The Writers Panel

The definitive insider's guide to our current golden age of television, Ben Blacker's The Writers Panel is an ever expanding anthology of live convention panels and intimate in-studio interviews with the writers, producers, and show runners responsible for all the shows you can't stop watching. Over the course of nearly 500 episodes and counting, The Writers Panel has sat across from guests such as Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad), Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele (Key and Peele), Liz Meriwether (New Girl), and Damon Lindelof (Lost, The Leftovers) to talk about the art and business of creating great television. Produced by the Forever Dog Podcast Network.

TV & Film
426
Sesame Street
Head-writer/puppeteer Joey Mazzarino and writers John Weidman, Christine Ferraro, Belinda Ward, and Molly Boylan tell Ben how to get, how to get to Sesame Street in this bonus-sized episode which also includes a visit to the Muppet Workshop and brief interviews with puppet wrangler Lara McLean, costumer Connie Peterson, and puppet designer Rollie Krewson.
108 min
427
Actors Roundtable
Actors Roundtable from ATX Television Festival: Some of todays leading episodic actors talk about the ups and downs of their TV careers. With Joshua Malina (Scandal), Lucas Neff (Raising Hope), Scott Porter (Friday Night Lights), Matt Lauria (Friday Night Lights), Devon Gummersall (My So-Called Life), Nick Wechsler (Revenge, Roswell), Wilson Bethel (Hart of Dixie). Moderated by Evan Miller.
68 min
428
Showrunners & Creators
Showrunners and Creators panel from ATX Television Festival. Michael Rauch, Andrew Lenchewski, Dmitry Lipkin, Tim Doyle, Kevin Biegel, Mike Royce, Dan Bucatinsky. Moderated by Andrew Miller.
59 min
429
Michael Jacobs
Michael Jacobs' first foray into TV was a home run with creation of the iconic '80s series Charles in Charge, and he didn't stop there, as he went on to create some of the most recognizable series in the 1980s and 1990s: My Two Dads, The Torkelsons, Dinosaurs, and Boy Meets World. He also produced the four-time Oscar nominated feature film Quiz Show (about the 1950s TV quiz show scandal). Now Michael is back with the highly anticipated series Girl Meets World, which will reunite Cory and Topanga from Boy Meets World and take a look on how their daughter handles adolescence. In conversation with Robyn Ross (TVGuide.com), Michael relives his journey in television, from creating and writing to his wealth of stories of the industry, talent, and TVs history.
39 min
430
Mythology
Mythology panel from ATX Television Festival. Remi Aubuchon (creator, Caprica), Richard Hatem (Grimm; The Gates), Jane Espenson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica, Once Upon a Time), Dmitry Lipkin (creator, The Riches and Hung), and Winnie Holzman (creator, My So-Called Life) discuss creating the world and rules of a show.Moderated by Todd VanDerWerff (AV Club).
55 min
431
Enlisted
BONUS EPISODE: Enlisted panel from ATX Television Festival. All about the new Fox army sibling comedy, with its creator Kevin Biegel (co-creator, Cougar Town), executive producer Mike Royce (Men of a Certain Age), and stars Geoff Stults, Chris Lowell, Parker Young, and Angelina Cabral.
37 min
432
Once Upon A Time
Once Upon a Time creators Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis, recorded at ATX Television Festival.
40 min
433
Structure of a Sitcom
Structure of a Sitcom and Rise of the Anti-Sitcom panel from ATX Television Festival: Dan Harmon (creator, Community), Paul Scheer (creator, NTSF:SD:SUV), Dave Finkel (New Girl; 30 Rock), Tim Doyle (Last Man Standing), and Rob Schrab (director, Mindy Project, Childrens Hospital) discuss the rise of new-comedy formats and the changing rules of writing comedy.
63 min
434
Ghost Girls
A chat with the writers/creators of the awesome and hilarious new Yahoo series, Amanda Lund, Maria Blasucci, and Jeremy Konner (Drunk History). The 12-episode paranormal procedural was directed by Konner and co-produced by Jack Black's Electric Dynamite and Shine America. It debuted yesterday. It is seriously great.
52 min
435
ATX Television Festival
Pitch-Pilot-Pick Up panel from ATX Television Festival: Julie Plec (showrunner, Vampire Diaries; co-creator/showrunner, The Originals), Liz Tigelaar (creator, Life Unexpected), Kyle Killen (creator, Mind Games, Awake, and Lone Star), Chris Keyser (creator, Party of Five), Bryan Seabury (VP Drama Development at CBS), Corey Marsh (Manager of Current Programming at Disney Channel), and Charlie Ebersol (producer, the Hochberg Ebersol Co.) discuss the beginning stages of a TV series from the pitch, to filming the pilot, to finally waiting on pins and needles to hear if a pilot was given a shot to make it into your living rooms.
