Television show creator explained

A television show creator or television program creator is the person who developed a significant part of a TV show's format, concept, characters, and pilot script. They have sequel rights to the material as well.

Often, the creator is also the showrunner 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:

• Natasha Allegri, created the web series Bee and Puppycat turned into a TV series on Netflix.^{[9] [10]}
• 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.^{[11] [12]}
• 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);^[13] Gerry Anderson also created Supercar (1961–62)^[14]
• Danny Antonucci, created The Brothers Grunt, Cartoon Sushi, and Ed, Edd n Eddy
• Meredith Averill, creator and executive producer of The CW science fiction teen drama Star-Crossed.^[15]
• Craig Bartlett, created Hey Arnold!, Dinosaur Train and Ready Jet Go!.
• Ben Bocquelet, created The Amazing World of Gumball.
• Donald P. Bellisario, co-created Magnum, P.I., created Airwolf, created Quantum Leap, created JAG, co-created NCIS.
• Maxwell Atoms, created Grim & Evil, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, and Evil Con Carne.
• Rick Berman, co-created with Michael Piller,^[16] co-created with Piller and Jeri Taylor, co-created Enterprise (retitled Star Trek: Enterprise in 2003) with Brannon Braga.^[17]
• Loren Bouchard, co-created Home Movies (with Brendon Small), and created Bob's Burgers and 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)
• 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.
• Gábor Csupó, created Rugrats, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Santo Bugito, The Wild Thornberrys, Rocket Power, All Grown Up!, and Rugrats Pre-School Daze.
• Michael Schur, co-created Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, created The Good Place.
• Mitch Schauer, created The Angry Beavers.
• David Crane, co-created Friends (with Marta Kauffman), co-created The Class with Jeffrey Klarik,^[18] and co-created Episodes for the BBC.^{[19] [20]}
• Keith Chapman, created Bob the Builder, Fifi and the Flowertots, and PAW Patrol.
• Greg Daniels, co-created King of the Hill, developed The Office, co-created Parks and Recreation, created Upload, and co-created Space Force.
• John A. Davis, created
• Terrance Dicks, co-created the BBC science-fiction TV series Moonbase 3 (1973)
• C.H. Greenblatt, created Chowder, Harvey Beaks, and Jellystone!.
• John R. Dilworth, created Courage the Cowardly Dog
• David Feiss, created Cow and Chicken, I Am Weasel and YooHoo & Friends.
• Bryan Elsley, created Dates (2013–)^[21] and co-created the British teen drama Skins (2007–2013) with Jamie Brittain^[22]
• Brad Falchuk, co-creator with Murphy of American Horror Story,^[23] co-creator with Ian Brennan and Ryan Murphy of Glee
• Phil Ford, co-creator with Russell T Davies of Wizards vs Aliens
• C.H. Greenblatt, created Chowder, Harvey Beaks, and Jellystone!.
• Jorge Gutierrez, created and Maya and the Three.
• Bruce Geller, created the television series Mission: Impossible (1966–73)
• Chris Gifford, created Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go! and
• Vince Gilligan, created Breaking Bad and co-created Better Call Saul
• Bryan Elsley, created Dates (2013–)^[24] and co-created the British teen drama Skins (2007–2013) with Jamie Brittain^[25]
• David Greenwalt, co-created Angel, co-created Profit, and co-created NBC drama Grimm
• David E. Kelley, created Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, The Practice, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Boston Legal, and Harry's Law
• Matt Groening, created The Simpsons,^[26] Futurama and Disenchantment.
• Stephen Hillenburg, created SpongeBob SquarePants.
• Susan Harris, created Soap, Benson, The Golden Girls, Empty Nest, Nurses and The Golden Palace.
• Chris Kratt and Martin Kratt, co-created the children's TV series Kratts' Creatures, Zoboomafoo, Be the Creature, and Wild Kratts
• Jeffrey Klarik, co-created Episodes and co-created The Class with David Crane^[27]
• 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
• Butch Hartman, created The Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom, T.U.F.F. Puppy, Bunsen is a Beast
• Mike Judge, created Beavis and Butt-Head, and co-created King of the Hill, The Goode Family, Silicon Valley, and
• Emily Kapnek, created As Told by Ginger, Suburgatory, and Selfie
• 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)^[28]
• Steven Levitan, co-creator with Christopher Lloyd of Modern Family^[29]
• Christopher Lloyd, co-creator with Steven Levitan of Modern Family^[29]
• Craig McCracken, created The Powerpuff Girls, Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends, Wander Over Yonder, Kid Cosmic
• Patrick McGoohan, creator^[30] or co-creator^[31] of The Prisoner
• Carol Mendelsohn, co-creator and executive producer of and
• 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^[23]
• Joe Murray, created Rocko's Modern Life, Camp Lazlo, Let's Go Luna
• Mic Neumann created Kung Faux
• Sydney Newman, created The Avengers^[32] and Doctor Who^[33]
• Jonathan Nolan, created Person of Interest
• Steve Oedekerk, created Back at the Barnyard and co-created Planet Sheen
• Van Partible, created Johnny Bravo.
• Michael Piller, co-created and of
• J.G. Quintel, created Regular Show and Close Enough
• Paul Reiser, co-created Mad About You (1992–99)
• Rob Renzetti, created My Life as a Teenage Robot
• Shonda Rhimes, created Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, and Scandal
• Sol Saks, most known as created Bewitched (1964–72)^[34]
• Chris Savino, created The Loud House.
• Adi Shankar, created The Guardians of Justice.
• Sidney Sheldon, created The Patty Duke Show (1963–66), I Dream of Jeannie (1965–70) and Hart to Hart (1979–84)
• Mr. Warburton, created .
• Jhonen Vasquez, created Invader Zim
• Genndy Tartakovsky, created Dexter's Laboratory and Samurai Jack, developed Star Wars: Clone Wars, co-created Sym-Bionic Titan and created Primal
• Pendleton Ward, created Adventure Time, Bravest Warriors and The Midnight Gospel.
• Alex Hirsch, created Gravity Falls
• 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. (2013–2020).^[35]
• Tom Wheeler, created The Cape (2011)^[36]
• Toby Whithouse, created Being Human^[37]
• Dick Wolf, created , , , and .,^[38] and created Crime & Punishment
• Justin Zackham, created FX drama series Lights Out
• Anthony E. Zuiker, created the franchise of several TV series,^[39]

