The Writers Panel with Ben Blacker

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.

 

Direct download: nwp207_wondercon.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

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.

 

Direct download: nwp206_marta_kauffman.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

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
Category:general -- posted at: 1:36pm PDT

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
Category:general -- posted at: 3:03am PDT

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.

 

Direct download: nwp203neil_cross1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

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
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

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.

 

Direct download: nwp201_cbs_summer.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

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.

 

Direct download: nwp200_niche_mass.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

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!

 

Direct download: nwp199_bonus.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:47am PDT

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
Category:general -- posted at: 1:01am PDT