new, unique show that viewers would fall in love with — and boy, did they! When speaking about the birth of Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party, Salsano says the new president at VH1 asked her what kind of show she had been dying to create. She answered the question with an immediate response: “I would love to do a crazy, energetic celebrity cooking show,” which everyone at VH1 jumped right on board with. When going back and forth about who they wanted to co-star in the show, Salsano tells us she asked the room, “Why are we even discussing other people? I think Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg would be the best show ever.”
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After discussing the idea with the world-renowned chef, 495 Productions reached out to the rapper, but when they called him, he had already known about the show through Stewart. “They really are friends,” says Salsano. “It’s such an honor working with them.” Salsano relates the mega-stars to those on another one of her shows, CNBC’s Blue Collar Millionaires, by expressing how they started out just like every other aspiring blue collar worker: as entrepreneurs. “Even now, at this stage of their careers, they don’t take it for granted,” she adds.
Feeling inspired by the reality TV stars of her many shows, Salsano shares an important piece of career advice, saying, “You don’t have to be a rapper or an NBA star to make it big. You just have to have an interest in something, dedicate yourself to it, and be good at it. And sometimes, loving your job, regardless of what it is, is enough.”
Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party is the number one rated non-sports cable program in its time period with over three million viewers after only the second episode was released. Plus, it’s already been renewed for a second season. Salsano believes that the reason why the reality TV show is such a hit is because the duo makes the show extremely fun-loving and humorous for people of all ages.
She adds that the show has an underlying message of, “Come on, everyone — knock it off. We can all get along.” The renowned rapper and famous chef continue to cross generations and demographics with their celebrity relationship. People may wonder how they can be friends, but as Salsano explains, “When you look at who they really are as people, you come to realize that they have the same interests and the same sense of humor.” It doesn’t get any simpler than that.
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It’s no surprise that the reality TV producer loves working on the show. “If Snoop and Martha are on set, I’m on set,” she reveals. “It’s a fun day.” The stars actually have a lot of leeway when it comes to what they want to make in the kitchen. While Stewart makes, well, anything and everything she puts her mind to, Snoop is more of a “home cook” and uses recipes passed down by his mother. As Salsano shares, “He claims his mother always used to tell him, ‘You know what girls like? A man that cooks.’ And from then on, he has been making his signature dishes, like fried shrimp and catfish, for his family and friends.” Great relationship advice from Mamma Snoop!
SallyAnn Salsano Teases Future Bravo Reality TV Show & Jersey Shore Revival
Salsano also talked about her future projects in our celebrity interview. “There’s still so much I want to do,” she shares. The producer teased us with the notion that her first Bravo show will be coming out in the spring, but she’s not able to tell us much more than that she’s extremely excited to share it with everyone when the time comes. She also revealed that she’s constantly thinking about reviving her past reality TV shows, including Friendzone, which is still one of her “favorite shows of all time.”
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Of the continued success of the Jersey Shore stars, Salsano says, “I love it. I get excited for them, watch everything they do, and root them on. I feel like I have a different kind of love for them — I feel like I’ve known them from birth.” She also wants people to know that the stars of the hit MTV show are more than how they’re presented on camera. People don’t truly see “what great kids they are and what great families they’re from.”
Given her love for the reality TV stars, we had to ask if she ever thinks about doing a Jersey Shore revival. Without skipping a beat, she exclaims, “Like every day! Every show runs its course, but you never know.” We’ve got our fingers crossed!
Be sure to tune in to Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party on Monday, March 6 on VH1 at 10pm ET. You can keep up with Salsano’s many projects on Twitter @sallyannsalsano!
