By JOHN PATRICK GATTA

By JOHN PATRICK GATTA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
REG JOHNSTON CAN BE A hard man to track down.
A vice president and executive producer of MTV series, Johnston is juggling work on two upcoming programs for the network's fall season, while doing a little promotion for the third season of America's favorite dysfunctional family, "The Osbournes."
Johnston, 37, a native of Sebring and a graduate of its high school, took his love of music and interest in television production from college at Ohio University to an internship with MTV in 1987.
Gradually, he moved through the network as production assistant, stage manager, editor, associate director, writer, associate producer, producer and director, which also brought a change of locale from New York to Los Angeles. Along the way, he
received a Cable Ace Award for his work on "The MTV Movie Awards" and an Emmy for "The Osbournes."
"This applies to Sebring, having Midwestern roots and growing up with the idea of honesty and integrity being a big part of your life. Doing the littlest job, but taking it very seriously," Johnston said, who still has family in the area. "That instilled confidence with my superiors to give me more responsibility and new projects."
What he's done
Anyone who's turned to MTV over the past decade has likely seen some of the nearly two dozen programs he's worked on, including "Headbangers Ball," "The Half Hour Comedy Hour," "Totally Pauly," "MTV Buzzkill" and "MTV Rock-N-Jock Bowling."
Over the past week, he's been away from his Los Angeles office, taking in the filming of "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica," a reality-based program that follows a few months in the first year of marriage between pop stars Nick Lachey of boy band 98 Degrees and Jessica Simpson.
It follows the couple's day-to-day adjustments and how each is dealing with solo album releases set for later this year.
The other show, "Rich Girls," follows the socialite world of Tommy Hilfiger's daughter and her friend as they spend their last carefree summer after high school graduation.
In the midst of his busy life, Johnston relates a tone that fits his job description -- enthusiastic, analytical and direct.
In the case of "The Osbournes," he said the creation of the show came about during a dinner with family matriarch Sharon and her youngest children, Kelly and Jack. The lively give-and-take between mother and siblings plus the addition of heavy-metal dad Ozzy seemed a natural for the MTV audience.
"That's the show, the family dynamic, dealing with everyday events as a family. Maybe they deal with matters in different ways, but that's the thing that's relatable and the key to the show, that love and family unit."
The debut season became a national sensation; the Osbournes appeared on countless magazine covers, television talk shows and special events.
For seasons two and three, the MTV cameras followed the family from October 2002 to March 2003. Ten episodes have been broadcast that dealt with the family's celebrity status and Sharon's cancer diagnosis and treatment. The next 10 episodes will air starting Tuesday.
Upcoming highlights
Johnston said he is excited about the upcoming shows because they bring the viewers back to the confines of the Osbourne household and its inhabitants, particularly the usually frustrated and befuddled Ozzy.
Viewers can look forward to Ozzy's attempt to run five miles for his birthday, Ozzy's long-promised fishing trip with Jack, Kelly's nose piercing in spite of her mother's protests, and the kitchen furniture's infestation with fleas from the family's numerous cats and dogs.
Current focus
Although Johnston hasn't ruled out a fourth season of "The Osbournes," his focus remains on his current projects and whatever possibilities crop up during meetings with some of today's most popular musicians.
"We have a very good relationship with various musical artists. We're always looking if they have ideas. We are a sounding board, and we're always taking those types of meetings. Within those meetings, they may come in and pitch one thing that they think is interesting and also talk about other things in their lives. And there may be just something in that part of the conversation, a spark that now sends us into another direction of doing a show with these people."
With the likelihood of more busy weeks ahead of him, be aware of the credits when future MTV programs scroll by -- you might just see Johnston's creative touch at work.