On this episode of Shock to the System, Coach Dan Gordon probes the mind of Mark Cronin, Reality TV’s superstar producer.

How did a frustrated engineer transform his life to become Hollywood’s hottest producer? When you hate your life bad enough, you’ll do anything to follow a dream. Mark Cronin engineered his way out of a dead-end job and into one of Hollywood’s most lucrative power-positions. Hear his story of success and how he created over 44 different TV shows including The Surreal Life.

Have you ever said to yourself, “Hey, I have a great idea for a TV show?” A lot of people have. My guest today not only said that but he actually created a TV show. And more than that, but he created a kind of show no one had ever seen before. And more than that, he went on to create a total of 44 TV shows. Not 44 episodes of a show. We’re talking 44 different TV shows.

Mark Cronin is one of Hollywood’s most successful and television producers. He is widely credited with co-creating a new version of reality TV called celeb-reality when he created the show ``The Surreal Life” in 2003.

Mark’s path to Hollywood began with a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. From there he went into marketing. Then he chose to take the bold step of pursuing his dream career and started writing for television for Nick-at-Nite. I

Mark then became a writer and producer for “The Howard Stern Show.” Then moved to MTV and became head writer for the dating show “Singled Out.” Mark then created his own game show for Comedy Central called “Beat the Geeks.”

From there, Mark started cranking out successful reality show after successful reality show. His work is credited for single-handedly saving the cable channel VH1 as well as setting ratings records across the board for both network and cable TV. Most recently, Mark developed Bravo’s highest-rated series, “Below Deck,” a sort of Downton Abbey on the high seas, now in its eighth season.

Today Mark Cronin runs his company Little Wooden Boat Productions where he’s still at it, making groundbreaking television. So we’re going to find out all about Mark, how he made it big in Hollywood, what it takes to be a creative innovator and so much more.