
The Writers Panel
The definitive insider's guide to our current golden age of television, Ben Blacker's The Writers Panel is an ever expanding anthology of live convention panels and intimate in-studio interviews with the writers, producers, and show runners responsible for all the shows you can't stop watching. Over the course of nearly 500 episodes and counting, The Writers Panel has sat across from guests such as Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad), Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele (Key and Peele), Liz Meriwether (New Girl), and Damon Lindelof (Lost, The Leftovers) to talk about the art and business of creating great television. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

May 3, 2022 • 44min
Robert Eggers (The Northman; The VVitch; The Lighthouse)
Robert Eggers (The VVitch; The Lighthouse) discusses his new film, The Northman, as well as his interest in research, writing a "crowd pleaser" vs "weird stories," self-awareness, influences, and more.LISTEN TO THE WRITERS PANEL AD-FREE ON FOREVER DOG PLUS: https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/plus CONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA https://twitter.com/BENBLACKER https://www.facebook.com/TVWritersPanel THE WRITER'S PANEL IS A FOREVER DOG PODCAST https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/podcasts/the-writers-panel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 26, 2022 • 1h 4min
The Chelsea Detective team with creator Peter Fincham (former BBC/ITV director) and writers Glen Laker (Vera, Prime Suspect: 1972) and Liz Lake (Footballers Wives; Eastenders)
The Chelsea Detective team, creator Peter Fincham (former BBC/ITV director) and writers Glen Laker (Vera, Prime Suspect: 1972) and Liz Lake (Footballers Wives; Eastenders) discuss the challenges of a writing a classic-feeling detective show, the 90-minute format, compelling mysteries and compelling characters, and making yourself the audience.LISTEN TO THE WRITERS PANEL AD-FREE ON FOREVER DOG PLUS: https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/plus CONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA https://twitter.com/BENBLACKER https://www.facebook.com/TVWritersPanel THE WRITER'S PANEL IS A FOREVER DOG PODCAST https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/podcasts/the-writers-panel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 12, 2022 • 1h 16min
Taylor Cox at DePaul University + Best Pick!
Taylor Cox (Miracle Workers; Single Parents) answers questions from DePaul University writing students as part of a class on TV writers rooms. Thanks to Martha McGee for extending the invitation and teaching such a cool class! PLUS: A chat with Best Pick podcast hosts and now AUTHORS about their new book all about the Oscars!LISTEN TO THE WRITERS PANEL AD-FREE ON FOREVER DOG PLUS: https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/plus CONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA https://twitter.com/BENBLACKER https://www.facebook.com/TVWritersPanel THE WRITER'S PANEL IS A FOREVER DOG PODCAST https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/podcasts/the-writers-panel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 22, 2022 • 1h 1min
Chris Silber (NCIS Hawaii); Celeste Ballard (Space Jam: A New Legacy)
Chris Silber (showrunner, NCIS Hawaii) and Celeste Ballard (Space Jam: A New Legacy; Wrecked) talk about early jobs at SNL and on the Tremors TV series, getting their second staff jobs, how to behave in meetings, and writing the show you want to watch.LISTEN TO THE WRITERS PANEL AD-FREE ON FOREVER DOG PLUS: https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/plus CONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA https://twitter.com/BENBLACKER https://www.facebook.com/TVWritersPanel THE WRITER'S PANEL IS A FOREVER DOG PODCAST https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/podcasts/the-writers-panel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 8, 2022 • 48min
Shining Vale creators Jeff Astrof and Sharon Horgan
