The Writers Panel with Ben Blacker

Jose Molina (Agent Carter; Children of Tendu podcast), Nell Scovell (The Muppets; creator, Sabrina the Teenage Witch), and Rico Gagliano (The Dinner Party Download podcast/radio show) discuss 2015 and their experiences writing for Disney-owned properties, a new optimism, and lots more.

Direct download: nwp237_20152.mp3
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Mark Flanagan is the custodian of the estate of Marty Feldman (Young Frankenstein; Silent Movie; more) and the driving force behind LA's Largo, the theater that's been home to musicians and comedians for nearly 20 years. Flanny discusses finding Feldman's autobiography and having it published as-is (at the prompting of Python Eric Idle), Feldman's place in the British comedy pantheon, the importance of Marty's wife Lauretta, and his own personal unique relationship with artists and performers.

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Some of this year's favorites return to talk about “The Wiz Live,” buying and selling trends in 2015, their favorite shows, types of comedy, and lots more. With Laura Valdivia (Telenovela), Andrew Miller (Backstrom; upcoming: Tremors), and Ben Wexler (The Grinder; The Comedians). 

Direct download: nwp235_20151.mp3
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Ben Blacker is joined by writer Andrew Reich (Friends) to discuss and sneak-preview Dead Pilots Society, a Writers Panel spin-off coming in 2016 in which pilots that were developed but not shot are given the table reads they deserve. Starring actors you know and love from television and film, a live audience, and a good time in which no one gets notes, no one is fired, and everyone laughs. Dead Pilots Society is piloted here with a script Andrew wrote with his then-writing-partner, Ted Cohen, called Laurel and Holly. It stars Molly Shannon (Saturday Night Live), Sarah Chalke (Scrubs), Anna Camp (Pitch Perfect), Kyle Bornheimer (Agent Carter), Jamie Denbo (Ronna and Beverly), Hayes MacArthur (Angie Tribeca), Tony Cavalero (School of Rock), and Valerie Azlynn (Sullivan and Son).

Direct download: nwp234_dead_pilots.mp3
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Alfred Gough & Milles Millar (creators of AMC’s Into the Badlands, MTV’s Shannara Chronicles, and Smallville), Brian Koppelman (Oceans Thirteen; creator, Billions), Craig Engler (creator, Z Nation), Jake Coburn (Quantico; Arrow; Gossip Girl), Aaron Cohen (ESPN’s 30 for 30; HBO Sports), Jesse Peyronel (Dracula; Dig; upcoming: Sheltered), and Heath Corson (Scream; DC’s Bizarro; Nerdist Comics Panel co-host).

Recorded October 8, 2015 at NY Comic Con.

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The writer of the film Suffragette, out now, and the new Netflix series River, discusses writing issues-driven work, rewriting and rewriting, accolades, how hard it is to get movies made, and more. 

Direct download: nwp232_morgan.mp3
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The creator and showrunner of the new Amazon series The Man in the High Castle, based upon the Phillip K. Dick novel, discusses his start on The X-Files and what he learned from working in the Chris Carter camp, putting together a staff, running his production company in England, and more. The Man in the High Castle premieres November 20th on Amazon.

Direct download: nwp231_frank_spotnitz.mp3
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The showrunners of IFC's Maron discuss their creative partnership, their experiences in the WB Writers Workshop, their early, formative experiences on Just Shoot Me, running Glen Martin DDS, collaboration, and lots more.

Direct download: nwp230_glarum_jamin.mp3
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Two rounds in this live episode because not everyone could fit on the stage at once! First, hear Unreal co-creators Sarah Gertrude Shapiro and Marti Noxon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer; co-creator, Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce) and The Brink co-creators Kim Benabib and Roberto Benabib (Weeds; Ally McBeal) discuss comedy styles, going dark, and more. Then, returning pals Jeff Greenstein (Mom; Will & Grace), Josh Friedman (creator, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Stephen Falk (creator, You're the Worst), and Phillip Iscove (co-creator, Sleepy Hollow) join newcomer Will Widger (upcoming feature Lumberjanes) to discuss the state of the industry, their processes, and more.

