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Gena McCarthy Biography

Birth Name:Gena McCarthy

Profession Producer, Production manager

Fast Facts

  • Graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English and history
  • Oversaw development for Discovery Channel on shows like "Deadliest Catch," "Mythbusters" and "Dirty Jobs․"
  • Started out as a copywriter and publicist for WQED Pittsburgh in 1993 and went on to become manager of development for the children's series "Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?"
  • Worked in programming and production for TLC for six years, co-developing reality series like "Junkyard Wars" and "Mostly True Stories: Urban Legends Revealed․"
  • Became the senior vice president of programming for the FYI network in 2013
  • Best known as the executive producer of "Project Runway" and "Dirty Jobs․"
  • As the senior vice president of reality and alternative programming for Lifetime, she worked on hit series like "Dance Moms," "Project Runway" and "Preachers' Daughters․"

Awards

  • 1998Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Series: nominated
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Reality Program: nominated
  • 2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Reality-Competition Program: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Reality-Competition Program: nominated
  • 2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Reality-Competition Program: nominated