Melinda Toporoff
Executive Producer, Animal Planet Media
Melinda Toporoff is an Emmy Award winning and 10-time Emmy nominated executive producer. She joined Discovery Communications in September 2001 and has been with Animal Planet since February, 2007. Toporoff played a key role in Animal Planet’s “Surprisingly Human” rebrand, producing multiple top rated, brand defining series, pilots and specials. Some of her most recent hits include TANKED, which is celebrating its 100th episode in April 2016, MY CAT FROM HELL, which is entering its seventh season and PUPPY BOWL XII, the number one non-sports telecast for the fourth consecutive year on Super Bowl Sunday.
Toporoff works closely with the development team in the creation of new series and specials and is responsible for leading the editorial direction through all stages of production. She has a proven track record for breaking new formats, exceeding ratings goals and successfully taking projects from conception to multiple season orders.
Some of her additional credits for Animal Planet include ICE LAKE REBELS, ICE COLD GOLD, CONFESSIONS: ANIMAL HOARDING, DOGS 101, CATS 101, the AMERICA’S CUTEST franchise and PUPPY BOWL IV-XII.
Prior to her work with Animal Planet, Toporoff served as executive producer for Discovery Kids, overseeing a number of live action and animation shows for preschoolers and tweens. Toporoff’s supervision of PEEP IN THE BIG WIDE WORLD won her the Emmy for Outstanding Children's Animated Program in 2005. Toporoff was also recognized for her work on JEFF CORWIN UNLEASHED, Emmy nominated for Outstanding Children’s Series 2004-2005 and Emmy winner for outstanding performer in a children’s series 2004; TODDWORLD, Emmy nominated 2004-2007; HI-5, Emmy nominated for Outstanding Preschool Children’s Series 2004-2005, and GROWING UP CREEPING, Emmy nominated for outstanding special class animated program in 2007.
Before joining Discovery Communications, Toporoff was director of development for Jumbo Pictures/Walt Disney TV Animation from 1999-2001. In this position, she developed animated programming for ABC’s “One Saturday Morning” block, Disney's Video Premieres, Buena Vistas syndicated block. Prior to Disney, Toporoff was an associate producer and development executive for Nickelodeon Productions and Development (Viacom) from 1993-1999. Most notably, she successfully piloted and senior segment produced the network’s game show, FIGURE IT OUT. Lastly, Toporoff began her career as a writer's assistant for Children's Television Workshop’s (currently “Sesame Workshop”) GHOSTWRITER.
Melinda graduated Summa Cum Laude from New York University with a BS in Communications and Mass Media. She lives in New York City with her son.
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