Television program creator

A television program creator is typically the person who pitches a new TV show idea and sees it through. There are numerous notable television program creators; this article includes a list of many of them.

Often, the creator is the writer of the pilot episode, or a director, or a producer. Sometimes it is a writer of the series bible, or writers' guidelines.[1] In the United States, a Writers Guild of America (WGA) screenwriting credit system governs credits. For example, the Writers Guild of America West provides specifications for creator credits that govern its members.[2] The Producers Guild of America's corresponding code for producers defines "Executive Producer" and similar roles but not an explicit "Creator" role.[3][4]

Creator is a specific credit given explicitly in many shows. However, it has not always been a prominent, explicit credit. For example, Sydney Newman, the accepted creator of The Avengers (1961–69), was never given an explicit credit as creator; Newman never thought to ask for one.[5] The creator of a television show may retain rights to participate in profits, often to be paid by the production company as a percentage of fees that it receives from networks and distributors.[6] In 2014, for prime-time network TV shows, the WGA-required royalty to be paid to a writer with "created by" credit is approximately $1,000 per episode or higher.[7] Who merits creator credit is sometimes a matter of contention. In a 2013 legal case, a director sued a former writing partner for co-creator credit.[8]

Examples

Notable examples of creators include:

• Paul Abbott, created Shameless, and is also responsible for the creation of Reckless and Touching Evil for ITV, as well as Clocking Off and State of Play for the BBC.[9][10]
• J. J. Abrams, co-created Felicity (1998–2002), created Alias (2001–2006), co-created Lost (2004–2010), Fringe (2008–2013), Undercovers (2010)
• Britt Allcroft created the children's television series Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (later re-titled Thomas & Friends), Shining Time Station (with Rick Siggelkow) and Magic Adventures of Mumfie
• Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson, co-creators of Thunderbirds (1965–66);[11] Gerry Anderson also created Supercar (1961–62)[12]
• Meredith Averill, creator and executive producer of The CW science fiction teen drama Star-Crossed.[13]
• Donald P. Bellisario, co-created Magnum, P.I., created Airwolf, created Quantum Leap, created JAG, co-created NCIS.
• Rick Berman, co-created Star Trek: Deep Space Nine with Michael Piller,[14] co-created Star Trek: Voyager with Piller and Jeri Taylor, co-created Enterprise (retitled Star Trek: Enterprise in 2003) with Brannon Braga.[15]
• Loren Bouchard, co-created Home Movies (with Brendon Small), and created Bob's Burgers and Lucy: The Daughter of the Devil and co-created Central Park (TV series)
• Ian Brennan, co-creator with Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk of Glee
• Marc Brown, created TV series Arthur
• Jamie Brittain, co-creator with Bryan Elsley of British teen drama Skins (2007–2013)[16]
• Johnny Byrne, created Heartbeat and Noah's Ark (1997–98)
• Stephen J. Cannell, co-created The Rockford Files, created Baretta, created The Greatest American Hero, co-created The A-Team, co-created Hardcastle and McCormick, created Stingray, co-created Wiseguy, co-created 21 Jump Street, created Silk Stalkings, co-created The Commish, created Renegade.
• Michael Schur, co-created Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, created The Good Place.
• David Crane, co-created Friends (with Marta Kauffman), co-created The Class with Jeffrey Klarik,[17] and co-created Episodes for the BBC.[18][19]
• Keith Chapman, created Bob the Builder, Fifi and the Flowertots, and PAW Patrol.
• Terrance Dicks, co-created the BBC science-fiction TV series Moonbase 3 (1973)
• Bryan Elsley, created Dates (2013–)[20] and co-created the British teen drama Skins (2007–2013) with Jamie Brittain[16]
• Brad Falchuk, co-creator with Murphy of American Horror Story,[21] co-creator with Ian Brennan and Ryan Murphy of Glee
• Phil Ford, co-creator with Russell T Davies of Wizards vs Aliens
• Bruce Geller, created the television series Mission: Impossible (1966–73)
• Chris Gifford, created Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go! and Dora and Friends: Into the City
• Vince Gilligan, created Breaking Bad and co-created Better Call Saul
• David Greenwalt, co-created Angel, co-created Profit, and co-created NBC drama Grimm
• Matt Groening, created The Simpsons[22]
• Susan Harris, created Soap, Benson, The Golden Girls, Empty Nest, Nurses and The Golden Palace.
• David E. Kelley, created Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, The Practice, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Boston Legal, and Harry's Law
• Jeffrey Klarik, co-created Episodes and co-created The Class with David Crane[23]
• Chris Kratt and Martin Kratt, co-created the children's TV series Kratts' Creatures, Zoboomafoo, Be the Creature, and Wild Kratts
• Glen A. Larson, created The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, created Battlestar Galactica, co-created B. J. and the Bear, created Galactica 1980, co-created Magnum, P.I., created The Fall Guy, created Knight Rider, created Automan.
• Norman Lear, created All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, Maude and Good Times
• Roberta Leigh, created puppet TV series Sara and Hoppity, Torchy the Battery Boy, Wonder Boy and Tiger and Send for Dithers, as well as created Space Patrol, (US title: Planet Patrol)[24]
• Steven Levitan, co-creator with Christopher Lloyd of Modern Family[25]
• Christopher Lloyd, co-creator with Steven Levitan of Modern Family[25]
• Seth MacFarlane, created Family Guy, American Dad, and The Cleveland Show
• Patrick McGoohan, creator[26] or co-creator[27] of The Prisoner
• Carol Mendelsohn, co-creator and executive producer of CSI: Miami and CSI: NY
• Lorne Michaels, best known for creating and producing Saturday Night Live
• Ryan Murphy, co-created Glee (with Ian Brennan and Brad Falchuk) and co-created American Horror Story[21]
• Mic Neumann created Kung Faux
• Sydney Newman, created The Avengers[28] and Dr. Who[29]
• Jonathan Nolan, created Person of Interest
• Michael Piller, co-created Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and of Star Trek: Voyager
• Paul Reiser, co-created Mad About You (1992–99)
• Shonda Rhimes, created Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, and Scandal
• Sol Saks, most known as created Bewitched (1964–72)[30]
• Chris Savino, created The Loud House (2016–present)
• Sidney Sheldon, created The Patty Duke Show (1963–66), I Dream of Jeannie (1965–70) and Hart to Hart (1979–84)
• D.B Weiss and David Benioff, co-created Game of Thrones (2011)
• Joss Whedon, created Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003), Angel (1999–2004), Firefly (2002–03), Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008), Dollhouse (2009–10) and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–present).[31]
• Tom Wheeler, created The Cape (2011)[32]
• Toby Whithouse, created Being Human[33]
• Dick Wolf, created Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Trial by Jury and Law & Order: Los Angeles Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: UK.,[34] and created Crime & Punishment
• Justin Zackham, created FX drama series Lights Out
• Anthony E. Zuiker, created the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation franchise of several TV series,[35]

