Alex Duda and John Rieber

A Better Machine

 

Here is additional information about Alex Duda and John Rieber.  Most importantly, they have been partners since the day they married in 1998.  A Better Machine is the result of that partnership.

John Rieber

John Rieber’s career in cable television began with the launch of a new network that changed the face of entertainment journalism. In December 1987, he was hired to launch a news division at a new cable network called Movietime.  This network became E! Entertainment Television in 1990.

Rieber created the network’s signature red carpet coverage with the first national live arrivals coverage, and created the “ten-hour preshow” in 1997, the first time any network had broadcast such comprehensive live awards coverage in a single day.

Rieber also launched “E! News Daily,” the network’s flagship live daily entertainment news program.  Rieber launched and executive produced "Howard Stern” on E!, a daily radio show that he turned into a TV program by installing robotic cameras in the radio control room, and built a miniature TV studio control room as well, the first time that had been attempted on such a scale.

In addition, Rieber created the network’s Cannes Film Festival coverage, the most extensive television news coverage ever – capturing the world’s most prestigious film festival, resulting in the highest rated specials in the network’s history.

During his tenure at E!, Rieber also created such hit franchises as the “Wild On” travel series, and “Celebrity Adventures,” where stars such as Jessica Biel, Jerry O’Connell, Molly Shannon and Shannon Elizabeth were taken to exotic locations to experience different cultures.  

In 1999, Rieber was profiled in Newsweek magazine as the “New Age Boss” for his focus on motivating all staff to participate in the process of growing a company.

In 2002, Rieber Executive Produced, along with Edward Wessex, the acclaimed ten-hour mini-series "Royalty A-Z", which offered an unprecedented inside look at Britain's Royal family.  This project, which aired on E!, was the culmination of a two-year collaboration between Rieber and Wessex, a member of the Royal family.

Rieber and his wife Alex Duda formed A Better Machine in 2002 and, under that banner, created and executive produced two highly-rated specials for ABC-TV titled “Favorite Stars: Then & Now,” along with “Celebrity Temps” for NBC.

In 2005, Rieber was the executive producer of “Cooking Under Fire,” a PBS documentary competition involving twelve Chefs who cook their way cross country – the first modern era cooking competition show to air on TV.  “Cooking Under Fire” was hosted by Chef Ming Tsai, Chef Todd English and Food Author Michael Ruhlman.

In 2006, Rieber became the Senior Vice President of Programming and Production for G4, a cable network targeting 18-34 year old males. Rieber oversaw all programming, development, acquisitions and scheduling of the network, which set new ratings and viewership records every year since he took over.

 Rieber re-branded G4 from a network exclusively about videogames to one that embraced technology, pop culture and information targeted to an active male demographic.

Rieber was promoted to Executive Vice President, Programming & Production in 2011.  In that position, Rieber was responsible for the development of all new programming for G4, as well as the acquisition of series, specials and movies for the network as well.

G4 now has a number of tent pole franchises under Rieber, including “American Ninja Warrior”, the US version of the acclaimed Japanese show involving the world’s toughest obstacle course. The latest season of this smash hit airs in summer 2012 on both G4 and NBC.

This NBC partnership is the biggest of its kind between a cable network and broadcast partner, with ten hours of exclusive unique programming premiering on NBC in primetime.

Rieber also created the network’s exclusive live “Comic-Con” coverage, the first network to ever broadcast a live show from the floor of the world’s largest comic book and pop culture convention.  G4 also has more than twenty-five hours of live E3 coverage every year, and these tent pole events are the highest rated programs on the network.

Alex Duda

Three-time Emmy® award winner Alex Duda is currently the executive producer for the new daytime show “Steve Harvey,” which debuted in national syndication on September 4, 2012.

Duda is also the creator and executive producer of The Style Network’s biggest hit series “Jerseylicious,” which aired its fourth season this year, and is in production on season five.  In addition, Duda serves as executive producer on “Jerseylicious” sister shows “Glam Fairy” and “Chicagolicious,” as well as The Style Network’s new show, “Built.”

For nearly a decade, Duda worked with Telepictures Productions where she executive-produced the Daytime Emmy® award-winning series “Tyra Banks Show” and created and executive-produced the long-running late-night dating strip show “Elimidate.” Duda also produced one of The WB’s first reality specials, “Seventeen: Faces for Fall,” a celebrity-driven hour hosted by Shannen Doherty and Joshua Jackson.  Additionally, at Telepictures, Duda executive-produced the “Joan Rivers Red Carpet Coverage” and “Fashion Wrap” specials for the TV Guide Channel.

Duda began her career at E! Entertainment Television, where she was part of the development team that created the Emmy® award-winning show “Talk Soup.”  While at E!, Duda served as an executive producer and the director of programming and development.  She created and produced the makeover series “Fashion Emergency” and “Model,” both of which helped to launch The Style Network.  She also produced the “Joan Rivers E! Live from the Red Carpet” specials and co-created the “Joan Rivers Fashion Reviews.”

Duda produced numerous original specials and series at E!, including “Wild On the Riviera,” “E! Goes to Cannes,” “Hollywood Kids,” “Haunted Hollywood,” “Behind the Scenes,” and the “E! Extreme Close-Up Interview.”