Recorded live at LA Podfest, September 10, 2015.

Direct download: nwp229_la_podfest.mp3
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Recorded live from CBS Studios with Rob Doherty (Elementary), Aline Brosh McKenna (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Craig Sweeny (Limitless) and David Rosenthal (Jane the Virgin).

Recorded October 15, 2015.

Direct download: nwp228_cbs_showrunners.mp3
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Executive Producer/Director Jason Reitman (Young Adult; Juno), EP/creator Zander Lehmann, EP Helen Estabrook, and EP/showrunner Liz Tigelaar (Life Unexpected) discuss their new Hulu series, airing now! Special appearance by Casual star Tommy Dewey!

Recorded October 18, 2015.

Direct download: nwp227_casual.mp3
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The Knick's Michael Begler and Jack Amiel discuss creating the series, collaborating with director Steven Soderbergh on all 20 episodes, writing about social issues, New York, and more.

The second season of The Knick premieres tomorrow, October 16, on Cinemax.

Direct download: nwp226_knick.mp3
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Jason Rothenberg (creator, The 100), Janine Sherman Barrois (Criminal Minds; ER), Gloria Calderon Kellett (iZombie; How I Met Your Mother), and Zev Borow (Chuck; lots of legit stuff like The New Yorker and McSweeney’s).

Recorded September 27, 2015.

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Show EP/creator Sam Shaw and EP/director Thomas Schlamme (Sports Night; The West Wing; ER; The Americans) discuss bringing out the show's themes, casting, pitching, and lots more.

Season 2 of Manhattan airs Tuesday, October 13, at 9pm on WGN America.

Direct download: nwp224_manhatten.mp3
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Damon Lindelof (co-creator, Lost, The Leftovers), Chris Dingess (Agent Carter), Noelle Valdivia (Ash Vs the Evil Dead; Manhattan), and Kit Boss (iZombie; Bob’s Burgers).

Recorded September 13, 2015.

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Marc Guggenheim (co-creator, Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow), Corinne Marshall (School of Rock; Surviving Jack; creator, KC Undercover), Evan Bleiweiss (Rosewood; Matador; The Shield), and Laura Valdivia (Hot and Bothered; Weird Loners; Ben & Kate).

Recorded August 23, 2015.

Direct download: nwp222_guggenheim.mp3
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Family Men: Masters of the Family Sitcom with Norman Lear (creator of All in The Family, The Jeffersons, Maude, One Day at a Time, Sanford and Son, Good Times, and MORE), Phil Rosenthal (creator of Everybody Loves Raymond), and Steve Levitan (co-creator of Modern Family).

Direct download: NWP221_Family_Men__Masters_of_the_Family_Sitcom.mp3
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Join us for a lively panel discussion with a very engaged audience on the ups and downs of careers in cartoons between voice actor Jason Spisak (Young Justice), producer/writer/director/artist Shannon Eric Denton (Ultimate Spider-Man) , and writers Heath Corson (Throne of Atlantis), and Adam Beechen (Transformers: Robots In Disguise). Topics include getting started, finding ideas and staying sane.

Recorded at Phoenix Comic-Con May 28-31, 2015

 

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The creator of Peaky Blinders, The Detectives, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and screenwriter of the upcoming Pawn Sacrifice and World War Z II, as well as Locke, Closed Circuit, Eastern Promises, Dirty Pretty Things, and others discusses his process, structure, telling six-hour stories, collaboration, and more. Pawn Sacrifice is in cinemas tomorrow.

Direct download: nwp219_knight.mp3
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Writer/creator Damon Lindelof, director/executive producer Mimi Leder, and co-stars Ann Dowd, Chris Eccleston, Carrie Coon discuss the first season of the HBO series and what's coming next. 

