Peter Nowalk

Last updated
Peter Nowalk
Born Point Pleasant, New Jersey, U.S.
Alma mater Brown University (BA)
Notable works How to Get Away with Murder

Peter Nowalk is an American television writer and producer. He is best known as the creator of the legal thriller, How to Get Away with Murder . [1] [2]

Contents

Early life

Nowalk was raised in Point Pleasant, New Jersey and graduated from Point Pleasant Borough High School in 1996. [3] Speaking of his childhood, he has stated "I think my family’s really nice, where I grew up was really pretty and nice, and I wanted to go to the dark side because my life wasn’t dark. The TV shows I like are all twisted and dark." [4]

Nowalk attended Brown University, where he graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in American Civilization. [5] He is openly gay. [6]

Career

Nowalk co-wrote The Hollywood Assistants Handbook: 86 Rules for Aspiring Power Players, published by Workman Publishing Company in 2008. [7] In the same year, Nowalk was hired as a writer for the Shonda Rhimes medical drama series Private Practice. After a few months, Nowalk began writing for Rhimes' Grey's Anatomy as recurring writer and later executive story editor and supervising producer. [8] He is also co-executive producer of Scandal . Nowalk wrote "Everything's Coming Up Mellie", the seventh episode of the third season of Scandal in 2013.

How to Get Away with Murder

Nowalk was the creator and executive producer of the ABC drama series, How to Get Away with Murder produced by Shondaland. [5] [9] [10] [11] The series pilot on September 25, 2014, set a record for DVR playback viewers with 6 million, surpassing the January 27, 2014, record of 5.6 million set by the pilot of The Blacklist . [12]

Credits

Related Research Articles

Tom Verica is an American actor, director, and producer, best known for his role as Sam Keating in the ABC drama How to Get Away with Murder (2014-2020). He also played Jack Pryor in the NBC critically acclaimed drama American Dreams from 2002-2004. As a director, he is known for Shonda Rhimes' dramas. He currently is an executive producer and director of the Netflix drama Bridgerton. From 2012 to 2018, Verica served as executive producer and director of ABC Scandal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shonda Rhimes</span> American television producer and writer

Shonda Lynn Rhimes is an American television producer and screenwriter, and founder of the production company Shondaland. As of 2023, she is one of the richest women entertainers in America, with a net worth of $250 million.

Krista Vernoff is an American television screenwriter, executive producer and director. She is best known for running the television medical drama Grey's Anatomy and its spin-off Station 19 (2019–2023). She has also served as executive producer and writer for the US version of Shameless. Other works as producer-writer for television include Charmed and Wonderfalls.

Jenna Bans is an American screenwriter. Bans is a producer and writer on Grey's Anatomy, and is the creator and the co-producer of Off the Map, a series which premiered on ABC in January 2011, and was cancelled on May 13, 2011. From 2012 to 2014, she was the regular writer and co-executive producer on another Shonda Rhimes created drama, Scandal, on ABC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arizona Robbins</span> Fictional character from the television show Greys Anatomy

Arizona Robbins, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a fictional character on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy, portrayed by Jessica Capshaw. She was introduced in the show's fifth season as an attending surgeon and the new chief of pediatric surgery. Originally contracted to appear in three episodes, Capshaw's contract was extended to the remainder of the fifth season, and she became a series regular in the sixth season.

Scandal is an American political thriller television series starring Kerry Washington. Created by Shonda Rhimes, it aired on ABC from April 5, 2012, until April 19, 2018, for 124 episodes over seven seasons. Kerry Washington's character, Olivia Pope, is partially based on former George H. W. Bush administration press aide Judy Smith, who serves as a co-executive producer.

