Early in my career I met a young comedy icon who would go on to redefine comedy, culture, and creativity on television forever. Nick Cannon’s "Wild 'N Out" wasn't just a show; it was a movement. Here's a glance at our timeline:
?? Wild 'N Out Timeline:
2004: The concept is born after MTV's initial pass. Nick Cannon, leveraging his and Christina Milian's momentum from the hit film Love Don't Cost a Thing, finances his own sizzle tape, setting the stage for what would become "Wild 'N Out.” Shout out to Drew Tappon, who called me in to his office to reassure the correct placement of the infamous apostrophe in the now global brand!
2005: The inaugural season launches, featuring talents like comedy veteran Katt Williams and comedy-freshman Mikey Day, thanks to the casting genius of Blythe Asher. The show quickly establishes itself as a crucible of comedy and culture.
2007: I transitioned from MTV, as the network began focusing more on reality programming. Despite minimal support, "Wild 'N Out" continued to thrive on community and cultural resonance, but not on air and was eventually cancelled.
2012: Due to the success of viral clips on social media, Season 5 of "Wild 'N Out” is renewed and premiers on MTV2. It goes on to not only find new footing and quickly soars to become the #1 show on the network, marking a pivotal moment in its history.
2024: "Wild 'N Out" wins NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Reality Programming, a testament to its impact and the community's embrace. Congrats Annie Gillies, Nile Evans, Steve Paley, Amy Starr Chinnery, Paul Ricci and the whole WNO team (past and present) who have contributed to the tremendous success of this series.
I have be honest, I remember the day the show was green light and the call we made to let Nick Cannon and his team know we were moving forward... I never imagined it would go on to create 21 FREAKING SEASONS OF COMEDY, CULTURE, COMMUNITY & CREATIVE JOBS for generations!?Here's to 21+ more!
?? Humor has always been our key to unlocking meaningful conversations. Here's to the power of laughter, the strength of community, and the endless possibilities when we dare to dream big.
#comedy #culture #community #naacp
I'm curious, as we continue to grow and inspire, how do you use humor to propel your goals, values, and the crucial conversations our world needs? Meet me in the comments below and share a joke that zings truth and has the power to change the conversation! ????