Last week we ran an article from Deadline about the networks’ complaints that they can’t find enough experienced showrunners to ramrod their series, along with a comment by our Beloved Leader, Larry Brody. LB isn’t the only one to point out that it’s the networks’ hiring practices that have caused the situation. Another old guy brilliant and experienced former showrunner, our hero, Ken Levine agrees:
by Ken Levine
A recent article on Deadline Hollywood bemoaned the fact that as networks were putting their fall schedules together they were discovering that there is a real shortage of qualified showrunners to attach to these shows. Well, duh! And whose fault is that?
There are plenty of excellent showrunners out there. But networks don’t hire them to write pilots anymore. In their quest to find hot new young voices they push to the curb experienced writers who can not only write and produce a pilot but the series as well should it get ordered.