Andrew Nicholls and Darrell Vickers explained

Andrew Nicholls
Birth Name:Andrew John Nicholls
Birth Date:1957 7, df=yes
Birth Place:Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, England
Nationality:Canadian
Occupation:Screenwriter, television writer, executive producer, playwright, musician, short story writer, poet
Known For:Film, television, animation, radio, stand-up comedy, comic strips
Children:1
Darrell Vickers
Birth Name:Darrell Vickers
Birth Date:1957 7, df=yes
Birth Place:Derbyshire, England
Nationality:Canadian
Occupation:Screenwriter, television writer, executive producer, playwright, musician
Known For:Film, television, animation, radio, stand-up comedy, comic strips
Children:1

Andrew John Nicholls (born 14 July 1957) and Darrell Vickers (born 17 July 1957) are an English-born Canadian writing team. They were head writers of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson from 1988 to 1992. Both their families moved independently from England to the same town in Canada, and they met in junior high in 1969, where they began collaborating almost immediately. The duo moved to Los Angeles in 1983 to continue their careers, and are members of WGA, WGC, SACD, SOCAN, ACCT, and ATAS.

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 four Emmy nominations, and were the show's head writers from December 1988 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.[1]

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 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, Will & Dewitt was awarded a Gemini Award for Best Pre-School Series. Nicholls & Vickers wrote the series bible and 28 episodes, and served as story editors.

Vickers co-founded a music band in 2008 called Death of the Author Brigade — which was formed through the internet (none of the band members have met in person). The band broke up in 2013. See Solo Projects (Vickers) for additional details.

In 2010, Nicholls wrote a revealingly honest exposé about the entertainment industry and the life of a Television writer and Showrunner, Valuable Lessons: How I Made (And Lost) Seven Million Dollars Writing For Over A Hundred Shows You Never Heard Of.[2] See Solo Projects (Nicholls) for additional details.

Since 2012, Nicholls has published short fiction in Black Clock, The Santa Monica Review, Cosmonauts Avenue,[3] The Boiler Journal,[4] New World Writing,[5] [6] Literature For Life,[7] Kugelmass, The Sherman Oaks Review of Books, Shark Reef,[8] and elsewhere.

Between 2015 and 2017, Vickers commenced on several solo television projects: executive producing the first season and writing two episodes of Hitting The Breaks (2015–16); writing the sitcom pilot for Chasing Tail (2017); creating and writing the pilot for the reality cooking show, Feast of a Lifetime, starring Lynn Crawford (2017); creating the reality show, You're the Boss (2017); and writing for the hour-long comedy drama, Marley Roberts (2017).

In 2016, MOJAVE! The Musical — featuring the tagline: "Go Ahead And Run...It Loves Fast Food," with book, music, and lyrics by Nicholls and Vickers — was directed by Mindy Cooper at its first reading on May 25, 2016, in the Della Davidson Studio, UC Davis, California.[9]

In 2019, Nicholls' full-length stage play , directed by Josy Miller, had its world premiere at the Wyatt Theater Pavilion, UC Davis, California.[10]

Nicholls published a how-to book in 2020 about the work and art of creating comedy for print, TV and stage: Comedy Writer: Craft advice from a veteran of sitcoms, sketch, animation, late night, print and stage comedy.[11] That same year, Nicholls began publishing poetry in the online journal Light: a journal of light verse since 1992.[12] [13]

In 2021, Nicholls mounted his play, A Bee in a Jar, with the UC Davis Department of Theatre and Dance and Catalyst: A Theatre Think Tank, virtually using OBS Studio and Zoom to cast in three time zones.[14]

In 2022, Vickers wrote the pilot script for the television series, Mama Zen.

In 2022, Nicholls' play, Yes, And... won First Place in the Frostburg, Maryland 13th Annual One-Act Play Festival.

In 2023, Nicholls' play Jinx had a staged reading, directed by Bob Burgos, at the Ensemble Studio Theater in Los Angeles.

In 2024, Yes, And... was paired with a Nicholls & Vickers debut play, In Bob We Trust, for a run at the Embassy Theater in Cumberland, MD.

As a writing team, Vickers and Nicholls have over 1200 hours of produced television credits, including creating twenty TV series, writing and producing 38 television and radio pilots, and writing and producing over 400 episodes of children's TV (as of 2022).

