SallyAnn Salsano Steps Down From ‘The Real’ As Showrunner, Will Be Consultant

There will be a change at the helm of daytime panel talk show The Real for its upcoming second season. The show’s creator SallyAnn Salsano will step down from her day-to-day responsibilities as executive producer and showrunner to focus her attention on her production company 495 Productions. She won’t be leaving the talker — hosted by Tamera Mowry-Housley, Tamar Braxton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Adrienne Bailon — staying on as consultant for Season 2. Search is underway for a new showrunner.

“The Real was an incredible way for me to return to daytime TV and is absolutely one of my favorite shows that I have ever created,” Salsano said in a statement to Deadline. “After ensuring it took off the way I envisioned, I have decided to return for Season 2 as a consultant so that I can focus on my very full development pipeline at 495, I wish there were more hours in a day. I am very grateful to continue to work with the wonderful team at Warner Bros. and Telepictures.”

Salsano, who started her career in daytime before segueing to primetime reality programming, guided The Real through its development and successful launch — a four-week test on the Fox stations in summer 2013 followed by a national rollout this season. The Real, which was renewed for a second season in February, is tied as the No.1 new strip this season in adults 18-49 (0.5 rating) and ranks as No. 1 in adults 18-34 (0.5) as well as all female demographics F18-34 (0.7), F18-49 (0.8), and F25-54 (0.8 tied). The Real is tied as No.2 among all talk shows this season in 18-34 and has the lowest median age (47).

FremantleMedia-owned 495 Productions, which was behind MTV hit Jersey Shore, has a number of unscripted series on the air and in production, including Party Down South on CMT and Freak Out on ABC Family.

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