"Shiny Happy People" is the twenty-second episode of the sixth season of the American television medical drama Grey's Anatomy, and the show's 124th episode overall. It premiered on May 13, 2010. Written by Zoanne Clack and Peter Nowalk, while directed by Ed Ornelas, the episode was viewed by 11.05 million Americans. In his review of the episode, The Huffington Post's Michael Pascua said "Demi Lovato may have been the big celebrity name that was advertised on the commercials for Grey's Anatomy, but Marion Ross [...] had the most touching story." He also noted a change in Sandra Oh's character, Cristina Yang, wondering "what happened to the headstrong independent Cristina of yester-season". The episode earned Lovato a People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Guest Star.

<i>How to Get Away with Murder</i> 2014 American legal thriller television series

How to Get Away with Murder is an American legal drama thriller television series that premiered on ABC on September 25, 2014, and concluded on May 14, 2020. The series was created by Peter Nowalk, and produced by Shonda Rhimes and ABC Studios. The series aired on ABC as part of a night of programming, all under Rhimes' Shondaland production company.

<i>Scandal</i> (season 4) Season of American television series Scandal

The fourth season of the American television drama series Scandal began airing on September 25, 2014, in the United States on ABC and consists of 22 episodes. The season was produced by ABC Studios, in association with ShondaLand Production Company; the showrunner being Shonda Rhimes. On May 7, 2015, ABC announced that Scandal had been renewed for a fifth season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shondaland</span> American television production company

Shondaland is an American television production company founded by television writer and producer Shonda Rhimes. She founded it to be one of the production companies of her first series, the medical drama Grey's Anatomy in 2005. It has since gone on to produce Rhimes's other creations, Grey's spinoff Private Practice and the political drama Scandal, and her other productions—the short-lived Off the Map, the Viola Davis-starring legal thriller How to Get Away with Murder, and the crime thriller The Catch—all of which are co-produced with ABC Studios and air on ABC. As of 2017, it has a partnership affiliation with Netflix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randy, Red, Superfreak and Julia</span> 1st episode of the 4th season of Scandal

"Randy, Red, Superfreak and Julia" is the season premiere of the 4th season of Scandal, and is the 48th overall episode. It premiered on September 25, 2014, in the U.S. on ABC.

<i>The Catch</i> (American TV series) American comedy-drama television

The Catch is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on ABC from March 24, 2016, to May 11, 2017. It stars Mireille Enos and Peter Krause, was created by Jennifer Schuur, Kate Atkinson, and Helen Gregory, and developed by Allan Heinberg, and was executive produced by Shondaland's Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers. Julie Anne Robinson also served as an executive producer and directed the pilot episode. In May 2016, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on March 9, 2017. In May 2017, the series was canceled after two seasons.

<i>How to Get Away with Murder</i> (season 1) Season of television series

The first season of the ABC American television drama series How to Get Away with Murder premiered on September 25, 2014, and concluded on February 26, 2015, with a total of 15 episodes. At the Television Critics Association Press Tour in July 2014, it was announced that How to Get Away with Murder would have only 15 or 16 episodes per season; the smaller episode count than most network series stems from a deal with series star Viola Davis. On May 7, 2015, the show was renewed by ABC for a second season.

<i>Scandal</i> (season 5) Season of American television series Scandal

The fifth season of the American television drama series Scandal was ordered on May 7, 2015, by ABC, and began airing on September 24, 2015, in the United States on ABC. The season was produced by ABC Studios, in association with ShondaLand Production Company; the showrunner being Shonda Rhimes.

<i>How to Get Away with Murder</i> (season 2) Season of television series

The second season of the ABC American television drama series How to Get Away with Murder was ordered on May 7, 2015, by ABC. The second season began airing on September 24, 2015, with 15 episodes like the previous season, and concluded on March 17, 2016. The smaller episode count than most network series stems from a deal with series star Viola Davis that the show would produce only 15 or 16 episodes per season. A promotional poster was released on August 18, and the trailer was released on September 10.

