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.
176
General Hospital
Head writer Shelly Altman and co-head writer Chris Van Etten of the long-running (55 years and counting!) daytime soap opera are joined by GH super-fan Danielle Sanchez-Witzel (The Carmichael Show; LA>Vegas) to discuss the nuts and bolts of writing a daily hour-long drama.
68 min
177
John Shiban, CeCe Pleasants, and Liz Hannah
John Shiban (Shut Eye; The X-Files; Breaking Bad); CeCe Pleasants (Bill Nye Saves the World; Jimmy Kimmel Live!); Liz Hannah (The Post)
86 min
178
The Exorcist
Show creator Jeremy Slater (The Umbrella Academy) and co-showrunner Sean Crouch (Numb3rs) discuss the Fox series' second season, horror on network TV, capturing the feel of both the original film and William Peter Blatty's book, and more. The season finale of The Exorcist is December 15 on Fox. You can catch up on the show on Hulu! It's worth it!
65 min
179
Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage
Writer Josh Schwartz is the creator of The OC, Chuck, Gossip Girl, and more. Fake Empire, his production company with partner Stephanie Savage, is behind Hulu's Runaways, CW's Dynasty and Hart of Dixie, and many other TV shows and films. Josh and Stephanie discuss their successes and failures, how writing is like producing and how it isn't, bringing Runaways to the screen, and lots more.
60 min
180
Patrick Brammall and Trent O’Donnell, Cynthia M...
Patrick Brammall and Trent ODonnell (creators, No Activity); Cynthia Mort (creator, Tell Me You Love Me; Roseanne); Sanjay Shah (Fresh Off the Boat; Cougar Town).
52 min
181
Frankie Shaw & Sarah-Violet Bliss
Frankie Shaw (creator, SMILF); Sarah-Violet Bliss (co-creator, Search Party).
58 min
182
Future Man
Creators Kyle Hunter & Ariel Shaffir (Sausage Party) and showrunner Ben Karlin (Modern Family; The Daily Show) discuss their new Hulu series, a sci-fi comedy.
37 min
183
Stephen Chbosky
The writer/director of The Perks of Being a Wallflower and the forthcoming Wonder chats about the line between honesty and sentimentality, the similarities between novel writing and film directing, why and how he writes, and gives a valuable four-point piece of advice to writers.
56 min
184
Stan Against Evil
Live from Id10tfest, creator Dana Gould (The Simpsons) and stars John C. McGinley (Scrubs) and Janet Varney (Legend of Korra) look back on the show's first season and look forward to the second which premieres November 1 on IFC! Moderated by Nerdist's Jessica Chobot. Stan Against Evil theme is by Eban Schletter.
52 min
185
Glenn Gordon Caron, Hillary Benefiel, and Rob W...
Glenn Gordon Caron (creator of Moonlighting, Now & Again, and Medium); Hillary Benefiel (Beyond; Person of Interest); Rob Wright (Lethal Weapon [TV]; Ash Vs the Evil Dead; Walker Texas Ranger).
82 min
186
Sera Gamble, Sallie Patrick, and Lindsey Shockley
Sera Gamble (showrunner, The Magicians; Supernatural; upcoming; You), Sallie Patrick (showrunner, Dynasty; Revenge), Lindsey Shockley (creator, Unit Zero; Black-ish; Trophy Wife)
56 min
187
Billy Ray, Michele Fazekas & Tara Butters, and ...
Billy Ray (creator, The Last Tycoon; Captain Phillips; The Hunger Games); Michele Fazekas & Tara Butters (creators, Kevin [Probably] Saves the World; showrunners, Agent Carter); Alison Schapker (Scandal; The Flash; Fringe, Alias)
69 min
188
Mark Feuerstein, Dana Klein, and Davita Scarlett
Mark Feuerstein (co-creator, 9JKL; actor, Royal Pains); Dana Klein (co-creator, 9JKL; Friends; Becker); Davita Scarlett (Queen Sugar; Constantine)
66 min
189
“Watercooler Meets Murderboard” from ATX
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 can feel like the fandom is more interested solving a show than experiencing it. Michael Rauch (creator, Royal Pains), Monica Owusu-Breen (Alias), Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Lost), Noreen O'Toole (associate producer, Westworld), and Eric Goldman (Marvel, IGN) discuss how hyper-analysis does (and doesnt) affect the creative process, balancing the art of misdirection vs. deception, and what it means to cede your story to an audience in 2017.