Partial writing credits

Stand-up comedians

Film

YearTitleCreditsStudioNotes
Noises Off Additional Material by Touchstone Pictures
A Year OffScreenplay by Dor Film / DOR Film Productions (Vienna) unreleased film
Casper's Scare School Screenplay by Cartoon Network

Television (animation and live-action)

YearTitleCreditsNetwork/StudioNotes
We're Only Joking Writers CHCH
Screech Writers CHCH, Megamedia TV
Golden Horseshoe Theatre Writers CHCH
Flappers Writers CBC
K-KID TV Writers Olympic Films
Thicke of the NightWriters syndicated talk show
The Love Boat Writers ABC
George Carlin's Apt. 2-C aka Apt. 2CWriters HBO, Cablestuff
Danger BayWriters CBC Television, Disney Channel
Check it Out!Story Editors, Writers (11 episodes) CTV, USA Cable, D.L. Taffner
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonWriters (1986-1992), Head Writers (1988-1992) NBC, Carson Tonight
The Tonight Show Anniversary SpecialsWriters (26th), Head Writers (27-29th) NBC, Carson Tonight
This World Now Writers CHCH, Megamedia TV
DoghouseWriters YTV
Drexell's ClassCreated by, Creative Consultants, Writers (four episodes) Starring Dabney Coleman
Have MercyWrote pilot, Executive Producers Starring Isabella Hoffman and Patrick Warburton
The Mighty Quinns Wrote pilot, Executive Producers Starring Robert Urich
Death and Taxes aka Death + TaxesWrote pilot, Executive Producers Starring Teri Garr and Craig Bierko
It Had To Be YouWrote pilot, Executive Producers Starring Faye Dunaway
The Trouble with LarryCreated by, Executive Producers Starring Bronson Pinchot and Courteney Cox
The George Carlin ShowWriters (two episodes) Fox, Warner Bros.
The Parent 'HoodCreated by, Executive Producers Starring Robert Townsend
Campus CopsExecutive Producers Universal, USA Network, John Landis
Love And Marriage Writers Fox
Malcolm & EddieCreative Consultants Columbia TriStar, UPN
PearlCreative Consultants CBS, Witt-Thomas Productions
The Magic HourWriters Fox
Hollywood Dog Wrote pilot Starring William H. Macy
Bob and MargaretCreative Consultants (1999) Nelvana, Comedy Central, Channel 4 (UK) also wrote one story (2001)
Ned's NewtDeveloped by (1997–99) Teletoon (now Cartoon Network Canada) Nelvana, Fox Kids (US)
You WishCo-Executive Producers, Wrote one episode ABC, Disney
Smart GuyCreative Consultants, Wrote one episode The WB, Walt Disney Television
Rude AwakeningWrote three episodes Showtime, Mandalay TV
The Blob Wrote pilot MTV, John Landis
Divorced on MarsWrote pilot Salter Street TV
2000 Kevin's Castle (pilot) Co-Created by, Executive Producers Disney Channel, Family Channel Canada
2000–2001 John Callahan's Quads!Developed by, Wrote pilot, Story Editors Nelvana, Teletoon, SBS (Australia)
2001–2002 John Callahan's PelswickDeveloped by, Wrote pilot, Story Editors Nelvana, Nickelodeon, CBC (Canada)
2002 Inspector Gadget Wrote live-action pilot PAX, DIC Entertainment
The World of Tosh Story Editors Nickelodeon (UK)
2002–2003 The CubeCreated by, Wrote pilot reality-series
2002–2004 The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy GeniusWrote nine episodes Nickelodeon
2003 Rocketship Bedroom Disney Channel
Last GirlsWrote pilot Happy Life (Sweden) now defunct production company
Mr. MagooWrote live-action pilot Classic Media
The Fairly OddParentsWrote three episodes Nickelodeon
Strange Days at Blake Holsey HighWrote one episode aka Black Hole High
2004 Super Cooper Cowrote pilot script, Developed Series with creator Steve Billnitzer
W.I.T.C.H.Developed Series, Executive Producers also wrote pilot and ten episodes
Futz!Wrote two episodes 9 Story Entertainment
2005 The Office Temps Created by Global TV, Lone Eagle Entertainment
Super ChickenDeveloped pilot DreamWorks Animation
2006 George of the JungleDeveloped pilot, Wrote 15 episodes Cartoon Network, Classic Media
2007 Will & Dewitt Created bible, Developed by, Story Editors YTV, Kids' WB, WildBrainwrote 28 episodes
Back at the BarnyardWrote one episode Nickelodeon
Rocky and BullwinkleWrote fourth season DVD promo shorts DreamWorks Classics
Monster Buster ClubWrote two episodes Toon Disney (US), Marathon
Kid vs. KatCreated series bible YTV, Studio B, Disney XD
Gerald McBoing-Boing (TV series)Wrote eight episodes Cartoon Network, Teletoon
2008 Casper's Scare School Created bible, Wrote 18 episodes TF1 (France)
League of Super Evil Wrote three episodes YTV, Cartoon Network, WildBrain
Walter and Tandoori Developed by, Wrote three episodes Image Entertainment (Montreal)
Noonbory and the Super SevenWrote five episodes Daewon Media
The New Adventures of NanoboyWrote two episodes Scrawl Studios (Singapore)
K-9 (TV series)Original development Jetix UK, Park Entertainment, Network 10 (Australia)
Chateau HofstadterWrote series bible, Developed by ARTE France, One Film, Maha Film
Mr. QuaverDeveloped series Mastran Music Group
2009 Dreamkix Writers Design Storm (Korea)
Shaking Dance Squad ForceCreated series bible, Wrote pilot Cookie Jar
Rated A for AwesomeWrote two episodes Nerd Corps Entertainment
2009–2010 Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 Wrote three episodes Mattel, Nelvana
Peter Pepper's Pet Spectacular (pilot) Created series bible, Story Editors, Writers Cookie Jar Entertainment, Clockwork Zoo
2011 Decidedly Debra aka Debra! Writers Cookie Jar, Family Channel
Health NutzRewrote episodes (two seasons) APTN
Pumpkin ReportsWrote 50 episodes internationally syndicated
Barbie Dreamhouse AdventuresWrote one episode, Staff (season one) Netflix, Mattel