Recorded June 7, 2015 at ATX

Direct download: nwp218_leftovers.mp3
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Adaptions are hard enough — honoring an original vision, satisfying a fan base, and translating characters from one medium (written word or film) to another (episodic television). What if in addition to that, you also had to balance tone, voices, and rhythm? Join a conversation between three unique, powerhouse creators, who have managed to do something beyond adaptation: they have respected the original distinctive worlds and characters, while managing to create something of their own. With Bryan Fuller (creator, Hannibal), Noah Hawley (creator, Fargo), and Graham Yost (creator, Justified). Moderated by James Hibberd (Entertainment Weekly).

Recorded June 6, 2015 at ATX

 

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How does a studio or network know whether or not a show is right for them? What happens when multiple executives from different companies want the same series? Hear from a panel of network, cable, and platform executives responsonsible for buying content. These individuals will discuss what makes them unique, as well as, how they form and buy series. Featuring Kathleen McCaffrey (HBO), Ken Segna (Starz), David Sleven (NBC Entertainment), and Grant Gish (20th Century Fox Animation). Moderated by Lesley Goldberg (TV News Editor, The Hollywood Reporter).

Recorded Friday, June 5, 2015 at ATX.

 

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First, Bunheads creator Amy Sherman-Palladino and cast members Sutton Foster, Kelly Bishop, and Stacey Oristano discuss the dance sequences, turning points, and character moments that made this Cancelled-Too-Soon series so loved in it's short time on air.

Then, Younger star Sutton Foster discusses the hit TVLand sitcom.

And finally, Teachers, an upcoming TV Land sit-com based upon the web-series is discussed by showrunners Jay Martel and Ian Roberts (Key & Peele), and writer/creator/actors “The Katydids”: Katie O’Brien, Caitlin Barlow, Katy Colloton, Cate Freedman, Kate Lambert, and Kathryn Renee Thomas. Moderated by Buzzfeed's Jarrett Wieselman.

Recorded June 5, 2015 at ATX.

Direct download: nwp215_bunheads.mp3
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The Simpsons has spanned 27 years. It has shaped many people's childhood, young adolescence, and adulthood, while defining a culture and a medium. Listen to co-creator James L. Brooks, and veteran writers/producers Al Jean, Matt Selman, and David Silverman discuss its long running history and how it has evolved and shifted over three decades. Moderated by James Hibberd (Entertainment Weekly).

Recorded June 6, 2015 at ATX.

 

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Esquire's Andy Langer chats with writer/creator Graham Yost, writer/producers Dave Andron and Fred Golan, director Jon Avnett, and co-star Nick Searcy (“Art Mullen”) about ending the brilliant FX series based upon the Elmore Leonard story.

Recorded June 6, 2015 at ATX

 

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The creator Gilmore Girls and Bunheads joins Entertainment Weekly's Danielle Nussbaum for an intimate conversation about the creation of her shows, writing strong characters and dialogue, and lots more.

Recorded June 5, 2015 at ATX Television Festival.

 

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Riki Lindhome (co-creator, Another Period; Garfunkel & Oates), Mickey Fisher (creator, Extant), Tad Stones (creator, Darkwing Duck), Ben Edlund (creator, The Tick; Powers; Gotham), Cheryl Heuton (co-creator, Numb3rs), Jenny Klein (Supernatural), Aaron Ginsburg (The 100), Patrick Schumacker (iZombie; co-creator, $#*! My Dad Says).

Recorded live at BAMFest in San Diego, July 13, 2015.

 

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James L. Brooks is the writer/director of such seminal films as Terms of Endearment and Broadcast News. In TV, he started in series such as My Mother the Car, That Girl, and The Andy Griffith Show before creating or co-creating a staggering list of shows that changed the entertainment landscape: Room 222, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-offs Rhoda, Phyllis, and Lou Grant, Taxi, and more. He's responsible for shepherding The Tracy Ullman Show and The Simpsons. In this candid conversation with Everybody Loves Raymond co-creator Phil Rosenthal, Brooks discusses fifty years in television.

