Television program creators

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, creator of Shameless, and also responsible for the creation of Reckless and Touching Evil for ITV and Clocking Off and State of Play for the BBC.^[9][10]
• J. J. Abrams, co-creator of Felicity (1998–2002), creator of Alias (2001–2006), co-creator of Lost (2004–2010), Fringe (2008–2013), Undercovers (2010)
• Britt Allcroft, a British television producer, writer and director who is the creator of 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 is also creator of Supercar (1961–62)^[12]
• Meredith Averill, creator and executive producer of The CW science fiction teen drama Star-Crossed.^[13]
• Donald P. Bellisario, co-creator of Magnum, P.I., creator of Airwolf, creator of Quantum Leap, creator of JAG, co-creator of NCIS.
• Rick Berman, co-creator with Maurice Hurley of Star Trek: The Next Generation.,^[14] co-creator of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine with Michael Piller,^[15] co-creator of Star Trek: Voyager with Piller and Jeri Taylor, co-creator of Enterprise (retitled Star Trek: Enterprise in 2003) with Brannon Braga.^[16]
• Loren Bouchard, co-creator of Home Movies (with Brendon Small), and creator of Bob's Burgers and Lucy: The Daughter of the Devil.
• Ian Brennan, co-creator with Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk of Glee
• Jamie Brittain, co-creator with Bryan Elsley of British teen drama Skins (2007–2013)^[17]
• Johnny Byrne, creator of Heartbeat and of Noah's Ark (1997–98)
• Stephen J. Cannell, co-creator of the The Rockford Files, creator of Baretta, creator of The Greatest American Hero, co-creator of The A-Team, co-creator of Hardcastle and McCormick, creator of Stingray, co-creator of Wiseguy, co-creator of 21 Jump Street, creator of Silk Stalkings, co-creator of The Commish, created Renegade.
• David Crane, co-creator of Friends (with Marta Kauffman), co-creator with Jeffrey Klarik of The Class,^[18] co-creator with Klarik created of Episodes for the BBC.^[19][20]
• Bryan Elsley, creator of Dates (2013–)^[21] and co-creator with Jamie Brittain of British teen drama Skins (2007–2013)^[17]
• Terrance Dicks, co-creator of BBC science-fiction TV series Moonbase 3 (1973)
• Brad Falchuk, co-creator with Murphy of American Horror Story,^[22] co-creator with Ian Brennan and Ryan Murphy of Glee
• Phil Ford, co-creator with Russell T Davies of Wizards vs Aliens
• Bruce Geller, creator of the television series Mission: Impossible (1966–73)
• David Greenwalt, co-creator of Angel, co-creator of Profit, and co-creator of NBC drama Grimm
• Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons^[23]
• Susan Harris, creator of Soap, Benson, The Golden Girls, Empty Nest, Nurses and The Golden Palace.
• David E. Kelley, creator of Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, The Practice, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Boston Legal, and Harry's Law
• Jeffrey Klarik, co-creator of Episodes, co-creator with David Crane of The Class.^[24]
• Chris Kratt and Martin Kratt, co-creators of children's TV series Kratts' Creatures, Zoboomafoo, Be the Creature, and Wild Kratts
• Glen A. Larson, creator of The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, creator of Battlestar Galactica, co-creator of B. J. and the Bear, creator of Galactica 1980, co-creator of Magnum, P.I., creator of The Fall Guy, creator of Knight Rider, creator of Automan.
• Roberta Leigh, creator of puppet TV series Sara and Hoppity, Torchy the Battery Boy, Wonder Boy and Tiger and Send for Dithers, and creator of Space Patrol, (US title: Planet Patrol )^[25]
• Steven Levitan, co-creator with Christopher Lloyd of Modern Family^[26]
• Christopher Lloyd, co-creator with Steven Levitan of Modern Family^[26]
• Patrick McGoohan, creator^[27] or co-creator^[28] 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-creator of Glee (with Ian Brennan and Brad Falchuk) and co-creator of American Horror Story^[22]
• Sydney Newman, creator of The Avengers^[29] and of Dr. Who^[30]
• Jonathan Nolan, creator of Person of Interest
• Michael Piller, co-creator of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and of Star Trek: Voyager
• Paul Reiser, co-creator of Mad About You (1992–99)
• Shonda Rhimes, creator of Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, and Scandal
• Sol Saks, most known as creator of Bewitched (1964–72)^[31]
• Sidney Sheldon, creator of The Patty Duke Show (1963–66), I Dream of Jeannie (1965–70) and Hart to Hart (1979–84)
• Joss Whedon, creator of 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).^[32]
• Tom Wheeler, creator of The Cape (2011)^[33]
• Toby Whithouse, creator of Being Human^[34]
• Dick Wolf, creator of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Trial by Jury and Law & Order: Los Angeles Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: UK.,^[35] and creator of Crime & Punishment
• Justin Zackham, creator of FX drama series Lights Out
• Anthony E. Zuiker, creator of the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation franchise of several TV series,^[36]

See also

• Screenwriter
• Showrunner
• Television director
• Television producer

References