Curated playlist
American showrunners
- Paul ZbyszewskiPaul Zbyszewski wrote both the first and the last episodes of his ABC series Day Break. The show ran only a short time.
- J. J. AbramsJ. J. Abrams wrote his first film score at age 16 for a horror movie. The 1982 low-budget film was called Nightbeast.
- Bill CosbyBill Cosby holds the record for the most Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album, with seven wins. To a vast television audience, he was also Cliff Huxtable, the father at the center of The Cosby Show. That role earned him a reputation as…
- Damon LindelofBefore writing professionally, Lost creator Damon Lindelof read other people's screenplays for film studios.
- Tony GilroyTony Gilroy built Andor, and his brother Dan wrote its Emmy-winning episode.
- Lorne MichaelsLorne Michaels once offered The Beatles $3,000 to reunite on live TV. It came in Saturday Night Live's first season.
- Dave FiloniDave Filoni thought George Lucas's job offer was a prank. He later became president of Lucasfilm.
- D. B. WeissA petition with over 1.5 million signatures demanded a remake of Game of Thrones season eight.
- David BenioffDavid Benioff was a club bouncer and a high school wrestling coach before Game of Thrones. He later co-ran the show.
- Joss WhedonJoss Whedon earned more from a web musical than from directing The Avengers.
- Jonathan TropperJonathan Tropper built the series Warrior from an original idea left behind by Bruce Lee.
- Jon FavreauJon Favreau named his company after the golem of Jewish folklore. It can protect or destroy, like technology.
- Beau WillimonBeau Willimon says he was the worst student in his Columbia playwriting class. He later created House of Cards.