Eight-Part Original Series Produced by World of Wonder to Follow Buyer/Explorer Keith Johnson on Worldwide Quest
New York, October 3, 2008 ? Sundance Channel has given a green light to a new original series starring Keith Johnson, the antiques buyer for the innovative specialty retailer Anthropologie. One of the largest purchasers of decorative antiques in the world, Johnson globe trots six months out of the year to find unique and beautiful items. The eight-part, half-hour series "Man Shops Globe" (working title), follows his high-pursuit, ends-of-the-earth excursions, from flea markets in Paris to remote villages in India to obscure art studios across the globe. The series is produced by World of Wonder ("Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood," "Show Biz Mom & Dads," "One Punk Under God").
"Sundance Channel’s audience loves travel and design so we are very enthusiastic about offering our viewers an inside look at Keith’s adventures and an appreciation of his dedication to nurturing artists, as well as an understanding of what makes his eye so unique. His charm, coupled with his knowledge of the gorgeous objects and antiques he finds are sure to have our audience salivating for more," said Sundance Channel GM Laura Michalchyshyn. "We are also thrilled to be working with World of Wonder again; it is always a great collaborative process resulting in good work!"
In each location, be it China, Argentina, South Africa, Brazil, France, England, India, or Scandinavia, Johnson hits the ground running with a different team of local experts and artists who help him acquire and re-imagine a new life for the eclectic objects he finds. Working against the clock and driven by his own competitive spirit, he is inexhaustible in his search for uncommon design. This series is also distinguished by Johnson’s appreciation of the creative process: each episode will showcase exquisite and delightful objects as well as the artists and process behind the work.
Whether he discovers an antique table or wealth of original works in an undiscovered artist’s studio, viewers are sure to be fascinated with Johnson’s knack for finding covetable, one-of-a-kind pieces.
Executive Producers are Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato. Co Executive Producer and Director is Jeremy Simmons. The Executive Producer for Sundance Channel is Lynne Kirby and the Supervising Producer is Ann Rose.
About Keith Johnson:
Keith Johnson’s passion for art, antiques and travel emerged in childhood as he accompanied his father, an art dealer, on excursions through Europe. His current role as Anthropologie’s antiques buyer is driven by Johnson’s early experiences and boundless curiosity. He spends most of the year abroad in search of decorative antiques to be sold in Anthropologie stores and serve as inspiration for in-house design, as well as gifted artisans to create original works.
Johnson’s relationship with Anthropologie began in 1994 when his partner Glen Senk, now CEO of parent company Urban Outfitters Inc., became president. Senk asked Johnson to find antiques for the women’s lifestyle retailer’s first store. As Anthropologie grew so did Johnson’s responsibilities. He now acquires antiques for 115 Anthropologie stores and curates the art gallery in Anthropologie’s Rockefeller Center location.
About World of Wonder Productions
World of Wonder (WOW) was founded by Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey in 1992.
Since then the company has amassed a library of branded properties across all platforms,
including such well known films as Party Monster, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Inside Deep
Throat, and television shows Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood, Pam: Girl On The Loose,
Million Dollar Listing, and entertainment blog The WOW Report (www.worldofwonder.net).
The producers have never shied away from controversial themes and have worked with
every major network, including HBO, BBC, Showtime, and Bravo. Their most popular online
arena, The WOW Report, boasts 500,000 unique visits per month.
About Sundance Channel:
Under the creative direction of Robert Redford, Sundance Channel is the television destination for independent-minded viewers seeking something different. Bold, uncompromising and irreverent, Sundance Channel offers audiences a diverse and engaging selection of films, documentaries, and original programs, all unedited and commercial free. Launched in 1996, Sundance Channel is subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC. Sundance Channel operates independently of the non-profit Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, but shares the overall Sundance mission of encouraging artistic freedom of expression. Sundance Channel’s website address is www.sundancechannel.com.
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media is a leading producer of targeted, multi-platform content for global distribution, creating and managing some of the world’s most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, WE tv, Sundance Channel, LIFESKOOL, SPORTSKOOL, and VOOM HD Networks. Through IFC Entertainment, Rainbow Media also owns and manages the following: IFC Films, a leading distribution company for independent film; IFC Productions, a feature film production company that provides financing for select independent film projects; and IFC Center, a three screen, state-of-the-art cinema in the heart of New York’s Greenwich Village. Rainbow Media also operates Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales company; Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company; and 11 Penn TV, a company that manages Rainbow Media’s NYC studios and post-production facilities.