Radio

YearTitleCreditsNetworkNotes
1980The Alleged Report Additional Material bysyndicated comedy series
The Continuing Adventures Of... Adventureman!Created and Written bycomedy series
Countless Travels of Matthew Matics Created and Written byCBC Radiocomedy series
Great Canadian CharactersCreated and Written byseries
This Day in History Material byseries

Solo Projects (Nicholls)

YearTitleMediumNotes
Valuable Lessons (updated Kindle Edition) ebook How I Made (And Lost) Seven Million Dollars Writing For Over A Hundred Shows You Never Heard Of
(published in various journals) short fiction see main article for journal titles
2019 stage play world premiere May 16, 2019
Comedy Writer book Craft advice from a veteran of sitcoms, sketch, animation, late night, print and stage comedy
2020(published in Light) poetry "America's oldest and best-known journal of light verse"
2021 A Bee in a Jar stage play virtual world premiere February 19, 2021

Solo Projects (Vickers)

YearTitleMediumNetwork/StudioNotes
Death of the Author Brigade music Cofounder (internet band where none of the musicians have met in person)
Hitting The Breaks television Executive Producer (two episodes)
Chasing Tail television (sitcom) Wrote pilot, Writer
Feast of a Lifetime television (reality cooking show) Bell Media, Team Thicke Created by, Wrote pilot, starring Lynn Crawford
You're the Boss television (reality show) Wilshire Productions, Team Thicke Created by
Marley Roberts television (comedy-drama) Writer
Bu House television Created by, Wrote pilot
Mama Zen television Pink Light Productions Wrote pilot
Snow Dogs! television Steve Gerbson Productions Developed pilot
Sisterhood of Surreypur television Baweja Productions Cowrote pilot and bible

External links

Interviews

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Interview: Edward Gorey (Newsday) . . Emdashes, Modern Times Between the Lines.
  2. Book: Valuable Lessons: How I Made (And Lost) Seven Million Dollars Writing For Over A Hundred Shows You Never Heard Of . Nicholls, Andrew . 24 June 2010 . 1st edition .
  3. Web site: Hurting Myself . Nicholls, Andrew . cosmonautsavenue.com . Cosmonauts Avenue . https://web.archive.org/web/20161220170038/http://cosmonautsavenue.com/hurting-myself-by-andrew-nicholls . 20 December 2016 . dead.
  4. Web site: Slow Time . Nicholls, Andrew . theboilerjournal.com . 19 December 2014 . The Boiler.
  5. Web site: Our Committee . Nicholls, Andrew . newworldwriting.net . 28 July 2018 . New World Writing.
  6. Web site: They Were The New Cats . Nicholls, Andrew . ewworldwriting.net . 28 July 2018 . New World Writing.
  7. Web site: The Thing On Treufel's Arm . Nicholls, Andrew . litforlife.wpengine.com . Literature for Life.
  8. Web site: Effort . Nicholls, Andrew . sharkreef.org . Shark Reef.
  9. Web site: Free Workshop of MOJAVE! The Musical . UC Davis Press Release . arts.ucdavis.edu . 28 June 2013 . UC Davis.
  10. Web site: "" Spring Quarter Production – Wyatt Pavillion Theatre . UC Davis Press Release . arts.ucdavis.edu . 28 June 2013 . UC Davis.
  11. Book: Comedy Writer: Craft advice from a veteran of sitcoms, sketch, animation, late night, print and stage comedy . Nicholls, Andrew. 3 December 2020 . Andrew Nicholls . 979-8-6953-6680-8 .
  12. Web site: Follow the Bouncing Molecule . Nicholls, Andrew . lightpoetrymagazine.com . Light.
  13. Web site: Your Future . Nicholls, Andrew . lightpoetrymagazine.com . Light.
  14. Web site: A Bee in a Jar – Catalyst: A Theatre Think Tank . UC Davis Press Release . arts.ucdavis.edu . 28 June 2013 . UC Davis.