( CNN ) -- Every year the brains behind your favorite reality TV shows flock to Santa Monica , California , to talk shop and honor the best in nonfiction TV . This year 's Realscreen West : The Factual Entertainment Forum took place recently over two days ; reality TV darling Kim Kardashian was awarded the Hall of Fame Personality of the Year award , while producer Thom Beers , producer of the Ã¼ber hit `` Deadliest Catch , '' was inducted into the Hall of Fame and took home three trophies -- most original concept , best docu-reality programming and the 2012 Award of Excellence . At the forum , CNN 's KJ Matthews chatted up two of the most successful reality TV producers : SallyAnn Salsano , owner of 495 Productions , better known as the creator of the MTV super-hit `` Jersey Shore , '' and Brent Montgomery , owner of Leftfield Pictures , also known as the entity behind the successful History Channel show `` Pawn Stars . '' The two talked about everything reality TV-related -- from the shows they wish they had produced to the ongoing struggle to find people for their shows to why they get annoyed at all the people who think creating a reality show is easy . They also touched on how long `` Jersey Shore '' might continue , and their thoughts on CNN 's decision to partner with celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain . CNN : Recently I 've noticed that networks which had no reality TV shows are now getting into the reality game . What do you think about that ? Brent Montgomery : I love it because that means there are more people for us to sell to . CNN : Is it becoming more difficult to cast or find people in reality TV shows . Some failed actors are using the route of reality TV to get their name out . Montgomery : That 's why you do n't cast in L.A . I did `` Blind Date '' in New York and L.A. , and every `` Blind Date '' contestant in L.A. was like , `` Here 's my head shots and um , when do I get my $ 100 and what are the chances of me , you know , when do film directors get to see this and do you guys get a lot of calls ? '' I said never . ... SallyAnn Salsano : ( Steven ) Spielberg is not watching `` Blind Date . '' I mean maybe but not to find talent . I mean he may be watching it . I do n't know . But certainly not to cast his next film . CNN : Have you both gotten better at pitching reality shows to networks since you 've had a successful track record with some of your shows ? Montgomery : I think so . Because I think you get better at anything you do over the course of time . I think I 'm better at knowing the steps that it 's gon na take to ( make a show with ) subsequent seasons and how you 'll have to have a show that will have room to grow . Salsano : No one wants a `` one and done . '' Not a producer and not a network , because in the end of season one , everyone spends so much time behind the scenes in our offices and at the network level trying to crack it . ... But in the end , you put so much into it that if you can get to season two , then you are off to the races . You know what works and you know what did n't work and then you can move forward . CNN : People watch reality TV , and some people think that some of it is crap , and ( it ) has led many to believe that anybody can create a reality show . Montgomery : This p*sses me off more than anything because people think because they watch TV they can make TV , and that may sound kind of simplistic , but people may actually think that these shows are very simple . I watch `` Jersey Shore , '' and I know that for every minute of on-camera drama there is probably an hour or two or more of off-camera drama . My show people say all the time , `` Wow , it 's just such a simple show . '' We work hard to make them look simple ! Salsano : Here is my least favorite ( expletive ) thing . ... You are in the process of deciding if you want to work with someone , and you show up with your camera , and they say you should have been here yesterday it was so funny . OK , well I 'm here today , and if I 'm shooting a show ; I 'm not going to schedule good TV . You 're telling me you 're so great that you should have your own TV show , then go ( show me what you 've got ) ! CNN : Sally , can you ever envision the `` Jersey Shore '' ( still shooting even in a nursing home ) ? Salsano : The thing about `` Jersey Shore '' is that there is a guido born every day . ... So for me it 's an endless supply . CNN : Which show do both of you wish you had created ? Montgomery : I like `` 1000 Ways to Die '' ! Salsano : I 'm so crazy because I love , like `` Storage Wars , '' but I ( expletive ) love `` Toddlers & Tiaras '' so much it hurts . I literally like , ( expletive ) love it . It 's just like crack . I literally ca n't get enough of that show . Montgomery : Can I change mine ? It 's `` An Idiot Abroad . '' I love that show ! CNN : As you both know , CNN recently hired Anthony Bourdain . What do you guys think about that ? Salsano : I think it 's a great fit . Montgomery : I think it 's a great fit , too . I think when you are a network doing something new , why not go after a big name ? I 'm sure the cross over between your viewers and his show is a high-income viewer . Salsano : I think it 's going to be fine . And I actually would like to see the new twist on it . Like I do watch `` No Reservations '' like crazy and I ( DVR ) it , and I 'm into it , but now I 'm excited to see what happens on another network .
Heads of production companies behind `` Jersey Shore '' and `` Pawn Stars '' talk reality TV . SallyAnn Salsano and Brent Montgomery touch on how they pitch series and their favorites . The two say they work hard to make reality TV look easy .