56 min
190
“Prepackaged” from ATX
TV executives Kathleen McCaffrey (HBO), Grant Gish (Marvel), Carolyn Newman (eOne), Alex Maggioni (Amblin), Ali Krug (Annapurna Television), Peter Gal (Dreamworks Animation Television), and Simran Sethi (Freeform) discuss the pros & cons of finding and purchasing pre-existing properties across all formats, employing appropriate talent to adapt, packaging with cast and directors, selling to networks, and more.
59 min
191
Tim McKeon/Stacey Sher
Producer Stacey Sher's films include Adventures in Babysitting, Reality Bites, The Fisher King, Get Shorty, Pulp Fiction, Erin Brokovitch, Django Unchained, and many, many more. She discusses her successes and her role in making so many landmark films, her stint at Danny DeVito's Jersey Films, working with writers and directors, and her current job as the co-president of Activision Blizzard Studios.
122 min
192
“Life After TV High School” from ATX.
Just in time to go back to school, writers Julie Plec (Dawson's Creek; The Vampire Diaries), Amanda Lasher (Sweet/Vicious; Gossip Girl) and YA author turned YA TV producer Rebecca Serle (Famous in Love) discuss the New Adult genre, why it has taken the place of YA, and the fun and challenges of post-high school teen characters.
59 min
193
Alias writers reunion from ATX
Ken Olin, Sarah Caplan, Andre Nemec, Josh Appelbaum, and Monica Owusu-Breen reunite to reflect on the shows long-term impact, the challenges of maintaining their elaborate concept across 105 episodes, and to share their favorite moments in the life of Sydney Bristow.
59 min
194
“Friendships on TV” panel from ATX
Mara Brock Akil (creator, Being Mary Jane), Kevin Falls (creator, Franklin & Bash), Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (creator, Sweet/Vicious), and Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham (creators/stars, Playing House) discuss writing TV friendships.
63 min
195
“First gigs” from ATX
Graham Yost (creator, Justified) and Dave Andron (Justified) and Julie Plec (creator, The Originals) and Carina MacKenzie (The Originals) in conversation about taking chances and catching breaks, exploring the relationship from both sides of that first gig.
62 min
196
Greg Garcia and James Roland
Greg Garcia (creator, The Guest Book, My Name Is Earl, The Millers, Raising Hope, and Yes, Dear); James Roland (creator, Blood Drive).
73 min
197
Samantha McIntyre, Jennifer Muro and Cherry Che...
Samantha McIntyre (People of Earth; Unicorn Store); Jennifer Muro (Star Wars: Forces of Destiny); Cherry Chevapravatdumrong (Family Guy).
70 min
198
Northern Exposure
Creator Josh Brand, writers/executive producers Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess, writer/producer Cheryl Bloch, and cast members Rob Morrow, Janine Turner, Cynthia Geary, and Adam Arkin reunite to discuss the series enduring strangeness, how the self-proclaimed comedy became an award-winning drama, and why we were still thinking about that moose more than 20 years later.
43 min
199
“I'll Have What Phil's Having... for Breakfast!”
A double feature with Everybody Loves Raymond creator and food-lover Phil Rosenthal. Breakfast with Phil has become an ATX Television Festival tradition. From last year's fest, Ben Blacker join Phil to talk breakfast tacos, coffee, travel, and more, while Phil resists the narrative. Then, from 2017's season six, Sweet/Vicious creator Jennifer Kaytin Robinson joins Phil to discuss his favorite moments from the first season of I'll Have What Phil's Having, his favorite places he visited on this upcoming season, what he thinks Raymond would look like if it were on the air today.
108 min
200
Fargo & The Leftovers
A double dose from ATX Teleivion Festival. First, following a screening of Episode 309 (Aporia) , creator Noah Hawley, executive producer John Cameron, and actors Michael Stuhlbarg and Mary McDonnell discuss the series, season three, and the future of Fargo. Then, creators Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta and executive producer/director Mimi Leder discuss the end of HBO's The Leftovers, from the creative collaboration that shaped three incredibly distinct seasons, a departure from the book, and a look back at their favorite moments from the final episode.
117 min