Top Women in Televsion: Producers-Writers

In our continuing series of Top Women in Television Behind the Camera, this week’s salute is for the Top Women Producers-Writers:

Kathy Reichs (Bones) – Inspired by her novels, Kathy Reichs, a forensic anthropologist for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in the State of North Carolina and for the province of Quebec, has been a writer and producer on the show Bones since its debut in 2005.

Diane Ruggiero (That’s Life, Veronica Mars) – Diane started out working as a supervising producer and writer on the TV series That’s Life then moved on as co-executive producer and writer on the acclaimed series Veronica Mars. Most recently she has worn both hats on Big Shots, Dirty Sexy Money and the short-lived remake of Cupid. Diane is also working on a pilot script for an untitled FOX supernatural dramedy.

Debora Cahn (The West Wing, Grey’s Anatomy) – Debora began as an executive story editor for The West Wing then progressed to writer and co-producer for the series. She is now a writer and producer for Grey’s Anatomy.

Gretchen Berg (Pepper Dennis, Pushing Daisies) – Along with her writing partner Aaron Harberts, Gretchen started out working on Beverly Hills, 90210. She (and Aaron) then moved on to Roswell, John Doe, Wonderfalls and North Shore. The team created the short-lived series Pepper Dennis (and acted as producers and writers) before going into Women’s Murder Club and Pushing Daisies. Gretchen (and Aaron) are currently working on the NBC medical drama  Mercy.

Thania St. John (Eureka, Drop Dead Diva) – Some of Thania’s earlier work included writing for 21 Jump Street, Midnight Caller and Booker. She was then part of the writing team and producer on Life Goes On and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. She spent several years as a co-executive producer and writer Roswell and worked on the short-lived series Veritas: The Quest. Most recently she worked in both capacities on Eureka and is now a writer on Drop Dead Diva.

Sarah Fain and Elizabeth Craft (Dollhouse, Women’s Murder Club) –This writing team started out on Angel then moved to The Shield and spent time on Women’s Murder Club. Most recently they worked on Lie to Me and just finished working on Dollhouse.

Jill Blotevogel (Harper’s Island, Moonlight) – Jill worked primarily as a writer on a number of shows such as Crossing Jordan, The Dead Zone and Stargate: Atlantis. She also wrote the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie The Russell Girl (which starred Paul Wesley and Amber Tamblyn). Most recently she has taken on the additional title of co-producer (and writer) for Moonlight and Harper’s Island.

Lyla Oliver (Judging Amy) – She began working as a writer on Judging Amy and in her last year with the show she also worked as producer. She has also worked as a writer on Army Wives and Bones.

Sera Gamble (Supernatural) – All of Sera’s work has been with Supernatural, but she has worked as writer since 2004, was executive story editor for one season (in addition to her writing capacity) and since last year she has also been executive producer.

Molly Newman (Brothers & Sisters) – Molly got her start as a story editor on The Larry Sanders Show and then she moved on to be an executive story editor for Murphy Brown. She soon had the opportunity to write one episode for each Murphy Brown and Frasier before moving over to Sisters, where she was a writer and got her first co-producing position. After that she worked as a writer and producer on Tracey Takes On and writer and supervising producer for Maximum Bob. She was a writer and co-executive producer on Snoops, a co-executive producer on the original Cupid, and writer and co-executive producer on the short-lived series Tarzan. Her most recent work is a writer and co-executive producer on Brothers & Sisters.

Again, this list is just a representation of the incredible women who work as producers-writers in television. The next installment of this series will appear next Monday.