E1 Entertainment has hired reality specialist Tara Long, putting her in charge of a push to turn out more programming for the U.S. domestic market.

Long will head the company’s reality division as VP of U.S. alternative programming, a file that puts her in charge of expanding a slate of programs that includes Kenny vs. Spenny, Outlaw Bikers and Mega Builders. She will work in L.A., reporting to CEO of television John Morayniss.

‘We’re always looking at where the holes are,’ in the E1 catalog, says Morayniss, ‘and one area we’ve not focused on is U.S. domestic reality series,’ aimed at both cable channels and conventional broadcasters.

The expanded slate will focus on docu-soaps, likely hung on celebrities. Morayniss says the company is in the early stages with some 20 celebs, and is looking to draw on the talents available through E1’s music division. The projects will be American-aimed but not necessarily closed to Canadian talent, he says, if the fit is right.

Long will also be in charge of spinning off existing series, some of which originate in Canada, as formats. Morayniss cites E1’s burlesque series Re-Vamped, seen here on Slice, as one possible example.

Long was previously at Burbank-based Brentwood Communications International, where she shepherded shows including TLC’s Overhaulin’ and Planet Green’s Living with Ed.