Diane English

Last updated
Diane English
Diane English on set of THE WOMEN.jpg
Diane English on the set of The Women
Born (1948-05-18) May 18, 1948 (age 75)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Alma mater Buffalo State College
Occupations
  • Director
  • screenwriter
  • producer
Spouse
​
(m. 1977⁠–⁠2010)​

Diane English (born May 18, 1948) is an American screenwriter, producer and director. [1] She is best known for creating the television show Murphy Brown [2] [3] [4] which was won multiple awards, including18 Primetime Emmy Awards from 62 nominations [5] . She also wrote and directed the 2008 feature film The Women . She has won numerous awards, including 3 Emmy Awards, and received numerous nominations. [6] [7] [8]

Contents

Early life

English was born in Buffalo, New York, the daughter of Anne English and Richard English who was an electrical engineer. [9] She graduated from Nardin Academy in Buffalo, and then from Buffalo State College in 1970.

Career

English began her career at WNET, the PBS affiliate in New York City, working first as a story editor for The Theatre in America series, and then as associate director of TV Lab . From 1977 to 1980, she wrote a monthly column on television for Vogue magazine.

In 1980, she co-wrote PBS' The Lathe of Heaven , an adaptation of Ursula K. LeGuin's science fiction novel of the same name, and received her first Writers Guild Award Nomination. She followed that with the television movies Her Life as a Man (1984) and Classified Love (1986).

In 1985, English created Foley Square , her first half-hour comedy series, which aired on CBS during the 1985-1986 television season. It starred Margaret Colin, Hector Elizondo, Michael Lembeck and Jon Lovitz. The show premiered on December 11, 1985, and languished near the bottom of the Nielsen ratings in the weeks that followed. After being put on hiatus after only 11 episodes, CBS rescheduled it to another night and aired the three remaining episodes of the season. With ratings low, CBS cancelled the show after only 14 episodes with the last episode airing on April 8, 1986. During 1986 and 1987, English executive produced and wrote the CBS comedy series My Sister Sam , starring Pam Dawber which lasted for two seasons with 12 episodes that never aired before being cancelled.

In 1988, she created the CBS television series Murphy Brown , for which she won three Emmy Awards (one for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series and two for Outstanding Comedy Series). [10] [11] [12] [13] The series ran from 1988 to 1998 for a total of 247 episodes. It garnered 18 Emmy wins from 62 nominations. [5] In 1992, English stirred up controversy when the title character decided to have a child out of wedlock. Vice president Dan Quayle gave a speech entitled "Reflections on Urban America to the Commonwealth Club of California" on the subject of the Los Angeles riots. In this speech, Quayle blamed the violence on a decay of moral values and family structure in American society. In an aside, he cited the title character in the television program Murphy Brown as an example of how popular culture contributes to this "poverty of values", saying, "It doesn't help matters when prime time TV has Murphy Brown – a character who supposedly epitomizes today's intelligent, highly paid, professional woman – mocking the importance of fathers, by bearing a child alone, and calling it just another 'lifestyle choice'. [14]

English responded with a statement that read: "If the vice president thinks it's disgraceful for an unmarried woman to bear children (out of wedlock), and if he believes that a woman cannot adequately raise a child without a father, then he'd better make sure abortion remains safe and legal." In 2002, Candice Bergen, the actress who played Brown, said "I never have really said much about the whole episode, which was endless, but his speech was a perfectly intelligent speech about fathers not being dispensable and nobody agreed with that more than I did." This controversy along with the shifting times of that decade touched off a debate over the meaning of "family values" of Americans during that election year in which Bill Clinton and Al Gore ran against George H. W. Bush and Dan Quayle.[ citation needed ]

During the success of Murphy Brown , her company, with Joel Shukovsky, Shukovsky English Entertainment, had set up a deal with CBS for a non-exclusive deal, giving them exclusive syndicated rights to future Shukovsky/English series, in 1991. [15]

English also created the comedy series Love & War (1992–1995), starring Susan Dey and Jay Thomas - Annie Potts replaced Dey after the first season. Other series she co-created and/or executive produced include Double Rush (1995), Ink (1996), and The Louie Show , starring Louie Anderson (1996), and Living in Captivity (1998). Unfortunately, none of the series were picked up for more than a single season with The Louie Show lasting six episodes. As for Ink , she took over the role from Jeffrey Lane, who initially came up with the concept of the series. [16]

