Bill Lawrence (producer)
Encyclopedia
William Van Duzer Lawrence IV (known as Bill Lawrence, born December 26, 1968) is an American
screenwriter
, producer
, and director
best known as the creator of Scrubs
and co-creator of Cougar Town
. Lawrence is married to the actress Christa Miller
whom he cast in both television series; they have three children together. He has also co-created Spin City
, of which he wrote several episodes, and Clone High
, which ran for 13 episodes. He has written for many other shows including Friends
, The Nanny
, and Boy Meets World
.
, Lawrence wrote for hit shows including Friends
, Boy Meets World
, and The Nanny
and produced the animated series
Clone High
. He also served as the creator of the sitcom Spin City
and Scrubs
. He is now currently the co-creator, executive producer, writer and director of ABC
's current comedy Cougar Town
. He is also one of the producers of the rejected television pilot
Nobody's Watching
. In 2006-07 he was prepping the film Fletch Won (which is a prequel to the previous Fletch films), but after Scrubs star Zach Braff
dropped out, Bill Lawrence dropped out as well.
Bill Lawrence has a small role playing himself in It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
in a scene with Miss Piggy
along with several members of the Scrubs cast.
Bill has appeared in four episodes of Scrubs. He first appeared as an extra in the episode "My Missed Perception" at the end as one of the staff. Then in season 6 as another extra in the coffee shop in "Their Story", then as an offbeat justice of the peace in "My Soul On Fire (Part 2)". His final appearance comes at the end of "My Finale
" as the janitor outside Sacred Heart that tears down the "Goodbye J.D." sign as J.D. is leaving.
. He went on to write for Champs
, writing the episodes "The Loop and Live" and "Live and Let Breathe". He co-created the popular ABC
television show Spin City
which lasted for six seasons. He wrote episodes "Pilot", "The Apartment", "Bye Bye Love", "Paul Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", "The Paul Lassiter Story", "Goodbye (Part 2)", and co-wrote the series finale "A Friend in Need".
Then in 2001, he created Scrubs
. He has written episodes "My First Day
", "My Mentor
", "My Nickname", "My Occurrence
", "My Overkill", "My T.C.W.", "My Own American Girl", "My Catalyst", "My Changing Ways", "My Intern's Eyes", "My ABC's
" and the season eight finale, "My Finale
". He has also directed several episodes of the series, which include, "My Dream Job, "My Own American Girl", "My Best Friend's Wedding
", "My Old Friend's New Friend, "My Intern's Eyes", "My Rite of Passage", "My Missed Perception", "My Transition", "My Turf War", "My Own Worst Enemy
", "My Inconvenient Truth
", "My Last Words
", "My ABC's
", "My Soul on Fire Parts 1 & 2", "My Finale
", "Our First Day of School
, as well as many uncredited rewrites.
In 2003, Lawrence created Clone High
with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, it only lasted for thirteen episodes and wrote Escape to Beer Mountain: A Rope of Sand. His wife, Christa Miller
, was cast in Clone High and voiced Cleopatra and several other minor characters.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
, and director
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
best known as the creator of Scrubs
Scrubs (TV series)
Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
and co-creator of Cougar Town
Cougar Town
Cougar Town is an American television sitcom that premiered on ABC on September 23, 2009. The series focuses on a recently divorced woman in her forties facing the often humorous challenges, pitfalls and rewards of life's next chapter, along with her son, ex-husband, and friends who together make...
. Lawrence is married to the actress Christa Miller
Christa Miller
Christa Miller is an American actress who has achieved success in television comedy. Her foremost roles include Kate O'Brien on The Drew Carey Show and Jordan Sullivan on Scrubs . She has also appeared on Seinfeld and CSI: Miami...
whom he cast in both television series; they have three children together. He has also co-created Spin City
Spin City
Spin City is an American sitcom television series that aired from September 17, 1996 until April 30, 2002 on the ABC network. Created by Gary David Goldberg and Bill Lawrence, the show was based on a fictional local government running New York City, and originally starred Michael J. Fox as Mike...