Recorded June 6, 2015 at ATX.

 

Direct download: nwp210_brooks.mp3
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Chris Cantwell and Chris Rogers, creators of AMC's Halt and Catch Fire, discuss telling personal stories in a public medium, writing together, pitching and selling, and more.

Direct download: nwp209_halt_catch_fire.mp3
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With co-creator Graeme Manson and co-star Kristian Bruun (“Donnie”). Hosted by Natalie Abrams (Entertainment Weekly). 

Recorded June 6, 2015 at ATX Television Festival.

 

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Moderated by Sony Pictures Television's jocular senior VP of drama development & production Chris Parnell, this year's heroic lineup includes Jesse Alexander (Agent X, Heroes, Lost, Hannibal), Michael Narducci (The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, Medium), not so savage Steve Holland (The Big Bang Theory), Sarah Watson (Parenthood, About a Boy), Ashley E. Miller (Terminator, Fringe, Andromeda), Steve Melching (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Rebels, Guardians of the Galaxy Animated), Gabrielle Stanton (The Flash, Haven, Castle), Jose Molina (Agent Carter, Sleepy Hollow, Firefly), Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Helix, Lost, The Middleman), and Mark A. Altman (Femme Fatales, Castle, Necessary Roughness).

Recorded April 4, 2015.

 

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The co-creator of Friends, Grace & Frankie, and Dream On discusses how she runs shows, what she looks for in a room, bringing heart to her shows, working with Netflix, the cultural impact of Friends, and lots more.

Recorded June 5, 2015 at ATX Television Festival.

 

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FX Comedy Night panels from ATX Television Festival, June 5, 2015.

Married featuring creator Andrew Gurland and stars Nat Faxon, Judy Greer, Brett Gelman, and Sarah Burns; moderated by Ben Blacker; Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll featuring creator/star Denis Leary and stars Elaine Hendrix, Bobby Kelly, Elizabeth Gillies, and John Ales; moderated by Gary Levin (USA Today); You're the Worst featuring creator Stephen Falk and stars Aya Cash, Chris Geere, Desmin Borges, and Kether Donohue; moderated by Lesley Goldberg (Hollywood Reporter).

Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll and the second season of Married premiere on FX on TONIGHT!

 

Direct download: nwp205_fx_comedy.mp3
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Chris Carter, The X-Files creator discusses returning to the franchise he started 24 years ago,  pitching and planning the show, mythology and “monster-of-the-week” episodes, his collaborators, how the room works, and lots more. 

Direct download: nwp204_carter.mp3
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Neil Cross, the creator of Luther and Crossbones talks about his beginnings as a novelist, banging his head against the wall, working from Wellington, New Zealand (where this interview was recorded!), learning TV from his first job on BBC's Spooks/MI-5, the fun of writing Doctor Who, and lots more, including comic books, Fox's Luther remake, and how great Idris Elba and Matt Smith are.

 

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Kay Cannon, the hilarious, charming writer of Pitch Perfect and its sequel talks about her compulsion to write an a capella movie, her six years on 30 Rock, training at various Chicago improv studios, and lots more. 

Direct download: nwp202_kay_canon.mp3
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Mickey Fisher (creator, Extant), Joshua Applebaum (co-creator, Zoo), and Adam Stein (Under the Dome) discuss their CBS summer event series, how they started in the business, and lots more. Under the Dome's third season debuted June 25; Zoo premieres June 30; Extant's second season premieres July 1.

Recorded June 5, 2015 at ATX Television Festival.

