Chip Johannessen Explained

Chip Johannessen
Birth Name:George Frederick Johannessen[1]
Birth Date:16 November 1955[2]
Birth Place:Detroit, Michigan
Nationality:American
Education:Harvard University
UCLA School of Law
Occupation:Television producer and writer
Years Active:1986–present

George Frederick "Chip" Johannessen[3] (born November 16, 1955) is an American writer, editor, and producer of several popular television series. He is credited with work on 24, Homeland, Dexter, Moonlight,[4] Millennium, and Beverly Hills, 90210, among others.

Early life and education

Johannessen graduated with honors from Harvard University, where he wrote pieces for The Harvard Lampoon. Subsequently, he earned a J.D. at the UCLA School of Law.

Career

Johannessen began his television writing career with an episode of the sitcom Married... with Children in 1991. He then took a story editor position on the third season of Beverly Hills, 90210 in 1992. He was promoted to executive story editor for the fourth season in 1993. He joined the production staff as a co-producer for the fifth season in 1994. He went on to work as a producer on The Monroes in 1994.

He joined the crew of Chris Carter's series Millennium as a writer and co-producer and writer for the first season in 1996. He was promoted to producer midseason. He returned as a consulting producer for the second season in 1997. He became an executive producer for the third season in 1998. He wrote an episode of another Carter series in 2000; The X-Files.

He joined the crew of Dark Angel as a consulting producer for the first season in 2000 and continued this role for the second season in 2001. In late 2001 he wrote an episode for the first season of the action drama series 24.

In 2005 he joined the crew of freshman science fiction series Surface as a consulting producer and writer. The series was canceled after one season.

In 2007 he joined the crew of Moonlight as an executive producer and writer. The series focused on a vampire investigator. Johannessen served as show runner for the first twelve episodes but left the crew after this. The series was also canceled after its first season.

In 2009 he returned to 24 as a consulting producer and writer for the end of the seventh season. He became a co-executive producer for the eighth season in fall 2009 and was promoted to executive producer for the series final episodes in 2010.

Johannessen replaced Clyde Phillips as executive producer and show runner for the fifth season of the Showtime drama series Dexter. He was joined on the series by 24 collaborator Manny Coto. Johannessen left the crew after the fifth season and was replaced as show runner by executive producer Scott Buck. Johannessen remained with Showtime as a producer for the new original drama series Homeland which was developed by his The X-Files and 24 colleagues Alex Gansa and Howard Gordon.[5] [6]

In 2019, Johannessen joined other WGA members in firing his agents as part of the Guild's stand against the ATA after the two sides were unable to come to an agreement on a new "Code of Conduct" that addressed the practice of packaging.[7]

Filmography

Films

Year Film Credit Notes
1986Last ResortActorRole: Firebreather
2000Written by
UltravioletWritten By, Produced ByTelevision Pilot

Television

Year TV Series Credit Notes
1991Married... with ChildrenWriter1 Episode
1992RugratsWriter1 Episode
1992-95Beverly Hills, 90210Writer, Co-Producer, Story Editor, Executive Story Editor
1995The MonroesWriter, Producer
1996-99MillenniumWriter, Producer, Executive Producer, Consulting Producer
2000The X-FilesWriter1 Episode
2000-02Dark AngelWriter, Consulting Producer
2001Cover MeWriter, Consulting Producer1 Episode
2001-1024Writer, Executive Producer, Consulting Producer
2005EmpireWriter, Executive Producer6 episodes
2005-06SurfaceWriter, Consulting Producer
2007-08MoonlightWriter, Executive Producer
2010DexterWriter, Executive Producer
2011-20HomelandWriter, Executive Producer
201324Writer1 Episode
2015Saints & StrangersWriter1 Episode

Notes and References

  1. Web site: George Frederick Johannessen # 276792 - Attorney Licensee Search.
  2. United States Public Records, 1970-2009 (California, 1987-2008)
  3. Web site: For Simpsons Writer Meyer, Comedy is No Laughing Matter. The Harvard Crimson. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20030731224732/https://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=348259. 31 July 2003. 2009-05-12.
  4. Web site: Moonlight Leader Slayed!. 2009-05-12.
  5. Web site: Former 'Dexter' Showrunner Chip Johannessen Joins Showtime's 'Homeland' (Exclusive). April 21, 2011. Guthrie. Marissa. The Hollywood Reporter. August 20, 2011.
  6. Web site: Michael Cuesta Joins Showtime Series 'Homeland' As Executive Producer. May 4, 2011. Andreeva. Nellie. Deadline. August 20, 2011.
  7. Web site: WGA: More Than 7,000 Writers Have Fired Their Agents . 22 April 2019 . Deadline.