, of which he wrote several episodes, and Clone High
Clone High
Clone High is a Canadian-American animated television series that aired for one season on MTV and Teletoon....
, which ran for 13 episodes. He has written for many other shows including Friends
Friends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
, The Nanny
The Nanny
Nanny may refer to:* Nanny, a child's caregiver* A grandmother * A Cajun word for godmother * A female goat* Nanny , a 1981–83 British drama series starring Wendy Craig* Nanny of the Maroons...
, and Boy Meets World
Boy Meets World
Boy Meets World is an American comedy-drama series that chronicles the events and everyday life lessons of Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage, a kid from suburban Philadelphia who grows up from a young boy to a married man. The show aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000 on ABC, part of the...
.
Career
After graduating from the College of William & Mary where he studied English and also was a member of Kappa Alpha OrderKappa Alpha Order
Kappa Alpha Order is a social fraternity and fraternal order. Kappa Alpha Order has 124 active chapters, 3 provisional chapters, and 2 commissions...
, Lawrence wrote for hit shows including Friends
Friends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
, Boy Meets World
Boy Meets World
Boy Meets World is an American comedy-drama series that chronicles the events and everyday life lessons of Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage, a kid from suburban Philadelphia who grows up from a young boy to a married man. The show aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000 on ABC, part of the...
, and The Nanny
The Nanny (TV series)
The Nanny is an American television sitcom co-produced by Sternin & Fraser Ink, Inc., and Fran Drescher in association with TriStar Television for the CBS network...
and produced the animated series
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
Clone High
Clone High
Clone High is a Canadian-American animated television series that aired for one season on MTV and Teletoon....
. He also served as the creator of the sitcom Spin City
Spin City
Spin City is an American sitcom television series that aired from September 17, 1996 until April 30, 2002 on the ABC network. Created by Gary David Goldberg and Bill Lawrence, the show was based on a fictional local government running New York City, and originally starred Michael J. Fox as Mike...
and Scrubs
Scrubs (TV series)
Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
. He is now currently the co-creator, executive producer, writer and director of ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's current comedy Cougar Town
Cougar Town
Cougar Town is an American television sitcom that premiered on ABC on September 23, 2009. The series focuses on a recently divorced woman in her forties facing the often humorous challenges, pitfalls and rewards of life's next chapter, along with her son, ex-husband, and friends who together make...
. He is also one of the producers of the rejected television pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
Nobody's Watching
Nobody's Watching
Nobody's Watching is a television program that was never aired. It originated with and was written by Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence, as well as Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan, writers for Scrubs and Family Guy.- Program history :...
. In 2006-07 he was prepping the film Fletch Won (which is a prequel to the previous Fletch films), but after Scrubs star Zach Braff
Zach Braff
Zachary Israel "Zach" Braff is an American actor, screenwriter, producer, comedian, and director. Braff first became known in 2001 for his role as Dr. John Dorian on the television series Scrubs, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award and three Golden Globe Awards.In 2004, Braff made his...
dropped out, Bill Lawrence dropped out as well.
Bill Lawrence has a small role playing himself in It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie is a 2002 television film that aired on NBC on November 29, 2002. The film is directed by Kirk Thatcher, written by Tom Martin and Jim Lewis and stars the Muppets and was filmed at Lionsgate Studios. The film revolves a plot similar to "It's A Wonderful...
in a scene with Miss Piggy
Miss Piggy
Miss Piggy is a Muppet character who was primarily played by Frank Oz on The Muppet Show. In 2001, Eric Jacobson began performing the role, although Oz did not officially retire until 2002....
along with several members of the Scrubs cast.
Bill has appeared in four episodes of Scrubs. He first appeared as an extra in the episode "My Missed Perception" at the end as one of the staff. Then in season 6 as another extra in the coffee shop in "Their Story", then as an offbeat justice of the peace in "My Soul On Fire (Part 2)". His final appearance comes at the end of "My Finale
My Finale
"My Finale" is the hour-long season finale for season eight of the American sitcom Scrubs. It was originally broadcast as episode 18 of season eight on May 6, 2009, and was intended to be the series finale. However, the show unexpectedly returned for a ninth season...
