Andrew Nicholls and Darrell Vickers
Andrew Nicholls (born 14 July 1957) and Darrell Vickers (born 17 July 1957) are an English-born Canadian writing duo. Though both their families moved independently from England to the same town in Canada, They're not met until junior high in 1969, where they began collaborating almost immediately. The writing duo moved to Los Angeles in 1983 to continue their careers, and are members of WGA, WGC, SACD, SOCAN, ACCT, and ATAS.
Andrew Nicholls | |
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Born | Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, England, | 14 July 1957
Nationality | Canadian |
Occupation | Screenwriter, television writer, executive producer |
Known for | Film, television, animation, radio, stand up comedy, comic strips |
Children | 1 |
Website | http://www.nichollsvickers.com |
Darrell Vickers | |
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Born | Derbyshire, England | 17 July 1957
Nationality | Canadian |
Occupation | Screenwriter, television writer, executive producer |
Known for | Film, television, animation, radio, stand up comedy, comic strips |
Children | 1 |
Website | http://www.nichollsvickers.com |
Career
Nicholls and Vickers began writing music and comedy together while at Ridgeway Junior High School (now École élémentaire Antonine Maillet or Antonine-Maillet Elementary School) in Oshawa, Ontario (Canada). After high school they wrote for stage, radio, TV, syndicated cartoonists and stand-up comedians.
From 1979 to 1982 they performed in Southern Ontario as Nobby Clegg and the Civilians, after having received airplay at Brampton alternative station CFNY-FM with home-recorded songs. The band found some success with the singles "Essay - Me Dad" and "I Wanna Be in Commercials," which were also included in the 1981 compilation Toronto Calling. Nicholls and Vickers later used the band's name for a character on the Showtime show Rude Awakening. In that series, the Nobby Clegg character was played by Roger Daltrey, best known as the lead singer of The Who.
From 1986 to 1992 they helped write 770 hours of produced material for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, earning 4 Emmy nominations, and were the show's head writers from December 1989, until Carson's retirement on 22 May 1992.
In 1997, the pair received a Genie nomination, Best Animated Series, for Ned's Newt (Nelvana). They also received a WGC nomination for the series in 1999. The title character was voiced by Harland Williams and was cited in several interviews as one of the favorite TV shows of legendary cartoonist Ed Gorey.
In 2001, the two received a Gemini nomination for "Best Comedy Series" for their work developing, writing the pilot, and serving as Story Editors on John Callahan's Quads!.
The duo were nominated for a Pulcinella Award, Best Animated Episode, at the 2003 Cartoons on the Bay Festival in Positano, Italy, for both The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and The World of Tosh. They were again nominated for the Pulcinella for Best Kids Series at the 2015 Festival, for Pumpkin Reports.
In 2008, the pair were awarded a Gemini Award, Best Pre-School Series, for the animated series Will & Dewitt—having written the series bible, 28 episodes, and serving as Story Editors.
Vickers is part of a music band called "Death of the Author Brigade"—which was formed through and continues to create songs via the internet (none of the band members have met in person).
As a writing team, Vickers and Nicholls have over 1200 hours of produced television credits. They have also written and produced 38 television and radio pilot scripts (as of 2015).
In 2019, Nicholls' full-length stage play {LOVE/Logic} had its world premiere at the Wyatt Theater Pavilion, UC Davis, California.