Shining Vale creators Jeff Astrof (Trial & Error; Friends) and Sharon Horgan (Divorce; Catastrophe) discuss their new show which premiered on Starz this week. Plus: comedy and horror, jokes from character and "knock knock" jokes, Courtney Cox, and more.LISTEN TO THE WRITERS PANEL AD-FREE ON FOREVER DOG PLUS: https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/plus CONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA https://twitter.com/BENBLACKER https://www.facebook.com/TVWritersPanel THE WRITER'S PANEL IS A FOREVER DOG PODCAST https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/podcasts/the-writers-panel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 22, 2022 • 1h 6min
Garrett Lerner & Russel Friend (creators, Ordinary Joe; House; Glee); Rebecca Sonnenshine (creator, Archive 81; The Boys); Mike Zara (Crime Farm; Major Crimes)
Garrett Lerner & Russel Friend (creators, Ordinary Joe; House; Glee), Rebecca Sonnenshine (creator, Archive 81; The Boys), and Mike Zara (Crime Farm; Major Crimes) talk about magic scripts, the best rooms, keeping a rejected scenes pile, and bleeding on the page.LISTEN TO THE WRITERS PANEL AD-FREE ON FOREVER DOG PLUS: https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/plus CONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA https://twitter.com/BENBLACKER https://www.facebook.com/TVWritersPanel THE WRITER'S PANEL IS A FOREVER DOG PODCAST https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/podcasts/the-writers-panel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 8, 2022 • 52min
Katie Wech (creator, Good Sam); Lauren Pomerantz (head writer, The Ellen Degeneres Show; SNL; Am I Okay?); Simran Baidwan (Ordinary Joe; Manifest)
Katie Wech (creator, Good Sam), Lauren Pomerantz (head writer, The Ellen Degeneres Show; SNL; Am I Okay?), and Simran Baidwan (Ordinary Joe; Manifest) cover a lot of territory, including how rising tides truly lift all boats, the power of saying no, new directions in writing and careers, and ladies in blouses solving crimes.LISTEN TO THE WRITERS PANEL AD-FREE ON FOREVER DOG PLUS: https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/plus CONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA https://twitter.com/BENBLACKER https://www.facebook.com/TVWritersPanel THE WRITER'S PANEL IS A FOREVER DOG PODCAST https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/podcasts/the-writers-panel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 25, 2022 • 56min
Rodney Barnes, Marissa Jo Cerar and Simone Finch
Rodney Barnes (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty; Everybody Loves Chris); Marissa Jo Cerar (creator, Women of the Movement; The Fosters); Simone Finch (creator, Single Drunk Female; The Conners)LISTEN TO THE WRITERS PANEL AD-FREE ON FOREVER DOG PLUS:https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/plusCONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA https://twitter.com/BENBLACKERhttps://www.facebook.com/TVWritersPanelTHE WRITER'S PANEL IS A FOREVER DOG PODCAST https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/podcasts/the-writers-panel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 11, 2022 • 1h 22min
Looking back and looking ahead. 2021 in review, 2022 in preview.
Looking back and looking ahead. 2021 in review, 2022 in preview. With some returning favorites: Angela Kang (showrunner, The Walking Dead); Carlos Foglia (AEon Flux; The Lost Symbol); J Holtham (Supergirl; The Handmaid's Tale); Julia Yorks (Trolls: The Beat Goes On; upcoming: 1UP).LISTEN TO THE WRITERS PANEL AD-FREE ON FOREVER DOG PLUS:https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/plusCONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA https://twitter.com/BENBLACKERhttps://www.facebook.com/TVWritersPanelTHE WRITER'S PANEL IS A FOREVER DOG PODCAST https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/podcasts/the-writers-panel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 14, 2021 • 1h 1min
Devon Greggory, Mellow Brown, Jen Vestuto, Melissa Marlette
Ben sits down with Devon Greggory (showrunner, The Game; American Soul); Mellow Brown (American Gods; Blade Runner: Origins comic); Jen Vestuto and Melissa Marlette (Nancy Drew; Vampire Diaries).LISTEN TO THE WRITERS PANEL AD-FREE ON FOREVER DOG PLUS:https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/plusCONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA https://twitter.com/BENBLACKERhttps://www.facebook.com/TVWritersPanelTHE WRITER'S PANEL IS A FOREVER DOG PODCAST https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/podcasts/the-writers-panel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.