DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Contributors

ALEX STRACHAN

MIKE HUGHES

KIM AKASS

MONIQUE NAZARETH

ROGER CATLIN

GARY EDGERTON

TOM BRINKMOELLER

GERALD JORDAN

NOEL HOLSTON

 
 
 
 
 
NBC's Newest Drama Series Comes From a Bianculli - But Don 't Look At Me
January 9, 2020  | By David Bianculli  | 13 comments
 


I’m not reviewing what I consider tomorrow’s best TV show, but I have a good excuse. In fact, I have a great excuse. It was co-written, and co-developed and executive produced, by my son, Mark…

Talk about proud. So, for a few paragraphs here, I will.

Mark was born in 1984 – the same year as Miami Vice, two years before The Singing Detective, and six years before Twin Peaks. As a teenager, he inhaled The West Wing, adored Stanley Kubrick, and long harbored ambitions to create movies and TV shows.

“No offense, dad,” he said casually at a young age, “but when I grow up, I want to be a real writer.”

He wrote his first original script in 1999, at age 15. I made him autograph it. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles in 2007, working jobs as an assistant to agents and writers until he got his own agent and began selling scripts – some as movies, some for TV. A few were shot as ABC pilots, but not picked up.

But now, 2020 begins with two TV series destined to become Ready for Prime Time Players.

Friday night at 8 ET, NBC premieres Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector, which Mark and his TV writing partner, VJ Boyd, developed for television. They’re also executive producers and co-wrote the teleplay. And what I can’t say on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross, for obvious reasons of perceived conflict, I can say here as both TV critic and admiring parent: the premiere episode of Lincoln Rhyme, the only one I’ve seen, is very, very good. I try to convey the appropriate enthusiasm on today’s Best TV Tomorrow YouTube video, which we’ve just posted.

I’ve yet to see Mark’s next effort, which was produced prior to him making Lincoln Rhyme. He was “only” a staff writer on that one – but what a staff, and, potentially, what a show. Hunters, which premieres Feb. 21, comes from Jordan Peele’s production company, is about Nazi hunters in 1970s New York, and stars, in his first regular TV series role, Al Pacino.

Al Pacino.

Imagine, if you will, how happy I am for my son, and how proud. Not “proud-ish,” as he once dismissed my initial reactions to his early rough drafts. Before he started writing scripts, Mark even spent a small period writing for us here at TV Worth Watching, with a blog title of his own invention: The Son Also Criticizes.

Wonderful.

And before now, I conclude this blog by wondering, has there ever been a TV writer-producer who was the child of a TV critic?

The closest parallel I can think of, I guess, is former New York Times drama critic Frank Rich, whose later writings about politics and entertainment covered a lot of TV stuff. His talented son, Simon Rich, wrote for Saturday Night Live, then created the inventive and very funny comedy series Man Seeking Woman.

And Frank Rich’s son, like mine, was born in 1984. Good vintage for TV writers…

 
 
 
 
 
Leave a Comment: (No HTML, 1000 chars max)
 
 Name (required)
 
 Email (required) (will not be published)
 
KFNUP
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 1  | Go to page: 
13 Comments
 
 
Check with your editor to see how long they would like your article to be.
Mar 30, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
Dark web users can be completely anonymous, though there is still some risk of malicious content being spread there. Companies should consider installing security software on their websites.
Mar 13, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
Students of any stream or any college or university, who are seeking homework help in their academics can contact us through various options like Live Chat on website, email, WhatsApp and Phone Call. When you order with us, you're working with some of the most experienced experts in modern academia, each experienced in writing for British and international students.
Feb 22, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
I would like to thank you for the great work you are doing. I have read your post thoroughly and the post is very much amazing. It provides very useful knowledge and information. I really loved the idea. Keep sharing such type of information as it is very useful for me. good job. keep it up.
Jan 27, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
jaeseu
This one is the best article that I have ever read.
There are many good points for people like me, and if you are really interested in topic like this,
I also have something more interesting here ?

???? ?? ???
???? ?? ??? ??
???? ?? ????
???? ? ???
???? ??? ???
https://www.j9korea.com
Jan 3, 2023   |  Reply
 
 
Thanks for sharing informative post. It is one of the best site that I have visited. Hope you will share more quality blog posts thank you.
Dec 8, 2022   |  Reply
 
 
Congratulations
Nov 4, 2022   |  Reply
 
 
pembuatan bendera, cetak bendera, buat bendera, sablon bendera, bikin bendera, print bendera, vendor bendera, jasa pembuatan bendera, tempat bikin bendera, bendera custom.
Apr 28, 2022   |  Reply
 
 
Richard Grupenhoff
Hi, David! Good to hear about your son. He was an outstanding student in my film history class @ 2006. But don't worry, i like you too!
Feb 6, 2021   |  Reply
 
 
Kim werner
Hi David -remember me? BIBLE kim??I'm in Pittsburgh taking care of my mom for the last 2 years- this eve she put on PBS special about Fred Rogers & there you were!!& when I googled you here's blog about your son- congrats!! I'm very happy for you both- miss our fun discussions- hope U are staying safe & well !!
Sep 1, 2020   |  Reply
 
 
Lindsay Tobias
You have a son? congratulations to him
Jan 30, 2020   |  Reply
 
 
Zeke
Congratulations!
And the very best platform for well deserved bragging!
Jan 11, 2020   |  Reply
 
 
Joan Kozzi (AKA) proud MIL
Well said! David ??
Jan 10, 2020   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 1  | Go to page: