Zero Point Zero Production
Zero Point Zero Production, Inc. (ZPZ) is an independent American media company specializing in unscripted television series, documentary films, digital content, and branded entertainment, often focusing on food, travel, culture, and human stories. Co-founded by executive producers Lydia Tenaglia and Chris Collins, ZPZ partners with top talents to create immersive, narrative-driven programming that prioritizes authentic audience connections.[1] The company is best known for producing Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, a CNN series that explored global cuisines and societies through Bourdain's lens, earning five Primetime Emmy Awards, including for Outstanding Informational Series, and a Peabody Award.[2] Other defining productions include The Mind of a Chef, MeatEater with Steven Rinella, and Somebody Feed Phil, which have collectively secured ZPZ over 80 Emmy nominations and dozens of wins, alongside James Beard Awards and Critics' Choice recognitions.[3] ZPZ's approach emphasizes high production values and visionary storytelling, contributing to its reputation for award-winning nonfiction content that influences perceptions of cultural exploration.[4]History
Founding and Early Development
Zero Point Zero Production, Inc. (ZPZ) was established in 2003 in New York City by executive producers Chris Collins and Lydia Tenaglia.[5][6] The company specializes in television, film, print, and digital content production.[3] Prior to founding ZPZ, Collins and Tenaglia worked as freelance producers on Anthony Bourdain's initial television venture, A Cook's Tour, which aired 35 episodes on the Food Network from January 2002 to 2003.[7][8] This series, based on Bourdain's book of the same name, marked their early collaboration with the chef and author, focusing on global culinary adventures.[7] ZPZ's early flagship project was Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, which premiered on November 15, 2005, on the Travel Channel and spanned nine seasons with 142 episodes through 2012.[7][9] The series built on the documentary-style format of A Cook's Tour, emphasizing unscripted cultural and food explorations, and helped solidify ZPZ's niche in high-quality travel and culinary programming.[9] During this period, the company produced content that prioritized authentic storytelling over conventional travelogue tropes.[7]Expansion and Key Milestones
Zero Point Zero Production, founded in 2003 by executive producers Chris Collins and Lydia Tenaglia in New York, initially focused on television content before expanding into film, digital media, and print. Early growth involved developing culinary series, with the launch of The Mind of a Chef in 2012 on PBS, which explored professional chefs' creative processes and earned acclaim for its innovative format.[10] This project marked the company's entry into high-profile food programming, setting the stage for broader recognition. A pivotal milestone came in 2013 with the premiere of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown on CNN, produced in collaboration with Bourdain, who joined as a key creative partner. The series, spanning over 100 episodes across 40 countries, received a Peabody Award and multiple Primetime Emmys, including for outstanding writing and cinematography, contributing to ZPZ's accumulation of 15 Primetime Emmy wins and 54 nominations by the mid-2020s.[9][11] Expansion accelerated through diversification, including the 2017 documentary Wasted! The Story of Food Waste, co-produced with the Rockefeller Foundation, which highlighted global food waste issues using Bourdain's narration.[12] Following Bourdain's death in June 2018, the company sustained operations by leveraging its production expertise in new series like MeatEater with Steven Rinella and The Hunt, focusing on hunting and outdoor cultures, thereby broadening beyond urban culinary themes. A significant business milestone occurred in February 2021 when Marcus Lemonis invested in ZPZ and joined as an executive producer, enabling further development of docuseries such as those examining business cultures. This infusion supported ongoing projects, including feature films on boundary-pushing subjects and branded content campaigns. By this period, ZPZ had produced content equivalent to approximately 610 hours of television.[6][5][10]Leadership and Operations
Founders and Key Executives
Zero Point Zero Production was founded in 2003 by executive producers Chris Collins and Lydia Tenaglia, who established the company in New York City to produce documentary-style content focused on food, travel, and culture.[6][3] Collins and Tenaglia, who are married, have remained principals and co-presidents, overseeing production strategies and creative decisions for flagship series.[13][14] Anthony Bourdain emerged as a pivotal collaborator and de facto key executive through his role as host and executive producer on ZPZ's early hits, including A Cook's Tour (2002–2003), No Reservations (2005–2012), and The Layover (2011–2013), which helped define the company's non-fiction travelogue style.[15][16] Bourdain's involvement extended to Parts Unknown (2013–2018) on CNN, where he co-produced alongside Collins and Tenaglia, contributing to ZPZ's reputation for immersive, chef-led explorations until his death in June 2018.[17] In February 2021, entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis acquired a stake in ZPZ and was appointed Chairman of the Board, bringing business acumen to guide expansion into branded content and series like Streets of Dreams.[6][18] Concurrently, James Bolosh was named President to manage day-to-day operations and development.[18] Other notable executives include Jared Andrukanis, Vice President of Production since at least 2023, responsible for supervising physical production across series, pilots, and films.[19] As of 2025, Collins and Tenaglia continue as core leaders, with Lemonis influencing strategic partnerships.[20]Organizational Structure and Collaborations
