Carmen Finestra
Encyclopedia
Carmen Finestra is an American producer and TV writer who currently is partnered with Matt Williams
and David McFadzean
in Wind Dancer Productions, a firm which Finestra also co-owns. For Wind Dancer, he has produced or executive produced Where the Heart Is
, Firelight, Soul Man
, Thunder Alley
and Home Improvement.
Finestra was born to Italian immigrants in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
, and initially attended a seminary college for two years to become a Catholic priest before transferring to Pennsylvania State
, where he earned his BA
in 1971.
After a stint as an Off-Broadway actor, Finestra turned to writing for the likes of Johnny Cash
(for one of Cash's summer series) and Steve Martin
. Finestra's big break came when he began writing for The Cosby Show
in 1984, where he would remain until 1990, leaving the show as supervising producer. Finestra received two Emmy nominations as one of the producers of The Cosby Show and another Emmy nomination for co-writing an episode of the hit series. He also did three guest star appearances on The Cosby Show (episodes 4.17, 6.2 and 6.14).
In 1991, Finestra became a writer and co-executive producer for Home Improvement, capacities he filled until the series' end in 1999. His work on the sitcom would land him three Emmy and two Golden Globe nominations.
Finestra was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus of Penn State in 1998. Penn State named an off campus video editing lab, The Carmen Finestra Digital Editing Lab, in his honor at Innovation Park, an off site technology hub on the University Park campus.
Matt Williams (producer)
Matt Williams is a television writer, creator and producer. He was the producer of the TV series Roseanne and Home Improvement and films such as What Women Want, and has written for The Cosby Show and A Different World as well as writing the screenplay for Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken...
and David McFadzean
David McFadzean
David McFadzean is an American television producer, writer, film producer and playwright. He is best known for co-creating the 1990s sitcom Home Improvement along with Carmen Finestra and Matt Williams.-Career:...
in Wind Dancer Productions, a firm which Finestra also co-owns. For Wind Dancer, he has produced or executive produced Where the Heart Is
Where the Heart Is (2000 film)
Where the Heart Is is a 2000 drama/romance film directed by Matt Williams and produced by Susan Cartsonis, David McFadzean, Patricia Whitcher and Matt Williams. Filmed in Austin, Texas, and Waco, Texas at Baylor University. The movie stars Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd...
, Firelight, Soul Man
Soul Man (TV series)
Soul Man is an American sitcom that aired on ABC in 1997 that lasted two seasons and starred Dan Aykroyd.The series premiered on April 15, 1997, and was picked up for a second season of 22 episodes after only three episodes aired for the first season...
, Thunder Alley
Thunder Alley
Thunder Alley is an American sitcom which aired from March 9, 1994 to July 4, 1995 on ABC.-Premise:The show stars Edward Asner as retired race-car driver Gil Jones. The unaired original pilot episode featured Felicity Huffman in the role of Bobbi Turner, Gil's daughter. When ABC picked up the...
and Home Improvement.
Finestra was born to Italian immigrants in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
, and initially attended a seminary college for two years to become a Catholic priest before transferring to Pennsylvania State
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, where he earned his BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1971.
After a stint as an Off-Broadway actor, Finestra turned to writing for the likes of Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
(for one of Cash's summer series) and Steve Martin
Steve Martin
Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician and composer....
. Finestra's big break came when he began writing for The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
in 1984, where he would remain until 1990, leaving the show as supervising producer. Finestra received two Emmy nominations as one of the producers of The Cosby Show and another Emmy nomination for co-writing an episode of the hit series. He also did three guest star appearances on The Cosby Show (episodes 4.17, 6.2 and 6.14).
In 1991, Finestra became a writer and co-executive producer for Home Improvement, capacities he filled until the series' end in 1999. His work on the sitcom would land him three Emmy and two Golden Globe nominations.
Finestra was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus of Penn State in 1998. Penn State named an off campus video editing lab, The Carmen Finestra Digital Editing Lab, in his honor at Innovation Park, an off site technology hub on the University Park campus.