 

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What makes an audience valuable? Can a loyal, passionate fan base whose voice is ten times louder than a casual viewer make an impact? That and more are discussed by Phil Rosenthal (creator, Everybody Loves Raymond), Bryan Fuller (creator, Hannibal, Pushing Daisies, Wonder Falls), Noah Hawley (creator, Fargo), and HBO director of development Kathleen McCaffrey. 

Recorded June 5, 2015 at ATX Television Festival.

 

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Following an advance screening of the Complications premiere, creator Matt Nix (Burn Notice), writer/producer Michael Horowitz, and stars Jessica Szohr (Gossip Girl), Beth Riesgraf (Leverage) discuss the show with Mark Peikert of Backstage Magazine. Recorded at ATX opening night, June 4, 2015.

Complications premieres on USA tonight, June 18!

PLUS: The original ATX theme song by @BenBlacker & @ToddCooper!

 

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Brannon Braga, the co-creator of WGN America's Salem discusses his 15 years in the Star Trek franchise, starting as an intern on The Next Generation, running Voyager, and creating Enterprise, as well as talking candidly about Fox's Terra Nova, getting energized on 24, and lots more. 

Direct download: nwp198_braga.mp3
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Matt Nix, the creator of USA's upcoming Complications and Burn Notice returns to talk about his new medical thriller, telling a personal story, changing viewer habits, caring about stories, and making soup. Complications debuts on USA on June 18th. 

Direct download: nwp197_matt_nix.mp3
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The writer of the Cannes premiering Sea of Trees, directed by Gus Van Sant, as well as thrillers-in-a-box Buried and ATM, talks about the good side of being pigeon-holed, breaking in, writing for himself, and lots more.

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Creator/executive producer Joelle Garfinkel, director/executive producer David Slack, and co-star/executive producer Kate Bond discuss their new web-series, including its origins, the thematic goals, production, and lots more. Cam Girls premieres June 1 at CamGirlsTheSeries.com!

Direct download: nwp195_cam_girls.mp3
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Director/co-writer Jack Plotnick and VFX supervisor Billy Brooks discuss the independent science fiction period black comedy, available now On Demand.

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Showrunner Chad Hodge (creator of The Playboy Club, Runaway, and All About Us) talks about writing scripts you're passionate about, getting his unexpected break, early success in the Peter Engels (Saved by the Bell) camp, Oprah, writing pilots, and how the Fox limited series came together. Wayward Pines premieres this Thursday, May 14, on Fox!

Direct download: nwp193_chad_hodge.mp3
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Jane the Virgin creator/showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman (Gilmore Girls; Hope & Faith; Men in Trees) discusses the various stages of the show's development, finding Jane's voice, collaborating with her writers' room, the creation and cancelation of her previous CW series, Emily Owens MD, and lots more. 

The finale of Jane the Virgin airs Monday, May 11. Don't miss it!

 

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Adam Pava (The Boxtrolls; Out of Jimmy's Head) and Mark Miller (VP of Clive Barker's Seraphim Inc; writer of the Hellraiser comic) talk about writing as much as possible, writing even when you're not being paid, writing other people's properties, and more. Plus: Adam talks in depth about the work he did on The Lego Movie for his friends Phil Lord and Chris Miller.

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Better Call Saul season 1 in review with co-creator/co-showrunner Peter Gould, writers Thomas Schnauz, Gennifer Hutchison, and Gordon Smith, and special guest Michael McKean (Chuck). Recorded live at Largo at the Coronet on April 13, 2015. 

Direct download: nwp190_better_call_saul.mp3
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Diane Ruggiero co-created iZombie and became showrunner Rob Thomas's right hand on Veronica Mars. Here, we dig deep with Diane to talk about how she was always a writer, how she went from waitressing to selling her first script to Nora Ephron to creating her own show to not working for a few years. She talks about how she likes to work and the best parts of writing. 

