51 Minds Entertainment (or Fifty One Minds Entertainment) is a production company founded by Cris Abrego and Mark Cronin, that specializes in reality TV. 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. The company has been credited in helping revive VH1 ratings during this time. In 2008, the company was purchased by Endemol.
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.
In 2010, the company branched out in Internet distributed programming, producing The Tester for the PlayStation Network. 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.
Filmography As 51 Minds Entertainment 2000s +TitleCreator(s) / Developer(s)Premiere dateEnd dateNetworkNote(s)The Surreal LifeCris AbregoMark CroninJanuary 9, 2003September 3, 2024VH1First television show created by the company. Credited as Mindless Entertainment for the first six seasons.Strange LoveJanuary 9, 2005April 24, 2005My Fair BradySeptember 11, 2005March 9, 2008Flavor of LoveJanuary 1, 2006May 26, 2008First reality dating "of Love" show created by the company.Celebrity Paranormal ProjectOctober 22, 2006December 17, 2006I Love New YorkJanuary 8, 2007January 6, 2008Spin-off to Flavor of Love.Gotti's WayOctober 8, 2007June 22, 2009Rock of Love with Bret MichaelsJuly 15, 2007April 19, 2009Charm SchoolApril 15, 2007July 27, 2009America's Most Smartest Model October 7, 2007 December 16, 2007I Love MoneyJuly 6, 2008December 1, 2010Real Chance of LoveOctober 20, 2008October 26, 2009Daisy of LoveApril 26, 2009July 26, 2009First spin-off to Rock of Love with Bret Michaels.Megan Wants a MillionaireAugust 2, 2009August 16, 2009Second spin-off to Rock of Love with Bret Michaels.New York Goes to WorkMay 4, 2009June 29, 2009For the Love of Ray JFebruary 2, 2009February 8, 2010
2010s +TitleCreator(s) / Developer(s)Premiere dateEnd dateNetworkNote(s)Frank the Entertainer in a Basement AffairCris AbregoMark Cronin January 3, 2010 March 28, 2010 VH1Spin-off to I Love New York and I Love Money.The TesterSony Computer EntertainmentFebruary 18, 2010April 3, 2012PlayStation NetworkBrandy & Ray J: A Family BusinessCris AbregoMark CroninRay JApril 11, 2010February 27, 2011VH1Ochocinco: The Ultimate CatchBob HorowitzLewis FentonCris AbregoMark CroninChad OchocincoJuly 11, 2010September 5, 2010Money HungryCris AbregoEllen RakietenAugust 2, 2010October 4, 2010Real and Chance: The Legend HuntersCris AbregoMark CroninSeptember 19, 2010November 24, 2010La La's Full Court WeddingOctober 24, 2010Bret Michaels: Life as I Know ItBret MichaelsCris AbregoMark Cronin October 18, 2010 December 20, 2010Third spin-off to Rock of Love with Bret Michaels.Mario Lopez: Saved by the BabyCris AbregoMark CroninNovember 1, 2010January 3, 2011BridalplastyNovember 28, 2010January 30, 2011E!Same Name July 24, 2011 August 14, 2011CBSFamous FoodJuly 10, 2011September 7, 2011VH1Ton of CashAugust 17, 2011October 26, 2011La La's Full Court LifeLa La AnthonyCris AbregoAugust 22, 2011July 2, 2014Spin-off of La La's Full Court Wedding.ScoutedCris AbregoMark CroninNovember 28, 2011January 16, 2012E!T.I. & Tiny: The Family HustleBrian SherCris AbregoStella Bulochnikov December 5, 2011 May 29, 2017 VH1Redneck IslandSteve AustinJune 9, 2012March 31, 2016CMTMarrying the GameJayceon TaylorTiffany ClambridgeNovember 19, 2012July 2, 2014VH1Ghost MineMark CroninJanuary 16, 2013November 20, 2013SyfyWhodunnit?Anthony E. ZuikerJune 23, 2013August 18, 2013ABCBelow DeckMark CroninJuly 1, 2013presentBravoSecond longest-running show franchise by the company.Mind of a ManJanuary 8, 2014May 14, 2014Game Show NetworkSteve Austin's Broken Skull ChallengeSteve AustinJuly 6, 2014December 19, 2017CMTIn co-production with Broken Skull Productions.Sisterhood of Hip HopT.I.August 12, 2014September 13, 2016VH1Follow the RulesJa RuleOctober 26, 2015December 7, 2015MTVBelow Deck MediterraneanMark CroninMay 3, 2016presentBravoTruck Night in AmericaChristian Sarabia James Patrick Costello IIMarch 18, 2018March 28, 2019History ChannelThe Grand HustleT.I.July 20, 2018October 4, 2018BETT.I. & Tiny: Friends & Family HustleT.I. Tameka Cottle Brian SherOctober 22, 2018June 29, 2020VH1
2020s +TitleCreator(s) / Developer(s)Premiere dateEnd dateNetworkNote(s)Below Deck Sailing YachtMark CroninFebruary 3, 2020presentBravoMarried to Real EstateEgypt SherrodMike JacksonJanuary 13, 2022May 28, 2025HGTVBelow Deck Down UnderMark CroninMarch 17, 2022presentBravoAired on Peacock for its first season.Hack My HomeMing Lee HowellJuly 7, 2023Netflix References