See also

• Screenwriter
• Showrunner
• Television director
• Television producer

References

1. donedealpro.com messageboard thread
2. "Determining Separated Rights on a Television Series". Writers Guild of America.
3. "Code of Credits – Television Series – Non-Fiction".
4. "Code of Credits – Television Series – Comedy/Drama".
5. In Newman's memoir, The Avengers and Me, Patrick Macnee interviewed Newman about his never receiving on-screen credit as creator of the series. Newman explained that he never sought on-screen credit on the series because during his previous tenure at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, such credits were not given, and he never thought to get one for The Avengers. Per: Patrick Macnee and Dave Rogers, The Avengers and Me (TV Books, 1998, ISBN 1575000598); republished in 2008 as The Avengers: The Inside Story (Titan Books, ISBN 1845766431)
6. "Standard Deal Points When Selling Your Television Projects". TV Writers Vault. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
7. Dina Appleton. "The Ins and Outs of TV Series Writer Deals".
8. C. Edwards (September 20, 2013). "Live-Action TV Director Sues "Johnny Test" Producer For Creator Credit". CartoonBrew.Com.
9. British Film Institute screenonline database. Accessed 22 October 2007.
10. "Estate of Play", The Guardian, 12 July 2008. Accessed 14 July 2008.
11. "Thunderbirds". IMDb.
12. "Supercar (TV series)". IMDb.
13. Wiegand, David (February 16, 2014). "Star-Crossed so dopey, teens might not even like it". Observer-Reporter. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
14. Erdmann, Terry J.; Block, Paula M. (2000-08-01). Deep Space Nine Companion. ISBN 978-0-671-50106-8.
15. "Dispatch: Berman Celebrates Milestone". 2000-05-22. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
16. "Skins". IMDb.
17. "Exclusive Interview: David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik, Creators of The Class". BuddyTV.com. November 2, 2006. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
18. "Biggest Sunday Ever on Showtime! Shameless, Episodes & Californication to Premiere January 9th". FutonCritic.com. Showtime press release. September 22, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
19. "Press Packs: Episodes". BBC. December 17, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
20. "Dates". IMDb.
21. Denise Martin (2012-05-22). "Ryan Murphy Dissects Glee and American Horror Story, Addresses Fans and Critics".
22. "The Simpsons". IMDb.
23. Werts, Diane (September 18, 2006). "'The Class' gets an A for effort". Newsday. Archived from the original on November 26, 2006. Retrieved October 18, 2007{{inconsistent citations}}
24. International Movie Database: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0164289/fullcredits#cast
25. "Modern Family". IMDb.
26. ""Prisoner" Star Patrick McGoohan Dies". CBS News. January 14, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
27. "The Prisoner". IMDb.
28. Note Sydney Newman apparently never received screen credit as the created The Avengers.
29. "Doctor Who (1963–1989)". IMDb.
30. "Bewitched". IMDb.
31. Andreeva, Nellie. "ABC Greenlights 'S.H.I.E.L.D' Marvel Pilot, Joss Whedon To Co-Write & Possibly Direct". August 28, 2012. deadline.com. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
32. Kelly West (2010-12-18). "Interview: NBC's The Cape Creator Tom Wheeler".
33. "Being Human". IMDb.
34. Weiner, Allison Hope (May 23, 2005). "Case Closed". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
35. Bill Carter (August 11, 2003). "From Creator of 'C.S.I.,' Testimonials to Himself". New York Times.