Reach
Hard Lessons and Learned Truths from a Lifetime in Television
by Arthur Smith
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Pub Date Jun 06 2023 | Archive Date Jun 20 2023
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Description
One of the most daring, creative, and influential minds in nonfiction television, Arthur 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.
Arthur Smith is famous for his innovation and audacity, and as the man behind some of the longest-running unscripted series in television history. His groundbreaking hit Hell’s Kitchen forged the modern food competition reality genre, while his Emmy-nominated American Ninja Warrior has spawned a cultural movement, with Ninja-inspired gyms in every major American city.
In Reach, Smith shares adventures, triumphs, and hard-won lessons from his astonishing career, beginning with his unprecedented ascension from the ranks of sports production to become the youngest-ever head of CBC Sports. Never one to rest on his laurels, Smith moved from Canada to the United States to produce a wide variety of entertainment programming with his mentor, television icon Dick Clark. Years later, he spearheaded an entirely new approach to sports television at FOX Sports Net, helping to grow the fledgling business into a true industry powerhouse. In 2000, Smith made the biggest reach of his career with the launch of A. Smith & Co. Productions, which has produced over two hundred television shows on more than fifty networks. Across genres, formats, and platforms, Smith and his A. Smith & Co. team have earned a reputation for original, emotional, buzz-worthy, and deeply personal storytelling.
In these pages, Smith takes us behind-the-scenes of dozens of pivotal moments in sports and television history, ranging from the high-intensity control room at the Olympics to the development of The Titan Games with Dwyane (“The Rock”) Johnson. We learn about a show that never was with Donald Trump, as well as a super-far-fetched idea that became the bizarro-classic genre-buster I Survived a Japanese Game Show. Through winning anecdotes involving a disparate cast of famous characters, including Marlon Brando, Gordon Ramsay, Magic Johnson, Little Richard, Wayne Gretzky, Simon Cowell, and Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, Smith illustrates just how far you can go when you work hard, take risks, and reach for your dreams.
A Note From the Publisher
https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/american-ninja-warrior-arthur-smith-pandemic-1235051639/
Arthur Smith reflects on producing 'Hell's Kitchen' and how production has and hasn’t changed since the pandemic on DIGIDAY:
https://digiday.com/future-of-tv/hells-kitchen-producer-arthur-smith-reflects-on-how-production-has-and-hasnt-changed-since-the-pandemic/
Advance Praise
"An absolutely fascinating and engaging book about the workings of the television and entertainment world by an insider who has led the field."
–Robin Sharma, #1 worldwide bestselling author of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari and The 5 AM Club
"Arthur Smith is a reality TV pioneer and maverick....His insight into TV is unmatched and you'll learn so much in this book, just like I have over many years of Hell's Kitchen."
–Gordon Ramsay
"Hosting one of Arthur Smith's many shows, American Ninja Warrior, I always thought that the competitors were the only ones that navigated through tough obstacles, until I read Reach. Arthur made so many reaches in his career, that it teaches you no dream is too big to reach for and succeed. Reach is an inspirational and relatable book that gives you the tools and the script for success personally and professionally. This book is an amazing read with an inside look at one of the most successful executive producers in entertainment."
–Akbar Gbajabiamila, co-host of American Ninja Warrior and The Talk
"Reach is full of adventures and lessons from one of the top television executives of our time. The first season of Paradise Hotel is in my view the best unscripted reality shows ever made...Nobody in our business should miss the chance to learn from the architect of that masterpiece...Reach is your chance!"
–Jeff Shell, CEO NBCUniversal
"Arthur says that he's 'not exactly a name-above-the-title kind of guy.' But make no mistake: Arthur Smith makes the name-above-the-title guys...As a leader, a producer, and now an author, Arthur leads with heart and passion...He's the kind of boss you hope to work for, and with Reach it becomes clear he's the kind of writer you dream to meet. The 'peeks behind the curtain' that Arthur reveals in his memoir will prove particularly thrilling for TV enthusiasts, but the life lessons he shares are priceless gems that anyone with a dream will be grateful to have!"
–Zuri Hall, Access Hollywood correspondent and American Ninja Warrior co-host
"Arthur's story is the perfect read to inspire, entertain, and inform. A kid with an insatiable love of TV makes his dreams come true by not only becoming a giant in the industry but becoming a trailblazer for others."
–Howie Mandel
"I've been lucky to work with and learn from Arthur for almost a decade and a half, and I know that Arthur is, at heart, a storyteller. And his story gives you a front-row seat to how great television gets made while showing that 'there's more for you' in life if you just Reach."
–Matt Iseman, American Ninja Warrior co-host
Marketing Plan
- National publicity campaign
- National reviews campaign
- Targeted outreach to entertainment, career-oriented, and film/TV focused publicationsSocial media campaign
- Mailing to influencers on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube
- Bookseller and library trade show marketing
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9798200977260 |
| PRICE | $27.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 277 |