Zero Point Zero Production operates as an independent, privately held media company based in New York City, with a reported workforce of approximately 54 employees focused on television, film, and digital content production.[5] The organizational structure centers on a core leadership team led by co-founders Chris Collins and Lydia Tenaglia, who function as executive producers responsible for creative oversight and project development.[9] This founder-driven model emphasizes collaboration with external talent and networks, rather than a rigid hierarchical framework, allowing flexibility in handling serial productions, branded content, and feature films.[11] In February 2021, businessman Marcus Lemonis acquired a stake in the company and was appointed Chairman of the Board, providing strategic guidance for diversification into lifestyle, business, and sports programming while preserving the creative autonomy of the founding team.[6][3] Supporting executives include Joe Caterini, serving as Managing Director, Partner, and Executive Producer since 2009, who contributes to sales, partnerships, and production execution.[21] Other roles, such as EVP for New Business Development, handle affairs in TV, film, and brands, enabling the company to scale operations across multiple formats.[22] The company's collaborations extend to major broadcasters and high-profile talents, underpinning its output of award-winning series. Key partnerships include multi-season productions with CNN, such as the travel-focused "Nomad: With Carlton McCoy" launched in 2022, executive produced by Collins and Tenaglia.[23] Historically, ZPZ worked closely with chef and host Anthony Bourdain on shows originally airing on the Travel Channel and later CNN, integrating culinary expertise with on-location filmmaking.[9] These alliances, often structured as co-productions, leverage network distribution while allowing ZPZ to retain production control, as seen in expansions into branded entertainment and documentaries with entities like investor-backed ventures post-2021.[3]Productions
Television Series
Zero Point Zero Production (ZPZ) specializes in documentary-style television series that emphasize cultural exploration, food, and investigative journalism, often featuring prominent hosts and airing on networks like CNN and Netflix.[10] The company's flagship series, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, aired on CNN from 2013 to 2018, comprising over 100 episodes across more than 40 countries, where Bourdain delved into local cuisines, histories, and social issues.[10] This series earned multiple Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award for its immersive storytelling.[10] ZPZ also produced Bourdain's earlier Travel Channel series, including Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005–2012), which followed a similar format of culinary travelogue adventures in over 140 episodes, and The Layover (2011–2013), focusing on short urban layovers with practical travel tips.[11] Another key culinary program, The Mind of a Chef (2012–2017), aired on PBS and later Facebook Watch, showcasing the creative processes of acclaimed chefs like David Chang and April Bloomfield across seven seasons.[10] On Netflix, ZPZ developed investigative docuseries such as Rotten (2018–2019), two seasons examining corruption in the global food supply chain, from honey adulteration to tuna fishing scandals; Broken (2019–2020), exposing flaws in industries like vaping and cosmetics; and The Business of Drugs (2020), a six-episode analysis of economic drivers behind illicit narcotics led by former CIA officer Amaryllis Fox.[10] Somebody Feed Phil, hosted by Phil Rosenthal, has run multiple seasons since 2018, highlighting global food cultures through personal connections.[10] For CNN, ZPZ produced United Shades of America Season 6 (2021), with W. Kamau Bell addressing race and class dynamics; Nomad with Carlton McCoy Season 1 (2022), a six-part travel series on food, wine, and culture; and Christiane Amanpour: Sex & Love Around the World (2018), exploring intimate global perspectives.[10] Other notable series include MeatEater (ongoing since 2009 on Netflix), an outdoor hunting and cooking show with Steven Rinella; Elvis Goes There (2019, Viceland), four episodes on cinematic inspirations; Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak (2020, Netflix), a six-episode docuseries on infectious disease prevention; Connected (2020, Netflix), hosted by Latif Nasser on everyday global links; De La Calle (2023, HBO), tracing Latino urban music evolution; Streets of Dreams with Marcus Lemonis (2023, CNBC), profiling entrepreneurial stories; and Season 2 of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman (2019, Netflix).[10]| Series Title | Platform | Years Active | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown | CNN | 2013–2018 | Global food and culture |
| Rotten | Netflix | 2018–2019 | Food industry corruption |
| Somebody Feed Phil | Netflix | 2018–present | Culinary travel |
| The Mind of a Chef | PBS/Facebook Watch | 2012–2017 | Chef creativity |
| United Shades of America (S6) | CNN | 2021 | Social issues |
| Nomad with Carlton McCoy (S1) | CNN | 2022 | Wine and culture exploration |