See also

• Showrunner

Notes and References

1. http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/boards/showthread.php?t=48311 donedealpro.com messageboard thread
2. Web site: Determining Separated Rights on a Television Series . Writers Guild of America.
3. Web site: Code of Credits – Television Series – Non-Fiction.
4. Web site: 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,); republished in 2008 as The Avengers: The Inside Story (Titan Books,)
6. Web site: Standard Deal Points When Selling Your Television Projects . TV Writers Vault . February 2, 2014.
7. Web site: The Ins and Outs of TV Series Writer Deals . Dina Appleton.
8. Web site: Live-Action TV Director Sues "Johnny Test" Producer For Creator Credit . C. Edwards . September 20, 2013 . CartoonBrew.Com.
9. https://www.polygon.com/animation-cartoons/2020/10/6/21504068/bee-and-puppycat-season-2-netflix-release Talking to the Top Female Filmmaker on Kickstarter, Bee and PuppyCat's Natasha Allegri
10. https://www.polygon.com/animation-cartoons/2020/10/6/21504068/bee-and-puppycat-season-2-netflix-release Cult-favorite cartoon Bee and Puppycat finds a home at Netflix for season 2
11. http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/970032/index.html British Film Institute screenonline database
12. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jul/12/television "Estate of Play"
13. Web site: Thunderbirds . IMDb.
14. Web site: Supercar (TV series). IMDb.
15. News: Star-Crossed so dopey, teens might not even like it. Wiegand. David. February 16, 2014. Observer-Reporter. March 2, 2014.
16. Book: Deep Space Nine Companion. Terry J.. Erdmann. Block. Paula M.. August 1, 2000. Simon and Schuster . 978-0-671-50106-8.
17. Web site: Dispatch: Berman Celebrates Milestone. May 22, 2000. April 11, 2009.
18. Web site: Exclusive Interview: David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik, Creators of The Class . BuddyTV.com . November 2, 2006 . January 26, 2011.
19. Web site: Biggest Sunday Ever on Showtime! Shameless, Episodes & Californication to Premiere January 9th . FutonCritic.com . . September 22, 2010 . January 26, 2011.
20. Web site: Press Packs: Episodes . BBC . December 17, 2010 . January 26, 2011.
21. Web site: Dates . IMDb.
22. Web site: Skins . IMDb.
23. Web site: Ryan Murphy Dissects Glee and American Horror Story, Addresses Fans and Critics . May 22, 2012 . Denise Martin.
24. Web site: Dates . IMDb.
25. Web site: Skins . IMDb.
26. Web site: The Simpsons . IMDb.
27. News: 'The Class' gets an A for effort . Diane . Werts . . September 18, 2006 . October 18, 2007 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20061126121504/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/ny-etclass4896552sep18,0,1042990.story?coll=ny-television-headlines . November 26, 2006 .
28. Internet Movie Database: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0164289/fullcredits#cast
29. Web site: Modern Family . IMDb.
30. News: January 14, 2009 . "Prisoner" Star Patrick McGoohan Dies . CBS News . January 15, 2009.
31. Web site: The Prisoner. IMDb.
32. Note Sydney Newman apparently never received screen credit as the created The Avengers.
33. Web site: Doctor Who (1963–1989) . IMDb.
34. Web site: Bewitched . IMDb.
35. Web site: Andreeva. Nellie. ABC Greenlights 'S.H.I.E.L.D' Marvel Pilot, Joss Whedon To Co-Write & Possibly Direct. August 28, 2012. August 29, 2012 . deadline.com. February 5, 2014.
36. Web site: Interview: NBC's The Cape Creator Tom Wheeler . Kelly West . December 18, 2010.
37. Web site: Being Human . IMDb.
38. Weiner. Allison Hope. Case Closed. Entertainment Weekly. May 15, 2010. May 23, 2005.
39. News: From Creator of 'C.S.I.,' Testimonials to Himself . Bill Carter . August 11, 2003 . .