Direct download: nwp189_diane_ruggiero.mp3
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While TV viewing evolves so does our appetite for spoilers. How do they affect how we consume television? Featuring Beau Willimon (creator, House of Cards), Udo Azuba (actor, Orange is the New Black), Nick Wechsler (actor, Revenge), Kerry Ehrin (creator, Bates Motel), Tim Goodman (The Hollywood Reporter), Eric Pallotta (director of social media for Netflix). Moderated by cultural anthropolgist Grant McCracken.

This year's ATX Festival is right around the corner, and it's going to be a big one! Get your badge now: http://www.atxfestival.com/

Direct download: nwp188_spoilers.mp3
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The Comedians co-creator and showrunner talks about his new FX show, working with a comedy legend, who steers the ship on an auteur-driven show, his time on season 4 of Community, season 4 of Arrested Development, and the only season of The Michael J. Fox Show. The Comedians premieres on FX on April 9, and it's really, really good!

Direct download: nwp187_ben_wexler.mp3
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Peter Horton, the actor (thirtysomething), director (Grey's Anatomy; Dirty Sexy Money), and writer discusses the new show he co-created, American Odyssey, as well as storytelling in its different modes, working on and behind the camera, building characters, tension in storytelling, and lots more. American Odyssey premieres April 5 on NBC.

Direct download: nwp186_peter_horton.mp3
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Indie game creator Alexis Kennedy (Fallen London, Sunless Sea) of Failbetter Games plumbs the murky depths of games with Heath Corson (Bizarro, Justice League: Throne of Atlantis) as they discuss the role of Kickstarter in indie gaming, game pacing, managing world creation, how to keep game franchises fresh, oh, and cannibalism.  There’s actually a fair amount of talk of cannibalism. 

Direct download: nwp185_alexis_kennedy.mp3
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Diane Ruggiero (co-creator, iZombie; Veronica Mars; creator, That's Life) and Sarah Shapiro (creator, UnReal) discuss their new shows and take questions from the audience.

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David Greenwalt (Buffy seasons 1-3; co-creator of Angel; later work includes co-creating Grimm), Marti Noxon (Buffy seasons 2-7; Angel; later work includes co-creating Un-Real and developing Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce), David Fury (Buffy seasons 2-7; Angel seasons 1-5; later work includes Lost, 24, Fringe, Tyrant), Jane Espenson (Buffy seasons 3-7; Angel; Firefly; later work includes Once Upon a Time, co-creating Husbands), Tracey Forbes (Buffy seasons 4-5; later work includes co-creating CBC's Cracked), Steven DeKnight (Buffy seasons 5-7; Angel seasons 4-5; Dollhouse; later work includes creating Spartacus, showrunning Netflix's Daredevil), Drew Z. Greenberg (Buffy seasons 5-7; Firefly; Marvel's Agents of SHIELD; later work includes Warehouse 13, Arrow), Drew Goddard (Buffy seasons 6-7; Angel; director/co-writer, The Cabin in the Woods; later work includes Lost, Daredevil, upcoming Sinister Six movie), Elizabeth Craft (Angel; co-showrunner, Dollhouse; later work includes The Vampire Diaries, The 100). Topics include Joss Whedon and how great Joss Whedon is.

 

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Heath Corson (Bizarro, Justice League: Throne of Atlantis) is on special assignment at the Stoopid Buddy HQ to interview the masterminds behind ROBOT CHICKEN: co-creator Matt Senreich, Exec. Producer Eric Towner and John Harvatine. Tune in as they talk the secret origins of Robot Chicken, how George Lucas' requested that they keep making fun of Star Wars, Matthew's early days at Wizard magazine and their new stop motion animation masterclass now available on Vimeo. 

Direct download: nwp182_robot_chicken.mp3
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Jonathan Tropper, the co-creator of Banshee and author of six novels including Plan B and This Is Where I Leave You discusses discovering plot in the process of writing, his interests as a writer, developing Banshee and keeping it interesting, and lots more. The season finale of Banshee airs this Friday at 10pm on Cinemax.