In 2008, English wrote, produced and directed The Women , her feature film debut. The comedy, a remake of the 1939 George Cukor film of the same name, stars Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, and Jada Pinkett Smith. It was released to mostly negative reviews but its box office tripled its budget when worldwide markets were factored in. [17] That same year English and the ensemble cast of The Women were honored with the Women in Film Crystal award [18] which honors women in communications and media.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980 The Lathe of Heaven WriterTelevision Movie
1984Her Life as a ManWriterTelevision Movie
1984 Call to Glory WriterEpisode: "The Move"
1985–1986 Foley Square Writer, ProducerCreator/Producer (14 episodes)
Writer (6 episodes)
– "Make My Day" (1985)
– "Court-ship" (1986)
– "The Longest Weekend" (1986)
– "Nobody's Perfect" (1986)
– "Kid Stuff" (1986)
– "24 Hours" (1986)
1986Classified LoveWriterTelevision Movie
1987–1988 My Sister Sam Writer, ProducerExecutive Producer (7 episodes)
Writer (6 episodes)
– "Jingle Bell Rock Bottom" (1986)
– "Exposed" (1987)
– "Goodbye, Steve" (1987)
– "And They Said It Would Never Last" (1987)
– "Ol' Green Eyes Is Back" (1988)
– "It's My Party and I'll Kill If I Want To" (1988)
1988–1998
2018		 Murphy Brown Writer, ProducerCreator (249 episodes)
Executive Producer (24 episodes)
Writer (21 episodes)
– "Respect" (1988)
– "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" (1988)
– "Murphy's Pony" (1988)
– "Set Me Free" (1988)
– "Mama Said" (1989)
– "The Summer of '77" (1989)
– "The Brothers Silverberg" (1989)
– "Brown Like Me: Part 1" (1989)
– "Brown Like Me: Part 2" (1989)
– "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" (1990)
– "Goin' to the Chapel: Part 1" (1990)
– "Goin' to the Chapel: Part 2" (1990)
– "The 390th Broadcast" (1990)
– "Bob & Murphy & Ted & Avery" (1990)
– "On Another Plane: Part 1" (1990)
– "On Another Plane: Part 2" (1990)
– "Full Circle" (1991)
– "Birth 101" (1992)
– "Never Can Say Goodbye: Part 1" (1998)
– "Never Can Say Goodbye: Part 2" (1998)
– "I (Don't) Heart Huckabee" (2018)

[19] [20]

1992–1995 Love & War Writer, ProducerCreator (67 episodes)
Executive Producer (25 episodes)
Writer (8 episodes)
– "Love Is Hell" (1992)
– "Step Two" (1992)
– "For John" (1992)
– "Friends and Relations" (1993)
– "Just in Time" (1993)
– "You Make Me Feel So Young" (1994)
– "The Morning After the Night Before" (1994)
– "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and a Cat" (1995)

[21]

1995 Double Rush Writer, ProducerCreator/Producer (13 episodes)
Episode: "The Episode Formerly Known as Prince"
1996–1997 Ink Writer, ProducerCreator/Executive Producer (22 episodes)
Episode: "Above the Fold"
1998 Living in Captivity ProducerExecutive Producer (8 episodes)
2008 The Women Writer, Producer, DirectorAdapted from the play/remake of the film
Screenplay [22]
TBRTimbuktuWriter, DirectorScreenplay

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryTitleResultNotes
2011 Writers Guild of America Paddy Chayefsky AwardWon [7]
2008 Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards Crystal Award Won [6]
1997 Banff Television Festival Award of ExcellenceWon
1999 Writers Guild of America Episodic Comedy Murphy Brown Nominated
1993 Episodic Comedy (shared with Korby Siamis)Won [23] [24]
1992 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series (shared with Korby Siamis)Nominated [10]
Outstanding Comedy Series (for producing)Won [10]
1991 Writers Guild of America Episodic Comedy Won [25]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Nominated [10]
Outstanding Comedy Series (for producing)Nominated [10]
1990 Writers Guild of America Episodic Comedy Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Nominated [12]
Outstanding Comedy Series (for producing)Won [11]
1989 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Won [10]
Outstanding Comedy Series (for producing)Nominated [10]
1981 Hugo Awards Best Dramatic Presentation The Lathe of Heaven Nominated

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa Kudrow</span> American actress (born 1963)

Lisa Valerie Kudrow is an American actress, producer, and screenwriter. She rose to fame for her role as Phoebe Buffay in the sitcom Friends (1994–2004), which has since been named one of the greatest television characters of all time. Kudrow has received several awards, including one Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series from 15 nominations, two Screen Actors Guild Awards from 12 nominations, and one Golden Globe Award nomination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candice Bergen</span> American actress (born 1946)

Candice Patricia Bergen is an American actress. She won five Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards for her portrayal of the title character on the CBS sitcom Murphy Brown. She is also known for her role as Shirley Schmidt on the ABC drama Boston Legal (2005–2008). In films, Bergen was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Starting Over (1979), and for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Gandhi (1982).

