About
"What do I like about writing? It's brutal when you're writing! It's just disappointment after disappointment in yourself for the scene not being good enough. But man, when it finally works there's nothing better."
In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, John Wells talks about his early years, including his time as a roadie and later as a stage manager. He recalls being called in by Steven Bochco who gave him encouragement and helped him get hired to write for the short-lived series Shell Game. He describes being a writer and producer on the critically acclaimed series China Beach, where he incorporated real-life stories from Vietnam veterans into the show. He outlines writing and producing ER over its fifteen-year run, including dealing with medical issues and terminology, several major cast changes, and the challenge of keeping the show fresh over a long run. Wells speaks of writing and producing the series The West Wing along with show creator Aaron Sorkin, and details several aspects of the show including Sorkin's difficulties with the network, taking over for Sorkin after he left the show, and dealing with the death of cast member John Spencer. He talks about executive producing Third Watch, Southland, and his then-current series Shameless. He concludes by talking about his writing process, career highlights, and where he sees himself in the then-future. Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview in a joint venture with the Writers Guild Foundation on December 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, CA.
Highlights
John Wells on how ER came about and Michael Crichton's original idea for the show
John Wells on crafting the stories of China Beach using real life stories from veterans
John Wells on Aaron Sorkin clashing with the network over The West Wing and Sorkin leaving the show
John Wells on being discovered by Steven Bochco and writing for Shell Game
John Wells on advice to aspiring writers
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his short career as a roadie; on his time working in the theater as a stage manager
On being discovered by Steven Bochco and writing for Shell Game; on the writers room of Shell Game; on how he came to be a writer/producer for China Beach
On writing for Dana Delany as "Colleen McMurphy," and working with the writer John Sacret Young on China Beach; on the various writers of China Beach; on crafting the stories of the show and using real life stories from veterans
On favorite China Beach stories and episodes; on the legacy of China Beach
On how ER came about and Michael Crichton's original idea for the show; on the casting process for ER; on shooting the pilot for the show and the subsequent look and tone of the series
Chapter 2
On the writing of ER and the use of real medical terminology in the scripts; on observing real life emergency rooms to write for ER; on network notes about ER
On coming up with new ideas over ER's fifteen-year run and the public getting medical information from the show; on issues the ER producers had with some advertisers; on the large number of cast changes on ER over fifteen seasons, including George Clooney leaving the show after five years
On the end of ER and writing the finale; on the legacy of ER
On how he came to produce and write The West Wing; on pitching The West Wing to the network with Aaron Sorkin; on the initial audience for The West Wing and the early process of writing the show, including Aaron Sorkin rewriting every script
On Aaron Sorkin clashing with the network over The West Wing and Sorkin leaving the show; on producing and writing The West Wing after Aaron Sorkin's departure and dealing with the death of John Spencer who played "Leo McGarry" on the show; on continuing the show after "Jed Bartlett's" presidency
On working with Martin Sheen as "Jed Bartlett" on The West Wing; on the series finale of The West Wing and Aaron Sorkin's participation
Chapter 3
On juggling ER, The West Wing, and Third Watch, which were all on the air at the same time; on Third Watch addressing 9/11 with the episode "In Their Own Words" and subsequent stories on the show
On executive producing Southland; on executive producing Shameless starring William H. Macy
On adapting Shameless from the original British series; on William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum as "Frank Gallagher" and "Fiona Gallagher" on Shameless; on balancing the drama and the comedy on the show
On having the characters break the fourth wall on Shameless; on season six of Shameless and notes from Showtime regarding the series
On his writing process; on various awards he's received for his work, including the Emmy; on how writing for television differs from writing for feature film
On serving as president of the Writers Guild of America, West; on his mentors; on what he likes about writing
On his feelings on producing and directing; on his proudest career achievement and career regrets; on advice to aspiring writers and his then-future
Shows
China Beach
John Wells on how he came to be a writer/producer for China Beach
