Michael O’Sullivan is one of the preeminent voices in unscripted television today,
owing to his unique talent in creating and executing television formats, challenges and competition series.
In addition to serving as executive producer of ABC’s award-winning, hit mini-golf competition, Holey Moley, O’Sullivan has been an integral part of many primetime hits, including, Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen (16 seasons); CBS’s Big Brother (8 seasons); multi-Emmy-winning Amazing Race (4 seasons), and Survivor (2 seasons); and NBC’s The Biggest Loser (3 seasons).
O’Sullivan’s expertise in sports and kids programming comes to the forefront on the NHL Skills Competition, The Kids’ Choice Sports Awards, Superstar Slimedown at Super Bowl LII, and Keep It Spotless for Nickelodeon; USA’s The Secret Life of 5-Year-Olds; NBC’s Endurance; CBS’s Kid Nation; ABC’s Superstars; and Spike’s Pros vs. Joes.
O’Sullivan is an idea guy, and has created some of the most memorable and comedic challenges in modern television history, such as pitting animals against humans for Fox’s Man vs. Beast; sending mall Santas to the Chimney Training Facility in TruTV’s Santas in the Barn; and dropping 16 socialites out of an airplane into the Australian Outback for TBS’ dating show, Outback Jack.
From rappelling down the highest skyscraper in Shanghai, to coordinating a fleet of helicopters over Sao Paolo, to traipsing through croc-infested waters and sleeping in a tent, O’Sullivan has created and produced in the most extreme of environments, all across the globe.
A native of Sag Harbor, New York, O’Sullivan is a FAA licensed pilot, and began his career in television as an intern at VH1’s Behind The Music, before landing his first challenge department job in 2001 on UPN’s gladiator-style series, Battle Dome.
Michael O’Sullivan has designed over 3000 aired challenges, approximately 1500 of which have been large-scale physical builds designed and created by him.
Erin Cristall is co-founder of, and Head of Development for, Mike O’Sullivan, Inc., where she works with Michael O’Sullivan
to create, develop and produce game, competition and formatted content for clients ranging from entertainment groups like NBC Universal, to big brands like Hasbro, to A-list celebrities.
Over 20 years in unscripted development, Cristall has launched some of the most notable programs in reality television history, and built upon existing shows to expand them into full-fledged reality brands. As an executive at Bunim/Murray Productions, New Line Television, and A. Smith & Co. Productions, Cristall was charged with increasing business by creating television series that would appeal to networks’ target audience, and obtain viewers outside that audience. She achieved this goal many times over by developing and overseeing over 30 hit series, and pilots, from Lifetime’s “Project Runway All-Stars,” to Oxygen’s “Best Ink.” Cristall served as Co-Executive Producer on multiple series she oversaw.
Cristall is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California’s Peter Stark Producing Program, a published artist, a flautist, and a card-carrying member of MENSA. Cristall is a graduate of the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts.