Rob Mills

Vice President, Alternative Series and Specials, ABC Entertainment

By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/27/2012 12:01:00 AM

In a TV world where keeping older shows fresh often requires creative sleight-of-hand, Rob Mills is a behindthe- scenes magician, adding new verve to long-running ABC franchises such as The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and America’s Funniest Home Videos. And as a former CAA agent, Mills is always on the lookout for new projects and talent. Mills is so in touch with today’s TV that one industry insider calls him a “young Tartikoff,” as in legendary NBC programmer Brandon Tartikoff.

The Bachelor and Bachelorette both were dipping toward cancellation territory when they fell into Mills’ hands. He helped guide the concept back to its roots, returning both shows to romance and casting contestants who had been popular in previous seasons. Those changes have kept the series on the air and popular since 2002 and 2003, respectively.

Mills is also a pop-culture savant, a guy who remembers seemingly everything from the box-office take of almost every movie ever made to what the top 10 movies were in any given year.