Arthur Smith (producer)#A. Smith .26 Co.

{{short description|20th and 21st-century Canadian-born American television producer}}

{{infobox person

|name = Arthur Smith

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|11|25}}

|birth_place = Montreal, Quebec, Canada

|occupation = TV producer

|alma_mater = Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University)

}}

Arthur Smith (born November 25, 1960) is a Canadian television producer who is the chairman of A. Smith & Co.{{cite web|url=https://www.asmithco.com/people/arthur-smith/|title=Arthur Smith - A. Smith & Co. Productions|website=www.asmithco.com}} and of Tinopolis USA.{{cite web|title=Arthur Smith - A. Smith & Co. Productions|url=https://www.asmithco.com/people/arthur-smith/|access-date=2021-02-23|website=www.asmithco.com}} Best known for the reality competition shows American Ninja Warrior{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/site-search|title=Site Search|website=Television Academy}} and Hell's Kitchen,{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/brunico-issuu/docs/rs_-_may_june_2020_issue|title=Realscreen - May/Jun 2020|website=Issuu|date=23 June 2020 }} he was inducted into the Realscreen Hall of Fame in 2021,{{cite web|title=Arthur Smith to enter Realscreen Awards Hall of Fame|url=https://realscreen.com/2020/11/18/arthur-smith-to-enter-realscreen-awards-hall-of-fame/ |access-date=2021-02-17}}{{cite web|title=Summit '21: "Taste the Nation," "Don't F**k with Cats" feted with Realscreen Awards |url=https://realscreen.com/2021/01/25/summit-21-taste-the-nation-dont-fk-with-cats-feted-with-realscreen-awards/ |access-date=2021-02-17}} and was named Producer of the Year 2020 {{cite web |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/arthur-smith-brings-passion-to-reality |title=Arthur Smith Brings Passion to Reality|first=R. Thomas Umstead 17 |last=February 2020|website=Broadcasting Cable|date=17 February 2020}} by Broadcasting & Cable. He previously worked for CBC Sports, Dick Clark Productions, MCA Television Group, and Fox Sports Net. He has won multiple NAACP awards for his series Unsung,{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/8551677/2020-naacp-image-awards-winners|title=Here Are All the Winners From the 2020 NAACP Image Awards|magazine=Billboard|date=22 February 2020}} Rose D'Or Awards{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/japanese-game-show-tops-rose-83421|title='Japanese Game Show' tops Rose d'Or|date=May 5, 2009|website=The Hollywood Reporter}} for I Survived A Japanese Game Show, a Critics' Choice Real TV Award,{{cite web|url=https://www.americanninjawarriornation.com/2019/6/3/18651108/american-ninja-warrior-wins-critics-choice-real-tv-award-2019|title=American Ninja Warrior wins Critics' Choice Real TV Award|first=Nikki|last=Lee|date=June 3, 2019|website=American Ninja Warrior Nation}} a Realscreen Award{{cite web|url=https://awards.realscreen.com/Winners/Winner/2020|title=Realscreen Awards ★ 2020 Winners & Nominees ★|website=awards.realscreen.com}} and multiple Reality Television Awards.{{cite web|url=https://www.realitytelevisionawards.com/winners|title=WINNERS | American Reality Television Awards|website=ARTAS}} In addition, his shows have been nominated for Daytime Emmys,{{cite web |url=https://www.americanninjawarriornation.com/2019/3/21/18275911/american-ninja-warrior-junior-nominated-for-three-2019-daytime-emmy-awards |title=American Ninja Warrior Junior nominated for three 2019 Daytime Emmy Awards|first=Nikki|last=Lee|date=March 21, 2019 |website=American Ninja Warrior Nation}} Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards,{{Cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/american-ninja-warrior-is-nominated-for-a-2020-nickelodeon-kids-choice-award/ar-BB100lFu |title=American Ninja Warrior is nominated for a 2020 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award |website=MSN |access-date=2020-06-30 |archive-date=2020-07-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703030851/https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/american-ninja-warrior-is-nominated-for-a-2020-nickelodeon-kids-choice-award/ar-BB100lFu |url-status=dead }} Producers' Guild Awards{{cite web|url=https://www.americanninjawarriornation.com/2018/1/5/16854964/american-ninja-warrior-nominated-for-pga-award-outstanding-competition-television|title=American Ninja Warrior nominated for a PGA Award|first=Nikki|last=Lee|date=January 5, 2018|website=American Ninja Warrior Nation}} and People's Choice Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1587934/awards|title=American Ninja Warrior - IMDb|via=www.imdb.com}} Smith is also the author of REACH: Hard Lessons and Learned Truths from a Lifetime in Television, his memoir that was released in 2023, {{cite web|url=https://www.blackstonepublishing.com/products/book-fxwo|title=REACH: Hard Lessons and Learned Truths from a Lifetime in Television |via=www.blackstonepublishing.com}} which Forbes called an “immediate must-read.” {{cite news|last=Berman|first=Mark|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marcberman1/2023/05/31/reach-how-arthur-smith-used-the-power-of-reach-to-start-his-own-television-production-company/|title=Reach: How Arthur Smith Used The Power Of Reach To Start His Own Television Production Company

|newspaper=Forbes|date=May 31, 2023}}

Early life

Smith was born Montreal in 1960 and grew up in Hampstead, Quebec.{{cite news|title=Smith appointed new chief of CBC Television Sports|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=July 22, 1988}}{{cite news |last=Boone |first=Mike|title=There's a lot shaking in producer Smith's life – not counting quakes|newspaper=The Gazette|date=July 4, 1992}} He became interested in television during his youth, making predictions of television ratings and reading Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.{{cite news|last=Leung|first=Calvin|title=A. Smith's Heaven and Hell|newspaper=Canadian Business|date=June 2006}} At the age of sixteen he became a disc jockey in Montreal. He also acted in television commercials and two films; Pinball Summer and Hog Wild.{{cite news|last=Lang|first=Mark|title=Arthur Smith: It's showtime|newspaper=Mediaweek|date= May 4, 1998}} Smith attended Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in Toronto. He chose communications over theatre as his major. While at Ryerson, Smith continued to act. He appeared in episodes of Hangin' In and Flappers. He also recorded voice-overs for commercials and produced segments for the CBC Radio's Variety Tonight.{{cite news|last=Boone|first=Mike|title=28-year-old wunderkind heads to the top in CBC Sports|newspaper=The Gazette|date=July 31, 1988}} He graduated in 1982 and was class valedictorian. One of the first alumni to be inducted into Ryerson's Wall of Fame,{{cite web |url=https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/ryerson/alumni_2013winter/index.php?startid=31#/p/30|title=Ryerson Alumni - Winter 2013 - 31 |website=www.nxtbook.com}} he is also the founding sponsor of the Ryerson in LA program,{{cite web |url=https://www.ryerson.ca/fcad/news/2019/07/rta-in-la-takes-on-world-leading-creators-in-la/|title=RTA IN LA TAKES ON WORLD-LEADING CREATORS IN LA|website=Ryerson University}} which grants scholarships to numerous students from Ryerson to come to Los Angeles to learn about the entertainment business. In 2024, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), unveiled the newly renovated and renamed Arthur Smith Virtual Production Studio. {{cite web|url=https://www.torontomu.ca/the-creative-school/news-events/news/2024/12/shaping-the-future-of-film-and-television--the-arthur-smith-virt/

|title=Shaping the future of film and television: The Arthur Smith Virtual Production Studio

|via=www.torontomu.ca}}

Career

Smith also serves as the U.S. chairman {{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/caroline-baumgard-a-smith-co-1202663190/|title='American Ninja Warrior' Producer A. Smith & Co. Hires Banijay Studios North America's Caroline Baumgard As CEO|first1=Peter|last1=White|date=August 7, 2019}} of Tinopolis.{{cite web|url=http://www.asmithco.com/people/arthur-smith.aspx|title=Arthur Smith|publisher=A. Smith & Co.|accessdate=November 23, 2014}}

=CBC Sports=

During his final year at Ryerson, the CBC hired Smith as a junior producer. His first assignment was a profile of Canadian high-jumper Milt Ottey. He went on to work as a camera director for Hockey Night in Canada and a producer for the 1986 Commonwealth Games, World Junior Hockey Championships, and horse races from Woodbine Racetrack.

Smith was the lead producer for CBC's coverage of the 1984 Summer Olympics, 1988 Winter Olympics, and 1988 Summer Olympics. For his work on the 1988 games, Smith and his colleagues won Gemini Awards for excellence in sports and spot news coverage (of the Ben Johnson doping scandal). In 1987 he became the lead producer for the CFL on CBC, where he introduced new graphics, theme song and animation and a halftime magazine show. On October 10, 1988, at 28years old, Smith succeeded Don MacPherson to become the youngest person to ever head of CBC Sports. In his role, he acquired a number of broadcasting rights for the network, including the 1992 Winter Olympics, CART racing, and the World Figure Skating Championships.