55 min
436
Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars's Rob Thomas and Chris Lowell, live from ATX Television Festival.
65 min
437
Davey Holmes
An in-depth chat with Davey Holmes (Awake; Shameless; Law & Order; Pushing Daisies) about his 2013 pilot Boomerang, pitching, finding your voice, and more. (Note: this interview was recorded before the network upfronts, so Boomerang's fate was still undecided. Ultimately Fox didn't pick up the show to series).
37 min
438
Jaws
The Jaws Summer Special! End your summer talking Jaws, comedy, and more with Jaws screenwriter Carl Gottlieb (The Smothers Brothers; The Jerk) and Jaws enthusiast Paul F. Tompkins (Comedy Bang Bang).
107 min
439
Comedy Bang Bang!
Comedy Bang Bang! From ATX Television Festival, a chat with CBB creator and Earwolf network co-founder Scott Aukerman (Between Two Ferns) and CBB's head writer Neil Campbell.
32 min
440
Vince Gilligan, Greg Daniels, Carlton Cuse, and...
100th episode spectacular! Live from Largo at the Coronet, in conjunction with Fast Company magazine, an all-star line-up with Vince Gilligan (creator, Breaking Bad), Greg Daniels (creator, King of the Hill; developer, the Office; co-creator, Parks and Recreation); Carlton Cuse (Lost; Bates Motel; The Strain; creator, Nash Bridges); Liz Meriweather (creator, the New Girl); with TV-inspired songs by Sara Watkins!Recorded at Largo at the Coronet on June 4, 2013 as an event sponsored by Fast Company magazine to benefit 826LA, the national non-profit tutoring program. Pick up Sara Watkins' newest album, Sun Midnight Sun, on iTunes or at SaraWatkins.com. It's really good.
119 min
441
Kevin Heffernan and Steve Lemme
A fun chat with writers/comics/actors/producers Kevin Heffernan and Steve Lemme of comedy brand Broken Lizard (Supertroopers; Beer Fest).
74 min
442
Arthur Phillips
An in-depth chat with author Arthur Phillips (The Tragedy of Arthur; The Egyptologist; Prague) about Shakespeare, making work of writing, unreliable narrators, and more.
64 min
443
Nerdist Writers Panel #97: JG Quintel and Alex ...
JG Quintel (creator, The Regular Show); Alex Hirsch (creator, Gravity Falls).Recorded May 19, 2013. As of today The Regular Show seasons 1 and 2 are available on DVD and Blu ray!
66 min
444
The Lizzie Bennet Diaries
The team behind the Lizzie Bennet Diaries, including co-creator Bernie Su, writers Margaret Dunlap, Rachel Kiley, and Kate Rorick, and writer/transmedia mastermind Jay Bushman.
65 min
445
Rebecca Sinclair, Greg Malins and Mark O’Keefe
Rebecca Sinclair (90210; Gilmore Girls; Buffy), Greg Malins (Friends; How I Met Your Mother; 2 Broke Girls), and Mark OKeefe (The Weird Al Show; News Radio; Bruce Almighty).
92 min
446
Greg Daniels, Jessica Goldstein, and Chrissy Pi...
Greg Daniels (developer, The Office; co-creator, Parks and Recreation; creator, King of the Hill); Jessica Goldstein and Chrissy Pietrosh (Cougar Town; My Name Is Earl).
86 min
447
Carlton Cuse, Michael Schur, and JJ Philbin
Carlton Cuse (Bates Motel; Lost; The Strain); Michael Schur (co-creator, Parks and Recreation); JJ Philbin (New Girl; The OC; Gilmore Girls).
100 min
448
Graham Yost, creator and showrunner of Justified
Graham Yost, creator and showrunner of Justified.As part of Fast Company magazine's Most Creative People issue, Ben Blacker interviewed the showrunners and creators of some of television's most interesting and groundbreaking shows about how they're carving out new territory in the business and creative worlds, and how these creatives are driving the zeitgeist.
35 min
449
Howard Gordon, co-creator of Homeland
Howard Gordon, co-creator of Homeland, executive producer of three 2013 pilots.As part of Fast Company magazine's Most Creative People issue, Ben Blacker interviewed the showrunners and creators of some of television's most interesting and groundbreaking shows about how they're carving out new territory in the business and creative worlds, and how these creatives are driving the zeitgeist.
30 min
450
Ian Roberts and Jay Martel, showrunners of Key ...
BONUS EPISODE with Ian Roberts and Jay Martel, showrunners of Key & Peele.As part of Fast Company magazine's Most Creative People issue, Ben Blacker interviewed the showrunners and creators of some of television's most interesting and groundbreaking shows about how they're carving out new territory in the business and creative worlds, and how these creatives are driving the zeitgeist.
56 min