Partial Writing Credits
Stand-up Comedians
Film
- Noises Off [Additional material by] (1992) (Touchstone Pictures)
- A Year Off [Screenplay by] (2004) (DOR-Film, Vienna)
- Casper's Scare School [Screenplay by] (2006) (Cartoon Network)
Television
- We're Only Joking (1976–78) (CHCH)
- Screech (1978) (Megamedia TV, CHCH)
- Golden Horseshoe Theatre (1979–1980) (CHCH)
- Flappers (1980) (CBC Television)
- K-KID TV (1983) (Olympic Films)
- Thicke of the Night (1983) syndicated talk show
- The Love Boat (1984) (ABC)
- George Carlin's Apt. 2-C aka Apt. 2C (1984) (Cablestuff, HBO)
- Danger Bay (1985) (CBC Television, Disney Channel)
- Check it Out! [Story Editors, Wrote 11 episodes] (1985–1988) (CTV Television Network, D.L. Taffner, USA Cable)
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson [Writers (1986–); Head Writers (1988–1992)] (1986–1992) (Carson Tonight, NBC)
- The Tonight Show Anniversary Specials [Writers (26th); Head Writers (27th, 28th, 29th) (1989–91) (Carson Tonight, NBC)
- This World Now (1990) (Megamedia TV), CHCH)
- Doghouse (1990) (YTV)
- Drexell's Class [Created by, Creative Consultants, Wrote 4 episodes] (1991–92) (Fox, Dabney Coleman)
- Have Mercy [Wrote pilot, Executive Producers] (1992) (Lorimar, CBS, Isabella Hoffman, Patrick Warburton)
- The Mighty Quinns [Wrote pilot, Executive Producers] (1993) (Warner Bros., CBS, Robert Urich)
- Death and Taxes aka Death + Taxes [Wrote pilot, Executive Producers] (1993) (Lorimar, NBC, Teri Garr, Craig Bierko)
- It Had To Be You [Wrote pilot, Executive Producers] (1993) (CBS, Warner Bros., Faye Dunaway)
- The Trouble with Larry [Created by, Executive Producers] (1993) (CBS, Warner Bros., Bronson Pinchot, Courteney Cox)
- The George Carlin Show (1994) [Wrote 2 episodes] (Fox, Warner Bros.)
- The Parent 'Hood [Created by, Executive Producers] (1994–1995) (The WB, Robert Townsend)
- Campus Cops [Executive Producers] (1995–1996) (John Landis, Universal, USA Network)
- Love And Marriage (1996) (Fox)
- Malcolm & Eddie [Creative Consultants] (1996) (Columbia TriStar, UPN)
- Pearl [Creative Consultants] (1996–1997) (Witt-Thomas, CBS)
- The Magic Hour (1997–98) (Fox)
- Hollywood Dog [Wrote pilot] (1998) (William H. Macy, HBO Independent Productions)
- Bob and Margaret [Creative Consultants (1999, Season 2); Wrote 1 story (2001)] (Comedy Central)
- Ned's Newt [Developed by] (1997–99) (Teletoon, Fox Kids)
- You Wish [Co-Executive Producers, Wrote 1 episode] (1998) (ABC, Disney)
- Smart Guy [Creative Consultants, Wrote 1 episode] (1998) (The WB, Disney)
- The Blob [Wrote pilot] (1999) (MTV, John Landis)
- Divorced on Mars [Wrote pilot] (1999) (Salter Street TV)
- Rude Awakening [Wrote 3 episodes] (1998) (Mandalay TV, Showtime)
- Kevin's Castle [Co-Created by, Executive Producers] (2000) (Disney Channel, Family Channel Canada)
- John Callahan's Quads! [Developed by, Wrote pilot, Story Editors] (2000–2001) (Teletoon, Nelvana, The Comedy Channel, SBS)
- John Callahan's Pelswick [Developed by, Wrote pilot, Story Editors] (2001–2002) (Nickelodeon, CBC)
- Inspector Gadget [Wrote live-action pilot] (2002) (PAX, DIC Entertainment)
- The World of Tosh [Story Editors] (2002) (Nick UK)
- Rocketship Bedroom [Created by, Written by, Produced with Bob Staake] (2003) (Disney Channel)
- The Cube [Created by, Wrote reality series pilot] (2002–2003) (Triage, The WB, MTV)
- Last Girls [Wrote pilot] (2003) (Happy Life Sweden)
- Mr. Magoo [Wrote live-action pilot] (2003) (Classic Media)
- The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius [Wrote 9 episodes] (2002–2004) (Nickelodeon)
- The Fairly OddParents [Wrote 3 episodes] (2003) (Nickelodeon)
- Black Hole High aka Strange Days at Blake Holsey High [Wrote 1 episode] (2003) (NBC, Fireworks, Discovery Kids)
- Super Cooper [Co-wrote pilot script with creator Steve Billnitzer, Developed Series] (2004) (Disney TVA, Disney Channel)
- W.I.T.C.H. [Wrote pilot, Wrote 10 episodes, Executive Producers] (2004) (Disney Channel, Fox Kids UK, France 3, Jetix, ABC Family)
- Futz! [Wrote 2 episodes] (2004) (9 Story Entertainment)