<i>Murphy Brown</i> American television sitcom

Murphy Brown is an American television sitcom created by Diane English that premiered on November 14, 1988, on CBS. The series stars Candice Bergen as the eponymous Murphy Brown, a famous investigative journalist and news anchor for FYI, a fictional CBS television newsmagazine, and later for Murphy in the Morning, a cable morning news show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Anderson</span> American actor and comedian (born 1970)

Anthony Anderson is an American actor, comedian and game show host. He is best known for his leading roles in comedy series such as Andre "Dre" Johnson on Black-ish, drama series such as Marlin Boulet on K-Ville, and as NYPD Detective Kevin Bernard on the NBC crime drama Law & Order and comedy sitcom television series Guys with Kids. He had major roles in feature films such as Me, Myself & Irene (2000), Kangaroo Jack (2003), Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004), The Departed (2006), Transformers (2007), and Scream 4 (2011).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paris Barclay</span> American television director and producer

Paris K. C. Barclay is an American television director, producer, and writer. He is a two-time Emmy Award winner and is among the busiest single-camera television directors, having directed nearly 200 episodes of television to date, for series such as NYPD Blue, ER, The West Wing, CSI, Lost, The Shield, House, Sons of Anarchy, In Treatment and Glee; and more recently Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, The Watcher, and American Horror Story: NYC. He also serves as an Executive Producer on many of the shows he directs, and occasionally as a writer or co-creator as well. From 2013 to 2017, Barclay served two terms as the President of the Directors Guild of America.

Jennifer Ann Celotta is an American television producer, writer, and director. Among her credits are The Office,Cobra Kai, Abbott Elementary, Malcolm in the Middle, The Newsroom, Greg the Bunny, Andy Richter Controls the Universe and Home Improvement. She has directed three episodes of The Office: "Crime Aid", "The Promotion" and " Promos". By the fifth season, Celotta was serving as an Office executive producer and one of the series show runners, along with fellow writer Paul Lieberstein. Celotta and Lieberstein wrote the fifth season finale "Company Picnic", which ended with character Pam Beesly learning she is pregnant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Weiner</span> American screenwriter, director, producer and author

Matthew Hoffman Weiner is an American television writer, producer, and director best known as the creator and showrunner of the television series Mad Men, and as a writer and executive producer on The Sopranos.

Jane Anderson is an American actress, playwright, screenwriter and director. She wrote and directed the feature film The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2005), and wrote the film It Could Happen to You (1994), starring Nicolas Cage. She won an Emmy Award for writing the screenplay for the miniseries Olive Kitteridge (2014).

Barnet Kellman is an American theatre, television and film director, television producer and film actor, and educator, best known for the premiere productions of new American plays, and for the pilots of long-running television series such as Murphy Brown and Mad About You. He is the recipient of two Emmy Awards and a Directors Guild of America Award. He is the co-founder and director of USC Comedy at the School of Cinematic Arts, and holds the school's Robin Williams Endowed Chair in Comedy.

Joe Keenan is an American screenwriter, television producer and novelist. Known for his television work on series like Frasier and Desperate Housewives, Keenan has been referred to as the "gay P.G. Wodehouse" for his three successful novels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christina Applegate</span> American actress (born 1971)

Christina Applegate is an American actress. After appearing in several roles since early childhood, she gained recognition for starring as Kelly Bundy in the Fox sitcom Married... with Children (1987–1997). Applegate established a successful film and television career in her adult years, winning a Primetime Emmy Award from eight nominations as well as nominations for seven Screen Actors Guild Awards, four Golden Globe Awards and a Tony Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Melvoin</span> American screenwriter

Jeff Melvoin is an American television writer, producer, and educator. He has written dozens and produced hundreds of one-hour episodes on over a dozen television series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul W. Downs</span> American actor, writer, and director

Paul W. Downs is an American actor, writer, director, and producer. He is the co-creator, co-showrunner and star of the critically-acclaimed HBO Max series Hacks, for which he has received a Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, and Peabody Award, among others. Downs first gained notoriety for his role in the Comedy Central series Broad City, which ran for five seasons and for which he was also a writer, director and executive producer.