" as the janitor outside Sacred Heart that tears down the "Goodbye J.D." sign as J.D. is leaving.
Shows created
- Cougar TownCougar TownCougar Town is an American television sitcom that premiered on ABC on September 23, 2009. The series focuses on a recently divorced woman in her forties facing the often humorous challenges, pitfalls and rewards of life's next chapter, along with her son, ex-husband, and friends who together make...
(2009–present) (co-creator)- Produced by ABC Studios and penned by Lawrence and Kevin BiegelKevin Biegel-Scrubs:Biegel got his first staff writing job on Scrubs, in its fifth season. In that season he wrote the episode "My Missed Perception" as well co-wrote the season finale "My Transition." In the sixth season he was promoted to story editor...
.
- Produced by ABC Studios and penned by Lawrence and Kevin Biegel
- ScrubsScrubs (TV series)Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
(2001–2010) - Clone HighClone HighClone High is a Canadian-American animated television series that aired for one season on MTV and Teletoon....
(2002–2003) (co-creator) - Spin CitySpin CitySpin City is an American sitcom television series that aired from September 17, 1996 until April 30, 2002 on the ABC network. Created by Gary David Goldberg and Bill Lawrence, the show was based on a fictional local government running New York City, and originally starred Michael J. Fox as Mike...
(1996–2002) (co-creator)- worked on show (1996–2000)
Lawrence's works
Lawrence has been active since 1993 writing for FriendsFriends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
. He went on to write for Champs
Champs
-French communes: is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:*Champs, Aisne, in the Aisne département*Champs, Orne, in the Orne département*Champs, Puy-de-Dôme, in the Puy-de-Dôme département...
, writing the episodes "The Loop and Live" and "Live and Let Breathe". He co-created the popular ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television show Spin City
Spin City
Spin City is an American sitcom television series that aired from September 17, 1996 until April 30, 2002 on the ABC network. Created by Gary David Goldberg and Bill Lawrence, the show was based on a fictional local government running New York City, and originally starred Michael J. Fox as Mike...
which lasted for six seasons. He wrote episodes "Pilot", "The Apartment", "Bye Bye Love", "Paul Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", "The Paul Lassiter Story", "Goodbye (Part 2)", and co-wrote the series finale "A Friend in Need".
Then in 2001, he created Scrubs
Scrubs (TV series)
Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
. He has written episodes "My First Day
My First Day
"My First Day" is the pilot episode of the American comedy-drama Scrubs. It originally aired on October 2, 2001 on NBC. The episode was written by series creator Bill Lawrence and directed by Adam Bernstein....
", "My Mentor
My Mentor
"My Mentor" is the second episode of the American situation comedy Scrubs. It originally aired on October 4, 2001 on NBC.-Plot:Elliot gets on Carla's bad side after telling Dr. Kelso about one of Carla's mistakes. Elliot gets defensive with J.D. when he suspects Elliot started it, and J.D. reflects...
", "My Nickname", "My Occurrence
My Occurrence
"My Occurrence" is the 22nd episode of the American sitcom Scrubs. It originally aired on May 7, 2002 on NBC.-Plot:Jordan's brother Ben comes into the hospital after piercing his hand with a nail-gun, to which Ben and Dr. Cox have fun by causing J.D to faint not once but twice from seeing such a...
", "My Overkill", "My T.C.W.", "My Own American Girl", "My Catalyst", "My Changing Ways", "My Intern's Eyes", "My ABC's
My ABC's
"My ABC's" is the 155th episode of ABC Studios television series Scrubs, and the fifth episode of the series' eighth season. It was broadcast on January 27, 2009-Plot:...
" and the season eight finale, "My Finale
My Finale
"My Finale" is the hour-long season finale for season eight of the American sitcom Scrubs. It was originally broadcast as episode 18 of season eight on May 6, 2009, and was intended to be the series finale. However, the show unexpectedly returned for a ninth season...