Heavy Is the Head (<i>Scandal</i>) 1st episode of the 5th season of Scandal

"Heavy Is the Head" is the season premiere of the fifth season of the American political thriller television series Scandal, and the 70th episode overall. It aired on September 24, 2015, on American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States. The episode was written by showrunner Shonda Rhimes and directed by executive producer Tom Verica. The episode focuses on the newly mended relationship with Olivia and Fitz, in addition to the scandal in which the Princess of Caledonia is killed and Olivia is hired to make sure the royal family's private life stays private.

<i>How to Get Away with Murder</i> (season 4) Season of television series

The fourth season of the ABC American television drama series How to Get Away with Murder was ordered on February 10, 2017, by ABC. It began airing on September 28, 2017, with 15 episodes like the previous seasons and concluded on March 15, 2018, as per a deal with Viola Davis that the series would be a limited series with only 15 or 16 episodes per season.

<i>Scandal</i> (season 7) Season of American television series Scandal

The seventh and final season of the American television drama series Scandal was ordered on February 10, 2017 by ABC. It was later announced that the seventh season would be the final season for Scandal. The season began airing on October 5, 2017, and consisted of 18 episodes, bringing the total episode count of the show to 124 episodes. Cast member George Newbern was upgraded to a series regular after being a recurring cast member for the past six seasons. The season was produced by ABC Studios, in association with ShondaLand Production Company; the showrunner being Shonda Rhimes.

"Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself" is the twelfth episode of the seventh season of the American political drama television series Scandal. The 118th episode overall, it was written by Raamla Mohamed and directed by Tony Goldwyn. A crossover with the legal drama series How to Get Away with Murder, the installment aired on March 1, 2018, on ABC, before "Lahey v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania", the thirteenth episode of the fourth season of How to Get Away with Murder.

"Lahey v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" is the thirteenth episode of the fourth season of the American legal drama television series How to Get Away with Murder. The fifty-eighth episode overall, it was written by Morenike Balogun and Sarah L. Thompson and directed by Zetna Fuentes. A crossover with political drama series Scandal, the installment aired on March 1, 2018, on ABC, following "Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself", the twelfth episode of the seventh season of Scandal.

References

  1. ↑ Otterson, Joe (2020-10-05). "ABC Gives Production Commitment to Silicon Valley Drama From 'How to Get Away With Murder' Creator". Variety. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  2. ↑ Prudom, Laura (2014-09-25). "'How to Get Away with Murder' Creator Peter Nowalk on Working with Shonda Rhimes, Diversity on TV". Variety. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  3. ↑ "Nowalk graduates from Brown", The Ocean Star, August 25, 2000. Accessed February 15, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Peter Nowalk of Point Pleasant was a May graduate of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island with a bachelor's of arts in American Civilization. Mr. Nowalk is a 1996 graduate of Point Pleasant Borough High School."
  4. ↑ Villarreal, Yvonne (2020-04-02). "He learned from Shonda Rhimes. But he made 'How to Get Away With Murder' all his own". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  5. 1 2 "Pete Nowalk". American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  6. ↑ "For Show Creator Peter Nowalk, How to Get Away With Murder Is Personal". www.out.com. 2014-10-16. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  7. ↑ Stamm, Hillary; Nowalk, Peter (January 2008). The Hollywood Assistants Handbook: 86 Rules for Aspiring Power Players. Workman. ISBN   978-0761147466.
  8. ↑ Radio, Southern California Public (2014-11-13). "Pete Nowalk: From the mailroom to 'Murder' boss". Southern California Public Radio. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  9. ↑ "ABC Buys Legal Thriller From Shondaland & 'Grey's Anatomy' Writer". Deadline. August 19, 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  10. ↑ "ABC Pilots 'How To Get Away With Murder' & 'Black-ish' Start Making Writer Deals". Deadline. May 8, 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  11. ↑ Jim Halterman (September 10, 2014). ""How to Get Away with Murder" Creator Pete Nowalk On 'Awesomely Gay' Character". The Backlot. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  12. ↑ Kissell, Rick (September 30, 2014). "ABC's 'How to Get Away With Murder' Premiere Sets DVR Playback Record". Variety . Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
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.