Julie Pizzi

**Julie Ann Pizzi** (born December 14, 1971) is an American film and television producer. She is best known as a co-founder of PB&J Television, and is the current President at Bunim/Murray Productions and 51 Minds Entertainment.

Pizzi has won an Emmy Award for her work as an executive producer.

## Early life

Julie Ann Pizzi was born in Rhode Island on December 14, 1971.

Pizzi attended Northeastern University, a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, from 1989. She graduated with her bachelor's degree in journalism in 1994.

## Career

Pizzi began her career at Bunim/Murray Productions (BMP) in 1998, working as the Creative Vice President and as a Showrunner for six years, leaving BMP in 2004. She returned in 2015 and worked as the President of Entertainment and Development. On February 25, 2021, she was named as the company's new President, following the departure of CEO Gil Goldschein. Speaking on her promotion, she said: "I started my career at Bunim/Murray and was mentored by its founders, the late Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray. I have incredible admiration for the company they created and it's important for me to continue to build on what they built in both nurturing creativity and developing content that is both innovative and entertaining. At the same time, look forward to working with Cris Abrego, his team and Banijay globally as we shepherd Bunim/Murray into its next successful chapter. Cris is an industry leader, who also worked at BMP during the company's early years. He understands the uniqueness of the company, the brand and its culture." On September 23, 2023, Benijay Americas named her as the new President at 51 Minds Entertainment, a Banijay-owned company, after Christian Sarabia stepped down.

Pizzi co-founded PB&J Television with Patty Ivins in 2004. She serves as a Co-President.

Pizzi won her first Emmy Award in 2022, for her work as an executive producer on the Amazon Prime Video reality television series _Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls_.

Pizzi has served as an executive producer on the Hulu reality television series _Vanderpump Villa_. The series premiered on April 1, 2024, and focuses on Lisa Vanderpump and her hand-selected staff as they work, live, and play at an exclusive French estate: Château Rosabelle.

## Personal life

Pizzi married her college boyfriend, Daniel Joseph Daponde (born February 4, 1969). They have two sons together.

### As producer

|Year|Title|Role|Notes|Ref.|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|1998|_Titanic: Secrets Revealed_|Segment producer|Television film||
|1998|_Movie Magic_|Segment producer|||
|2000–2019|_Real World/Road Rules Challenge_|Executive producer|106 episodes||
|2003|_Born to Diva_|Co-executive producer|||
|2003|_Living Dangerously_|Assistant producer|||
|2004|_The Simple Life_|Co-executive producer|Episode: "The Reunion", Credited as; Julie-Ann Pizzi||
|2005|_Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search_|Executive producer|5 episodes||
|2005|_Modern Girl's Guide to Life_|Executive producer|10 episodes||
|2005|_Reversal of Fortune_|Executive producer|Television film||
|2006|_LA Riding Club_|Executive producer|3 episodes||
|2006|_Pageant School: Becoming Miss America_|Executive producer|Television special||
|2007|_Outrageous Proposals_|Executive producer|Television special||
|2007–2013|_Extreme Weddings_|Executive producer|||
|2007–2009|_Dress My Nest_|Executive producer|35 episodes||
|2008|_Miss America: Reality Check_|Executive producer|4 epiaodes||
|2008|_America's Prom Queen_|Executive producer|6 episodes||
|2008|_Date My House_|Executive producer|12 episodes||
|2009|_Blonde Charity Mafia_|Executive producer|6 episodes||
|2009|_Girls on the Wall_|Executive producer|||
|2011|_Bachelorette Party: Las Vegas_|Executive producer|8 episodes||
|2011–2014|_Bad Sex_|Executive producer|20 episodes||
|2013|_Matched by Design_|Executive producer|||
|2014–2015|_Flex & Shanice_|Executive producer|16 episodes||
|2015|_Fix My Mom_|Executive producer|||
|2017–2018|_Bill Nye Saves the World_|Executive producer|25 episodes||
|2017|_Undressed_|Executive producer|4 episodes||
|2017–2019|_Ball in the Family_|Executive producer|82 episodes||
|2017|_The Healer_|Executive producer|6 episodes||
|2018–2019|_Endless Summer_|Executive producer|24 episodes||
|2018|_The Challenge: CT's Getting Married_|Executive producer|Television film||
|2019|_Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club_|Executive producer|13 episodes||
|2019–2022|_Family or Fiancé_|Executive producer|44 episodes||
|2019|_El Mundo Real_|Executive producer|12 episodes||
|2019|_Real World: Skeletons_|Executive producer|3 episodes||
|2019|_Stranded with Sam and Colby_|Executive producer|8 episodes||
|2020|_Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project_|Executive producer|Television film||
|2020–2022|_Miz & Mrs._|Executive producer|||
|2021|_For Real: The Story of Reality TV_|Executive producer|||
|2021–2022|_The Real World Homecoming_|Executive producer|22 episodes||
|2021–present|_The Challenge: All Stars_|Executive producer|41 episodes||
|2021|_House of Creators_|Executive producer|12 episodes||
|2021|_Born for Business_|Executive producer|10 episodes||
|2022|_Like Mother, Like Daughter?_|Executive producer|8 episodes||
|2022|_WWE Evil_|Executive producer|Episode: "Hollywood Hulk Hogan"||
|2022|_Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls_|Executive producer|8 episodes||
|2022|_How Not to Be a Junkie_|Associate producer|Short film||
|2022–present|_The Challenge: USA_|Executive producer|26 episodes||
|2022|_After Happily Ever After_|Executive producer|8 episodes||
|2022–2024|_Don't Forget the Lyrics!_|Executive producer|||
|2023|_The Challenge: UK_|Executive producer|Episode: "Welcome to the Challenge"||
|2023|_Dead Hot: Season of the Witch_|Producer|||
|2023|_Buddy Games_|Executive producer|8 episodes||
|2023–2024|_The Family Stallone_|Executive producer|18 episodes||
|2023|_The Challenge: World Championship_|Executive producer|12 episodes||
|2024|_Vanderpump Villa_|Executive producer|11 episodes||
|2024|_The Life and Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson_|Executive producer|||
|2024|_The Never Ever Mets_|Executive producer|10 episodes||

### As additional crew

|Year|Title|Role|Notes|Ref.|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|2002|_Playboy: Who Wants to Be a Playboy Centerfold?_|Additional director|Television special||
|2004|_Real World/Road Rules Challenge_|Special thanks|Episode: "The Inferno II: Real World/Road Rules Challenge Uncensored"||

### As herself

|Year|Title|Notes|Ref.|
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|2005|_Real World/Road Rules Challenge_|Episode: "The Inferno II: Real World/Road Rules Challenge Uncensored"||
|2022|_The Challenge: Untold History_|2 episodes||

## Infobox (person)

- **name**: Julie Pizzi
- **birth name**: Julie Ann Pizzi
- **birth place**: Rhode Island, U.S.
- **nationality**: Americans, American
- **alma mater**: Northeastern University
- **occupation**: Film and television producer
- **years active**: 1998–present
- **spouse**: Daniel Daponde
- **children**: 2