Susanna Fogel is an American director, screenwriter and author, best known for co-writing the 2019 film Booksmart and for co-writing and directing the 2018 action/comedy The Spy Who Dumped Me. Her many accolades include a DGA Award and nominations at the BAFTA Film Awards, the Primetime Emmy Awards and the WGA Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jen Statsky</span> American television writer and comedian

Jen Statsky is an American television writer and comedian known for her work on Hacks, The Good Place, Parks and Recreation, and Broad City. She is the co-creator and co-showrunner of the critically-acclaimed HBO Max series Hacks, for which she has received a Primetime Emmy, Peabody Award, and multiple WGA Awards, among others.

Lucia Aniello is an Italian-born American director, writer, and producer best known for her work on Hacks, for which she won multiple Emmy Awards, and Broad City. She has directed and written episodes of both shows, as well as the miniseries Time Traveling Bong and the 2017 film Rough Night.

<i>Sex and the City</i> (season 3) Season of television series

The third season of Sex and the City, an American television romantic comedy-drama, aired in the United States on HBO from June 4 to October 15, 2000. Based on the eponymous book written by Candace Bushnell, the series was created by Darren Star and produced by Darren Star Productions, HBO Original Programming, and Warner Bros. Television. Star, Barry Josen and Michael Patrick King served as the series' executive producers. The show follows the relationships and sexual escapades of Carrie Bradshaw, a sex columnist for the fictional New York Star, and her friends Samantha Jones, Charlotte York and Miranda Hobbes.

Joel Shukovsky is an American television producer. He worked as a producer for television programs including Murphy Brown, Love & War and The Louie Show.

References

  1. ↑ "Diane English". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  2. ↑ "Murphy Brown Is the Feminist Hero We Needed in 1988 — And in 2018". Time. 2018-03-01. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  3. ↑ "Like Your TV With Strong Female Characters? Thank Murphy Brown". Time. 2015-01-06. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  4. ↑ Staff (2003-04-28). "Murphy Brown creator Hollywood bound". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  5. 1 2 "Murphy Brown". Television Academy. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  6. 1 2 Trisha Tucker; Tucker, Trisha; Press, The Associated (2008-06-17). "Diane English, 'The Women' receive the WIF Crystal Award for excellence in film". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  7. 1 2 Block, Alex Ben (2011-01-20). "'Murphy Brown's' Diane English Honored With WGA West's Paddy Chayefsky Award". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  8. ↑ "Diane English to receive Writers Guild Paddy Chayefsky award for television writing". Los Angeles Times. 2011-01-21. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  9. ↑ "Diane English Biography (1948-)". Film Reference. 1992-11-23. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Nominations Search | Emmy Awards". Television Academy. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  11. 1 2 "Nominations Search | Emmy Awards". Television Academy. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  12. 1 2 "Nominations Search | Emmy Awards". Television Academy. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  13. ↑ Andrea Heiman (1992-02-29). "The Demand Is Weak for Strong Women on Screen : Movies: A Writers Guild panel says that 'Murphy Brown'-types are the minority and film executives still shun believable women's roles". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  14. ↑ "Dan Quayle vs. Murphy Brown". Time. June 1, 1992. Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Shukovsky, English near CBS deal" (PDF). Broadcasting . 1991-08-12. p. 24. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  16. ↑ "English takes over 'Ink'" (PDF). Broadcasting . 1996-09-02. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  17. ↑ Michael Fleming (2007-09-19). "Femmes front 'Women' - Entertainment News, Film News, Media". Variety. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  18. ↑ "Leading ladies set for Crystal+Lucy Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. 2008-04-17. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  19. ↑ Vries, Hilary De (1998-05-17). "SIGNOFF; Murphy Brown's Final Scoop". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  20. ↑ Gerard, Jeremy (1989-10-16). "'Murphy Brown' Stays on Top of the News". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  21. ↑ Rosenberg, Howard (1992-09-21). "TV REVIEWS : 'Love & War' Should Hold Its Own". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  22. ↑ Grossman, Lev; Poniewozik, James; Tyrangiel, Josh; Luscombe, Belinda (2008-09-11). "5 Things You Should Know About". Time. ISSN   0040-781X . Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  23. ↑ Archives, L. A. Times (1993-02-12). "'Seinfeld' Gets 3 WGA Nominations". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  24. ↑ Fox, David J. (1993-03-23). "'The Player' and 'Crying Game' Top WGA Picks : Awards: Writers Guild trophies often indicate who'll win Oscars. Some think 'The Crying Game' could make a stronger showing than expected". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  25. ↑ Fox, David J. (1991-03-21). "Writers Guild Award Goes to 'Dances With Wolves'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.