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Co-creator Kerry Ehrin (Friday Night Lights; Boston Public) and co-star Freddie Highmore (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) discuss their collaboration on both the hit A&E drama and the pilot they co-wrote this year. They also talk about keeping Bates Motel, and Norman Bates, real, Highmore's chemistry with his on-screen mom Vera Farmiga, how the room works, and changing things up in season three, which premieres Monday, March 9, on A&E.

Direct download: nwp180_ehrin_highmore.mp3
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Executive producer Matt Thompson and co-producer Casey Willis, both of whom have been with show creator Adam Reed since Sealab 2021 and Frisky Dingo, discuss how Archer is written and produced, the increasing quality of the animation, working with FX, working from Atlanta, Georgia, the “Archer Vice” detour, and what's planned for season 6, currently on air.

Direct download: nwp179_archer.mp3
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The showrunner of Fox's hit Empire and the creator of Showtime's The L Word, Ilene Chaiken talks about the similarities between these shows, her years as a development executive for Aaron Spelling, how the Empire room tries to be true to the voices of creators Danny Strong and Lee Daniels, writing characters over time, and the joys of Cookie.

Direct download: nwp178_ilene_chaikin.mp3
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Jeff Greenstein & Jeff Strauss (season 1; later work includes co-creating Partners), Alexa Junge (seasons 1-5; later work includes Grace and Frankie [with Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman]; United States of Tara; Once and Again), and Adam Chase (seasons 1-6; post-Friends work includes The Crazy Ones; Mom; creating Clone) discuss the earliest days of the ground-breaking sitcom from participating in the punch-up the pilot script with creators Marta Kauffman, David Crane, and Kevin Bright, to getting hired for the writing staff, mining their lives for stories, the long hours, the democracy of the room, arguments, jokes, and lots more. 

PLUS: Enormous thanks to Rhett Miller (Old 97's), Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), and Kate Micucci (Garfunkel and Oates) on their musical contributions to this week's show. They are SO GOOD.

 

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CBS's Bryan Seabury, Sony's Chris Parnell, and Caitlin Foito of ABC Studios take you inside the TV pitching and selling process from another perspective. Their candid conversation covers how decisions are made, what works in pitching and selling, the shifting marketplace, and how the best advice is to make the TV you want to see.

Direct download: nwp176_execs.mp3
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Co-creator/showrunner Bob Fisher (Traffic Light) and actor Kevin Bigley of the USA half-hour program Sirens chat about how the show is made, shooting in Chicago, comedy they love, and lots more. Season 2 of Sirens premieres tonight on USA!

Direct download: nwp175_sirens.mp3
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Nell Scovell, creator of the Sabrina, the Teenage Witch series, has been in the business for thirty years and has worked with such luminaries as David Letterman, the Smothers Brothers, and more. She's been on the staff of such shows as Newhart, Coach, Murphy Brown, Charmed, NCIS, and Warehouse 13, and she co-wrote the seminal women-at-work book Lean In with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg. Nell talks about ALL of this, as well as gives great advice to writers starting out.

Direct download: nwp174_nell_scovel.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:06am PDT

Actor and comedian Patton Oswalt's new book, Silver Screen Fiend, is out now. In this chat with author, humorist, and actor John Hodgman, Patton talks about how the book came to be, his love of movies, comedy, and lots more. 

Recorded at Barnes & Noble in Union Square, NY, on January 6, 2014. Enormous special thanks to Rachael Berkey for her assistance in recording.

 

Direct download: nwp173_oswalt_hodgman2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:49am PDT

The creator of Hart of Dixie, which begins its fourth season this Friday (January 9), talks about creating the show, being a first-time showrunner, working with the CW, creating the show as a response to her time on Gossip Girl, as well as how she broke in, her early jobs on The OC and Life As We Know It, and lots more.

Direct download: nwp172_gerstein.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

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