20 Best Writers in Television
by joel-nordlander | created - 08 Dec 2012 | updated - 08 Dec 2012 | PublicA list of 20 people whom I currently think are the best at writing compelling episodes of television
1. Joss Whedon
Producer | Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Joss Whedon is the middle of five brothers - his younger brothers are Jed Whedon and Zack Whedon. Both his father, Tom Whedon and his grandfather, John Whedon were successful television writers. Joss' mother, Lee Stearns, was a history teacher and she also wrote novels as Lee Whedon. Whedon was ...
2. David Simon
Writer | The Wire
David Simon was born on May 13, 1960 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for The Wire (2002), Homicide: Life on the Street (1993) and The Corner (2000). He has been married to Laura Lippman since October 3, 2006. They have one child.
3. Ronald D. Moore
Producer | Battlestar Galactica
Ron Moore was a member of the Kappa Alpha literary society during his time at Cornell University. He dropped out of college during his senior year, after which he moved to Los Angeles, California, with a friend in hopes of becoming a working writer. He was two weeks away from joining the United ...
4. Tim Minear
Producer | American Horror Story
Mr. Minear came to "The X Files" in 1998 after serving successfully as executive story editor on "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman." His episode credits on "Lois and Clark" include "Brutal Youth," "Twas the Night Before Mxymas," "Meet John Doe" and "I've Got You Under My Skin". Prior ...
5. J.J. Abrams
Producer | Lost
Jeffrey Jacob Abrams was born in New York City and raised in Los Angeles, the son of TV producer parents. At 15, he wrote the music for Don Dohler's Nightbeast (1982). In his senior year of college, he and Jill Mazursky teamed up to write a feature film, which became Taking Care of Business (1990)....
6. Ed Burns
Writer | The Wire
Ed Burns is an American novelist, writer and producer. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland and was wild in his early years. This led his parents to move him and his brother Michael to the suburbs. He went to Catholic schools as a boy and graduated from Loyola College in Baltimore. He worked as a ...
7. David Fury
Producer | Buffy the Vampire Slayer
David Fury was born on March 5, 1959 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997), Lost (2004) and 24 (2001). He has been married to Elin Hampton since May 16, 1993. They have three children.
8. Steven S. DeKnight
Writer | Pacific Rim Uprising
Steven S. DeKnight was born in Millville, New Jersey, USA. He is known for Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018), Daredevil (2015) and Jupiter's Legacy (2021). He is married to Jaime Slater.
9. Vince Gilligan
Producer | The X Files
George Vincent Gilligan Jr. (born February 10, 1967) is an American writer, producer, and director. He is known for his television work, specifically as creator, head writer, executive producer, and director of Breaking Bad and its spin-off Better Call Saul. He was a writer and producer for The ...
10. Rockne S. O'Bannon
Writer | Farscape
Rockne S. O'Bannon was born in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Farscape (1999), Alien Nation and Evil (2019).
11. Jeff Pinkner
Producer | Fringe
Jeff Pinkner is known for Fringe (2008), Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) and Alias (2001).
12. Simon Barry
Producer | Warrior Nun
Simon Barry is a Showrunner, Writer, Director and Producer based in Vancouver and Los Angeles. He holds both Irish (EU) and Canadian passports and has worked in the US, Canada, UK and Spain. He is a founding partner of Reality Distortion Field Inc., a Vancouver based production company, and is best...
13. David Greenwalt
Producer | Profit
David Greenwalt was born on October 16, 1949 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Profit (1996). He has been married to Veronica Greenwalt since October 16, 2016.
14. Steven Moffat
Writer | Sherlock
Steven Moffat was born on November 18, 1961 in Paisley, Scotland, UK. He is a writer and producer, known for Sherlock (2010), Doctor Who (2005) and The Adventures of Tintin (2011). He has been married to Sue Vertue since 1999. They have two children. He was previously married to Maggie.
15. Elizabeth Craft
Producer | The Fix
Elizabeth Craft is known for The Fix (2019), The Shield (2002) and 666 Park Avenue (2012). She has been married to Adam Fierro since 2007. They have one child.
16. Sarah Fain
Producer | The Fix
Sarah Fain is known for The Fix (2019), Fantasy Island (2021) and The Shield (2002).
17. Damian Kindler
Writer | Sanctuary
Damian Kindler was born in Melbourne, Australia. He is known for Sanctuary (2008), Stargate SG-1 (1997) and October Faction (2020).
18. J.H. Wyman
Producer | Fringe
J.H. Wyman was born in Oakland, California, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Fringe (2008), Almost Human (2013) and Debris (2021).
19. Robert C. Cooper
Producer | Stargate: Atlantis
Robert C. Cooper was born on October 14, 1968 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is a producer and writer, known for Stargate: Atlantis (2004), Stargate SG-1 (1997) and Stargate Universe (2009). He is married to Hillary Cooper. They have one child.
20. Daniel Knauf
Producer | Carnivàle
From HBO to STARZ, primetime network television series and MARVEL, award winning Writer, Producer, and Showrunner Daniel Knauf's name has become synonymous with excellence in the unusual, iconic and unexpected. True to form, Daniel takes his first foray into family programming, serving as Creator, ...
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