". He has also directed several episodes of the series, which include, "My Dream Job, "My Own American Girl", "My Best Friend's Wedding
My Best Friend's Wedding
My Best Friend's Wedding is a 1997 romantic comedy film directed by P. J. Hogan. It stars Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz, Dermot Mulroney, Rupert Everett, and Philip Bosco.The film received mostly positive reviews from critics...
", "My Old Friend's New Friend, "My Intern's Eyes", "My Rite of Passage", "My Missed Perception", "My Transition", "My Turf War", "My Own Worst Enemy
My Own Worst Enemy (Scrubs)
"My Own Worst Enemy" is the first episode of the seventh season of the American comedy-drama Scrubs. It originally aired on October 25, 2007, and was watched by 6.95 million viewers.- Plot :After Elliot almost kisses J.D...
", "My Inconvenient Truth
My Inconvenient Truth
"My Inconvenient Truth" is the third episode of season seven and the 142nd episode of the American sitcom Scrubs. It aired on November 8, 2007, during NBC's "Go Green Week".-Plot:...
", "My Last Words
My Last Words
"My Last Words" is the 152nd episode of the television series Scrubs, and the second of its eighth season. The episode first aired on January 6, 2009 on ABC, following the show's departure from NBC. It immediately followed "My Jerks", the first episode of the 8th season. The episode was written by...
", "My ABC's
My ABC's
"My ABC's" is the 155th episode of ABC Studios television series Scrubs, and the fifth episode of the series' eighth season. It was broadcast on January 27, 2009-Plot:...
", "My Soul on Fire Parts 1 & 2", "My Finale
My Finale
"My Finale" is the hour-long season finale for season eight of the American sitcom Scrubs. It was originally broadcast as episode 18 of season eight on May 6, 2009, and was intended to be the series finale. However, the show unexpectedly returned for a ninth season...
", "Our First Day of School
Our First Day of School
"Our First Day of School" is the ninth season premiere of U.S. comedy-drama Scrubs. It first aired on ABC, on December 1, 2009. The episode is the first episode of Scrubs following its re-design, and takes place in a different location to the first eight seasons; rather than being set in a...
, as well as many uncredited rewrites.
In 2003, Lawrence created Clone High
Clone High
Clone High is a Canadian-American animated television series that aired for one season on MTV and Teletoon....
with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, it only lasted for thirteen episodes and wrote Escape to Beer Mountain: A Rope of Sand. His wife, Christa Miller
Christa Miller
Christa Miller is an American actress who has achieved success in television comedy. Her foremost roles include Kate O'Brien on The Drew Carey Show and Jordan Sullivan on Scrubs . She has also appeared on Seinfeld and CSI: Miami...
, was cast in Clone High and voiced Cleopatra and several other minor characters.
Scrubs
- "Man attending divorce ceremony" - "My New Game"
- "Photographed Doctor" - "My Missed Perception"
- "Man Sitting on Couch" - "My Best Friend's Baby's Baby and My Baby's Baby"
- "Coffee House Customer" -"Their StoryTheir Story"Their Story" is the 134th episode of the American situation comedy Scrubs. It was aired as episode 17 of season 6 on April 19, 2007. It is noteworthy for focusing on the three main supporting characters of the series, Ted, Todd and Jordan, who replaced J.D...
" - "Man In Dr. Cox's Wave" - "My Identity CrisisMy Identity Crisis"My Identity Crisis" is the fourth episode of season seven and 143rd episode of the American sitcom Scrubs. It aired on November 15, 2007 on NBC.-Plot:...
" - "Vaan" (Justice of the Peace) - "My Soul on Fire (Part 2)"
- "A Janitor" - "My FinaleMy Finale"My Finale" is the hour-long season finale for season eight of the American sitcom Scrubs. It was originally broadcast as episode 18 of season eight on May 6, 2009, and was intended to be the series finale. However, the show unexpectedly returned for a ninth season...
"
External links
- "‘Scrubs,’ Near Death, Is Given a Miracle Cure" in the New York Times