With the rate at which TV is being produced and consumed, it’s not surprising that the ways in which we discuss and process television have evolved dramatically. From Reddit threads and think pieces, to live-tweeting and podcasts, the TV Theory business is booming. Yet, for a series with an ongoing mystery and unanswered questions, it […]
Television producer, writer and creator Linda Bloodworth-Thomason has penned over 350 comedic episodes, and in the process, earned a reputation as the voice of smart, Southern humor on television. From the legendary Sugarbaker women of Atlanta (Designing Women), to the critically lauded small-town characters of Evening Shade to the darkly hilarious political comedy Hearts Afire, […]
A common element of humanity that spans generations of social and cultural interactions, and is deeply embedded in our DNA, is the concept of the “enemy” (or the “other”) that we all must face. Whether it is external or internal, this conflict continues to grip us as we explore the meaning of our own enemy: […]
While it may come in a variety of shapes and sizes, the concept of ’family’ is undeniably universal — which is why it so often finds itself central to many of TV’s most compelling and emotional series. The creatives behind some of the most memorable modern family dramas discuss the process of shaping these familial […]
High school settings have been a staple of popular TV for decades, but lately these “teenage dramas” are disappearing. With many characters graduating, and new series being developed or revamped to focus on the college, why has television abandoned these young formative years? Creators and showrunners who are immersed in the world discuss the NA […]
“Adrenalized soap opera, bloody pulp fiction, highly complex characters…” For seven seasons, an all-star slate of television directors deftly navigated the challenging gauntlet set forth in Kurt Sutter’s Shakespearean biker drama, Sons of Anarchy — a series that featured some of television’s most gruesome violence and debauchery, while also tenderly exploring the dynamics of power, […]
With each passing year, more TV networks are dipping their toes into original programming, new streaming services are rapidly sprouting up, and out-of-nowhere smash hits are appearing in the most unlikely of places. As the landscape becomes unpredictable and malleable, each network is grappling to find its own place on the spectrum — do they […]
For nearly 20 years, producers, collaborators, and spouses Mara-Brock Akil and Salim Akil have brought their unique points of view to iconic series like Girlfriends, The Game, and Being Mary Jane, culminating in the creation of their own creative brand: Akil Productions. Now, join us for a one-on-one conversation with Mara and Salim as they […]
Inspiration for a story can be drawn from an infinite amount of places, one of which is the writer’s own personal experience. These writers discuss storylines they’ve created or by happenstance been assigned to that have mirrored parts of their own lives, how they walked the line between truth and fiction, and how they personally […]
Phil Rosenthal may have created Everybody Loves Raymond, but his heart is in his stomach, and he’s taken his love for food to the small screen with his James Beard Award winning series, “I’ll Have What Phil’s Having.” 5 Words that won’t steer you wrong. In this conversation, Phil and writer/creator Jennifer Kaytin Robinson sit […]
“Peak TV” means that there’s room in the marketplace for both original ideas and pre-existing stories, much of which is mined from source material (graphic novels, comics, fiction and non-fiction books, movies), otherwise known as I.P. (Intellectual Properties). Join a conversation with executives and creatives as they discuss the pros & cons of finding and […]
“show·run·ner ˈSHōˌrənər/ Noun the person who has overall creative authority and management responsibility for a television program.” Despite a clear and succinct definition, the job is anything but concise. Every series is run differently, and every job has a new set of perks and challenges. Listen as this group of showrunners have an in-depth discussion […]
