Christopher Keyser
Encyclopedia
Christopher Adam Keyser (born 1960) is an American producer and writer of prime-time dramas. While Keyser is not a household name, his name usually is associated with prime-time, deep, down-to-earth drama.
. In college, he was among other things the president of the Harvard University Debate Council. Keyser became involved in theater during his last two years at Harvard College
, appearing in a number of theatrical productions. He went on to Harvard Law School
, from which he graduated with honors and received offers of employment from prestigious New York City
law firms. During law school, however, Keyser's focus became more directed towards screenwriting; while there he met future writing partner Amy Lippman
. While in New York City, Keyser and Lippman formed a writing partnership.
and were signed on to write teleplays
for L.A. Law
and Equal Justice. because of their legal backgrounds they wrote teleplays for L.A. Law
and Equal Justice. They finally had the honor of writing and producing the hit-show Sisters
and Eddie Dodd from 1991-1996.
They established themselves as a real ace team in the TV business. The two hit big pay-dirt with the enormously successful Party of Five
, a prime-time
family-oriented soap-opera. The show featured the Salingers, a family suddenly orphaned when their parents are killed by a drunken man behind the wheel and the eldest son becomes the head of the family, the eldest daughter wants to write professionally, the youngest daughter is a musical prodigy who sleeps around (all over the house!) and their valiant efforts to keep the family together and the family restaurant business afloat. The show (and the entire family) deals with relationships and friction, romance, school, work, growing-up, life-and-death. Both Keyser and Lippman are credited as the creators, executive producers, and writers of the prime-time drama. The show lasted six seasons.
In 1996, the show took home the Golden Globe Award
for "Best Drama Series." Keyser himself (along with Lipman) were the received the Humanitarias Prize (a mini-glass statuette and $15,000) for the episode "Thanksgiving", where the leads wound up confronting the mysterious drunk driver that was responsible for their parent's deaths. Lacey Chalbert took home some YoungStar Awards. The one and only Neve Campbell (who got her breakout role on the show) has referred to the show as "The most realistic show on television."
Eventually, the show's actors were discovered and big offers came pouring in and eventually the show came to an end. Campbell and Jennifer Love Hewitt
went on to do movies, Chalbert currently juggles film and TV, Matthew Fox went onto other hit TV shows.
And the team of Keyser/Lippman are still developing TV programs such as Significant Others
and Time of Your Life
, a spin-off of "Party of Five" starring Love Hewitt's character Sarah leaving San Francisco in favor of New York and searching for the biological family she never even knew she had.
.
Early life
Keyser was born on Long Island, New York. He attended Harvard College and Harvard Law School in Cambridge, MassachusettsCambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. In college, he was among other things the president of the Harvard University Debate Council. Keyser became involved in theater during his last two years at Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, appearing in a number of theatrical productions. He went on to Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, from which he graduated with honors and received offers of employment from prestigious New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
law firms. During law school, however, Keyser's focus became more directed towards screenwriting; while there he met future writing partner Amy Lippman
Amy Lippman
Amy Lippman is a television producer and screenwriter. She is perhaps best known as the co-creator of Party of Five with Christopher Keyser. She is politically conscious as a donor to Democratic candidates and causes.- References :...
. While in New York City, Keyser and Lippman formed a writing partnership.
Career
In 1988, Keyser and Lippman moved to Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and were signed on to write teleplays
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
for L.A. Law
L.A. Law
L.A. Law is a US television legal drama that ran on NBC from September 15, 1986 to May 19, 1994. L.A. Law reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot topic issues such as abortion, racism, gay rights,...
and Equal Justice. because of their legal backgrounds they wrote teleplays for L.A. Law
L.A. Law
L.A. Law is a US television legal drama that ran on NBC from September 15, 1986 to May 19, 1994. L.A. Law reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot topic issues such as abortion, racism, gay rights,...
and Equal Justice. They finally had the honor of writing and producing the hit-show Sisters
Sisters (TV series)
Sisters is a television drama which aired on NBC for six seasons, from 1991 to 1996. The series was created by Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman, who also created the Showtime series Queer as Folk and wrote the acclaimed Emmy and Peabody Award winning drama An Early Frost, also for NBC...
and Eddie Dodd from 1991-1996.
They established themselves as a real ace team in the TV business. The two hit big pay-dirt with the enormously successful Party of Five
Party of Five
Party of Five is an American teen drama television series that aired on Fox for six seasons, from September 12, 1994, until May 3, 2000.Critically acclaimed, the show suffered from low ratings and after its first season was slated for cancellation...
, a prime-time
Prime time
Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast programming during the middle of the evening for television programing.The term prime time is often defined in terms of a fixed time period—for example, from 19:00 to 22:00 or 20:00 to 23:00 Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast...
family-oriented soap-opera. The show featured the Salingers, a family suddenly orphaned when their parents are killed by a drunken man behind the wheel and the eldest son becomes the head of the family, the eldest daughter wants to write professionally, the youngest daughter is a musical prodigy who sleeps around (all over the house!) and their valiant efforts to keep the family together and the family restaurant business afloat. The show (and the entire family) deals with relationships and friction, romance, school, work, growing-up, life-and-death. Both Keyser and Lippman are credited as the creators, executive producers, and writers of the prime-time drama. The show lasted six seasons.
In 1996, the show took home the Golden Globe Award
Golden Globe Award
The Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign...
for "Best Drama Series." Keyser himself (along with Lipman) were the received the Humanitarias Prize (a mini-glass statuette and $15,000) for the episode "Thanksgiving", where the leads wound up confronting the mysterious drunk driver that was responsible for their parent's deaths. Lacey Chalbert took home some YoungStar Awards. The one and only Neve Campbell (who got her breakout role on the show) has referred to the show as "The most realistic show on television."
Eventually, the show's actors were discovered and big offers came pouring in and eventually the show came to an end. Campbell and Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jennifer Love Hewitt is an American actress, producer, television director and former singer-songwriter. Hewitt began her acting career as a child by appearing in television commercials and the Disney Channel series Kids Incorporated...
went on to do movies, Chalbert currently juggles film and TV, Matthew Fox went onto other hit TV shows.
And the team of Keyser/Lippman are still developing TV programs such as Significant Others
Significant Others (1998)
Significant Others is an American drama series that aired on the Fox Network from March 11, 1998 to January 31, 1999. The series was created and executive produced by Christopher Keyser and Amy Lippman.-Synopsis:...
and Time of Your Life
Time of Your Life (TV series)
Time of Your Life is an American drama series starring Jennifer Love Hewitt. The series is a spin-off of Party of Five, and features the character Sarah Reeves Merrin whom Hewitt portrayed on Party of Five.-Plot:...
, a spin-off of "Party of Five" starring Love Hewitt's character Sarah leaving San Francisco in favor of New York and searching for the biological family she never even knew she had.
Personal life
Keyser is not now, nor has ever been, married to his frequent producing/writing partner Amy Lippman. In righting this popular misconception, they have both joked that they are married - just not to each other. While he was in law school, Keyser re-connected with a high school friend, who was also attending law school at Boston University. Their relationship blossomed and they were married, living happily ever after. They have one daughter and one son and reside in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.