- The Office Temps [Created by] (2005) (Global TV, Lone Eagle Entertainment)
- Super Chicken [Developed pilot] (2005) (Classic Media)
- George of the Jungle [Developed pilot, Wrote 15 episodes] (2006) (Classic Media, Cartoon Network)
- Will & Dewitt [Created bible, Developed by, Story Editors, Wrote 28 episodes] (2007) (YTV, Kids' WB)
- Back at the Barnyard [Wrote 1 episode] (2007) (Nickelodeon)
- Rocky and Bullwinkle" [Wrote 4th season DVD promo shorts] (2007) (Classic Media)
- Monster Buster Club [Wrote 2 episodes] (2007) (Marathon, Toon Disney)
- Kid vs. Kat [Created series bible] (2007) (Studio B, YTV)
- Gerald McBoing-Boing (TV series) [Wrote 8 episodes] (2007) (Cartoon Network, Teletoon)
- Casper's Scare School [Created bible, Wrote 18 episodes] (2008) (TF1, France)
- League of Super Evil" [Wrote 3 episodes] (2008) (Nerd Corps Entertainment, YTV, Cartoon Network)
- Walter and Tandoori [Developed by, Wrote 3 episodes] (2008) (Image Entertainment, Montreal)
- Noonbory and the Super Seven [Wrote 5 episodes] (2008) (Daewon Media)
- The New Adventures of Nanoboy [Wrote 2 episodes] (2008) (Scrawl Studios, Singapore)
- K-9 (TV series) [original develoipment] (2008) (Park Entertainment, Network 10 Australia, Jetix UK)
- Chateau Hofstadter [Wrote series bible, Developed by] (2008) (ARTE France, Zero One Film, Maha Film)
- Mr. Quaver [Developed series] (2008) (Mastran Music Group)
- Dreamkix [Writers] (2009) (Design Storm, Korea)
- Shaking Dance Squad Force [Created series bible, Wrote pilot] (2009) (Cookie Jar)
- Rated A for Awesome [Wrote 2 episodes] (2009) (Nerd Corps Entertainment)
- Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 (2009–2010) [Wrote 3 episodes] (Mattel, Nelvana)
- Peter Pepper's Pet Spectacular [Created series bible, Story Editors, Writers] (2009–2010) (Cookie Jar Entertainment, Clockwork Zoo)
- Debra! (Originally Decidedly Debra) (2011) (Cookie Jar, Family Channel)
- Health Nutz (rewrote episodes, 2 seasons) (2011) (APTN)
- Pumpkin Reports (50 episodes) (2015) Boing (France) and International syndication
- Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures (3 episodes, and staff, season 1) (2018) Mattel, Netflix
Radio
- The Alleged Report (1980) syndicated radio comedy
- The Continuing Adventures Of... Adventureman! [Created by, Written by] (1980) (CBC Radio) comedy series
- Countless Travels of Matthew Matics [Created by, Written by] (1980) (CBC Radio) comedy series
- Great Canadian Characters [Created by, Written by] (1981) (CBC Radio) series
- This Day in History (1983) (CBC Radio) series
Other
- Frank & Ernest (1979–2006) (United Media) syndicated comic strip
- Fezgod.com [Created by/Developed by] online humour site—since discontinued
- Valuable Lessons: How I Made (And Lost) Millions Writing For Over A Hundred Shows and Series—Andrew Nicholls' revealingly honest exposé about the entertainment industry and the life of a Television writer and show runner. The updated 2010 version is now available for download at Amazon (Kindle Edition): Valuable Lessons: How I Made (And Lost) Millions Writing For Over A Hundred Shows and Series
- MOJAVE! The Musical, (book, music and lyrics by Nicholls & Vickers) had its first staged reading May 25, 2016, at UC Davis Theater Department, Davis, California
- Since 2012, Andrew Nicholls has published short fiction in Black Clock, The Santa Monica Review, Cosmonauts Avenue, The Boiler Journal, New World Writing, Literature For Life, Kugelmass, The Sherman Oaks Review of Books, and elsewhere.
- Darrell Vickers executive produced the first season and wrote 2 episodes for Hitting The Breaks (2016)
External links
- Andrew Nicholls on IMDb
- Darrell Vickers on IMDb
- Nobby Clegg video for "Essay, My Dad" on YouTube
- CFNY-FM Testimonial on Nobby Clegg
- Information on Nobby Clegg
- Official MySpace page for Death of the Author Brigade – Darrell Vickers' new internet music band
- ebook (Amazon Kindle version) of Andrew Nicholl's Valuable Lessons: How I Made (And Lost) Millions Writing For Over A Hundred Shows and Series