=Dick Clark Productions=

In 1990, Smith left CBC to become vice-president of entertainment programming at Dick Clark Productions. In May 1993 he was promoted to senior vice president. During his tenure at Dick Clark Productions, Smith produced a number of television programs and specials, including the CableACE Awards and American Music Award.

=MCA Television Group=

In 1995, Smith joined MCA Television Group as senior vice president. His responsibilities included producing television specials, reality programming, and pay-per-view events.{{cite news|last=Hanson|first=Christine|title=Arthur Smith appointed senior vice president, MCA Television Group|newspaper=PR Newswire|date=December 19, 1994}} During his short time with MCA, Smith was able to get commitments from all of the Big Four networks.

=Fox Sports Net=

In 1996, Smith joined the fledgling Fox Sports Net as executive vice-president of programming, production and news. Smith helped propel the network into the world of cable sports, launching 22 sports networks.{{cite web|title=A. Smith & Co.'s Arthur Smith on 20 years of passionate productions|url=https://realscreen.com/2020/07/09/a-smith-co-s-arthur-smith-on-20-years-of-passionate-productions/|access-date=2021-02-23}} He also served as executive producer on all network events including major league baseball, college football and all original programming including Fox Sports News, Hardcore Football, NFL Total Access, The Last Word with Jim Rome, and Goin' Deep, hosted by Joe Buck and Chris Meyers.

=A. Smith & Co.=

In 2000, Smith founded his own production company, A. Smith & Co. Since then, A. Smith & Co. has produced more than 200 television shows for 50 networks.{{cite web|title=Arthur Smith to enter Realscreen Awards Hall of Fame|url=https://realscreen.com/2020/11/18/arthur-smith-to-enter-realscreen-awards-hall-of-fame/|access-date=2021-02-23}} In 2011, A. Smith & Co. merged with the Tinopolis Group.{{cite web|last=Finke|first=Nikki|date=2011-06-28|title=A. Smith & Co Prods Merges With UK-Based Tinopolis Group For $100M Deal Creating Reality TV Powerhouse|url=https://deadline.com/2011/06/a-smith-co-prods-merges-with-uk-based-tinopolis-group-for-100m-deal-creating-reality-tv-powerhouse-143876/|access-date=2021-02-23 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

A. Smith & Co. has created series in the reality, documentary, and non-fiction spaces for over two decades, including: Hell's Kitchen (FOX); American Ninja Warrior (NBC); Mental Samurai (FOX); The Titan Games (NBC); Voices of Fire (Netflix); Death by Magic (Netflix); Welcome to Plathville (TLC); Trading Spaces (TLC); Pros vs. Joes (Spike); Kitchen Nightmares (FOX); American Gangster (BET); American Gangster: Trap Queens (BET+); Unsung (TV One); Paradise Hotel (FOX); The Swan (FOX); Skating with Celebrities (FOX); I Survived a Japanese Game Show (ABC); Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura (truTV); Full Throttle Saloon (truTV), The World According to Paris (Oxygen), Human vs Hamster (Max), American Ninja Warrior Junior (Universal Kids), Floor Is Lava (Netflix) and the NFL’s Pro Bowl Games (ABC/ESPN).

=''REACH: Hard Lessons and Learned Truths from a Lifetime in Television''=

In 2023, Smith’s memoir, REACH: Hard Lessons and Learned Truths from a Lifetime in Television, was published by Blackstone Publishing. {{cite web|url=https://www.blackstonepublishing.com/products/book-fxwo|title=REACH: Hard Lessons and Learned Truths from a Lifetime in Television |via=www.blackstonepublishing.com}} In the book, called an “immediate must-read” by Forbes, {{cite news|last=Berman|first=Mark|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marcberman1/2023/05/31/reach-how-arthur-smith-used-the-power-of-reach-to-start-his-own-television-production-company/|title=Reach: How Arthur Smith Used The Power Of Reach To Start His Own Television Production Company

|newspaper=Forbes|date=May 31, 2023}} Smith draws on the most exciting moments of his pioneering career as a producer to show how far you can go when you reach for your dreams. {{cite web|url=https://www.blackstonepublishing.com/products/book-fxwo|title=REACH: Hard Lessons and Learned Truths from a Lifetime in Television |via=www.blackstonepublishing.com}} All of Smith’s proceeds from the book went to his REACH Foundation, which donates money to a number of charities who lift people up in some way so they can reach in their own lives. {{cite web|url=https://www.asmithco.com/people/arthur-smith/|title=Arthur Smith - A. Smith & Co. Productions|website=www.asmithco.com}}

References