# Stephanie Drachkovitch

> Stephanie Drachkovitch is the co-founder and co-CEO of Burbank-based 44 Blue Productions, the unscripted company she and her husband, Rasha Drachkovitch, began in an apartment in 1984. A journalism student turned television producer and development executive, she helped develop programs including The Bachelor, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and Ellen before guiding a slate that has ranged from Lockup and Pit Bulls & Parolees to Wahlburgers, Jailbirds, Strut and scripted drama Tell Me Lies. Her working style combines relentless note-taking, careful access, collaborative talent partnerships and an insistence that nonfiction stories be handled with integrity.

- **Role:** Co-CEO and Co-Founder at 44 Blue Productions
- **Organizations:** 44 Blue Productions, Warner Bros. Telepictures, Buena Vista Television, Taking the Reins, Hollywood, Health & Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles, Small Business Strong
- **Education:** Journalism studies; degree not publicly specified, University of Oregon
- **Known for:** Co-founded 44 Blue Productions in 1984 and helped sustain its output across more than four decades., Developed broadcast and syndicated programs including The Bachelor, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and Ellen during executive roles at Telepictures and Buena Vista Television., Helped shape a slate including Lockup, Pit Bulls & Parolees, Wahlburgers, Hollywood Medium, Jailbirds, Strut and Married to the Army: Alaska.

## Career timeline

- **Early career** — Produced a live weekday television show at age 25.
- **1984** — Co-founded 44 Blue Productions with Rasha Drachkovitch from her Los Angeles apartment; their first syndicated project was Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports.
- **1989** — 44 Blue produced a live earthquake-relief telethon for Showtime after the San Francisco earthquake.
- **1990s-2000s** — Held senior vice president of development roles at Warner Bros. Telepictures and Disney's Buena Vista TV unit, developing programs including The Bachelor, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and Ellen.
- **2009** — 44 Blue launched Pit Bulls & Parolees on Animal Planet.
- **2012** — Executive produced Married to the Army: Alaska, which received a Gracie Award.
- **2015** — 44 Blue launched OVRTure as a virtual-reality studio, later broadening it into an innovation lab for short-form, branded and audio work.
- **2016** — 44 Blue joined the Red Arrow group; Strut, made with Whoopi Goldberg's One Ho Productions, received a GLAAD Media Award.
- **2019** — 44 Blue marked 35 years in business and launched Jailbirds on Netflix and First Responders Live on Fox.
- **2021** — Served as co-chair of the Television Academy Foundation's Diversity and Inclusion Unscripted Internship Program.
- **2022-2024** — Credited as an executive producer on the scripted Hulu drama Tell Me Lies.
- **2024** — Joined the board of Taking the Reins.
- **2025** — Co-created and co-funded Small Business Strong, a Southern California wildfire-relief grant program for small businesses and self-employed workers.
- **2025** — Received an executive-producer credit on HGTV's Junk or Jackpot?

## Achievements

- Co-founded 44 Blue Productions in 1984 and helped sustain its output across more than four decades.
- Developed broadcast and syndicated programs including The Bachelor, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and Ellen during executive roles at Telepictures and Buena Vista Television.
- Helped shape a slate including Lockup, Pit Bulls & Parolees, Wahlburgers, Hollywood Medium, Jailbirds, Strut and Married to the Army: Alaska.
- Led work at a company whose productions have received Peabody, Emmy, Gracie and GLAAD recognition.
- Expanded 44 Blue's development beyond conventional unscripted television into virtual reality, short-form video, branded content, podcasts and scripted drama.
- Mentors through The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment program and has served on nonprofit and advisory boards.

## Latest updates

- **2026-05** — Joined fellow Taking the Reins board members in hosting U.S. Representative Laura Friedman for a tour and conversation about the organization's equestrian and nature education programs.
- **2025-12** — Credited as an executive producer on HGTV's Junk or Jackpot?
- **2025-01** — Featured as a Taking the Reins board member and described her commitment to the organization's work with girls and young women.
- **2025-01** — Co-created and co-funded Small Business Strong, which offered $5,000 grants through TMC Community Capital after Southern California wildfires.

## Links

- Website: https://www.44blue.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-drachkovitch-11321847
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/44blue
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/44_blue
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/44blueproductions/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/stephanie-drachkovitch
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-27