John Wells on writing for Dana Delany as "Colleen McMurphy," and working with the writer John Sacret Young on China Beach
John Wells on the various writers of China Beach
John Wells on crafting the stories of China Beach using real life stories from veterans
John Wells on favorite China Beach stories and episodes
John Wells on the legacy of China Beach
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
John Wells on various awards he's received for his work, including the Emmy
ER
John Wells on how ER came about and Michael Crichton's original idea for the show
John Wells on the casting process for ER
John Wells on shooting the pilot for ER and the subsequent look and tone of the series
John Wells on the writing of ER and the use of real medical terminology in the scripts
John Wells on observing real life emergency rooms to write for ER
John Wells on network notes about ER
John Wells on coming up with new ideas over ER's fifteen-year run and the public getting medical information from the show
John Wells on issues the ER producers had with some advertisers
John Wells on the large number of cast changes on ER over fifteen seasons, including George Clooney leaving the show after five years
John Wells on the end of ER and writing the finale
John Wells on the legacy of ER
Shameless
John Wells on executive producing Shameless starring William H. Macy
John Wells on adapting Shameless from the original British series
John Wells on William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum as "Frank Gallagher" and "Fiona Gallagher" on Shameless
John Wells on balancing the drama and the comedy on Shameless
John Wells on having the characters break the fourth wall on Shameless
John Wells on season six of Shameless and notes from Showtime regarding the series
Southland
John Wells on executive producing Southland
Third Watch
John Wells on Third Watch addressing 9/11 with the episode "In Their Own Words" and subsequent stories on the show
John Wells on creating Third Watch and balancing working on multiple shows at once (Editor’s Note: per the Writers Guild, credit for the Third Watch pilot is "teleplay by John Wells, Story by Edward Allen Bernero & John Wells. Co-created by John Wells and Edward Allen Bernero")
West Wing, The
John Wells on how he came to produce and write The West Wing
John Wells on pitching The West Wing to the network with Aaron Sorkin
John Wells on the initial audience for The West Wing and the early process of writing the show, including Aaron Sorkin rewriting every script
John Wells on Aaron Sorkin clashing with the network over The West Wing and Sorkin leaving the show
John Wells on producing and writing The West Wing after Aaron Sorkin's departure and dealing with the death of John Spencer who had played "Leo McGarry" on the show
John Wells on continuing The West Wing after "Jed Bartlett's" presidency
John Wells on working with Martin Sheen as "Jed Bartlett" on The West Wing
John Wells on the series finale of The West Wing and Aaron Sorkin's participation
Topics
9/11
John Wells on Third Watch addressing 9/11 with the episode "In Their Own Words"
Advertising and Sponsorship
John Wells on issues the ER producers had with some advertisers
Advice
John Wells on advice to aspiring writers
Creative Influences and Inspiration
John Wells on his mentors
Emmy Awards
John Wells on various awards he's received for his work, including the Emmy
Historic Events and Social Change
John Wells on crafting the stories of China Beach using real life stories from Vietnam veterans
John Wells on Third Watch addressing 9/11 with the episode "In Their Own Words"
Television Industry
John Wells on issues the ER producers had with some advertisers
John Wells on advice to aspiring writers
Vietnam War
John Wells on crafting the stories of China Beach using real life stories from Vietnam veterans
War
John Wells on crafting the stories of China Beach using real life stories from Vietnam veterans
Professions
Writers
John Wells on crafting the stories of China Beach using real life stories from veterans
John Wells on the writing of ER and the use of real medical terminology in the scripts
John Wells on his writing process
John Wells on how writing for television differs from writing for feature film
John Wells on advice to aspiring writers
Genres
Comedy Series
John Wells on creating and producing Shameless
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
John Wells on executive producing Southland
Drama Series
John Wells on writing and producing China Beach
John Wells on writing and producing The West Wing
Medical Dramas
John Wells on writing and producing ER
John Wells on writing and producing ER (Part 2)
John Wells on executive producing Third Watch
People
Steven Bochco
John Wells on being discovered by Steven Bochco and writing for Shell Game
George Clooney
John Wells on the casting process for ER: George Clooney
John Wells on the large number of cast changes on ER over fifteen seasons, including George Clooney leaving the show after five years
Michael Crichton
John Wells on how ER came about and Michael Crichton's original idea for the show
Dana Delany
John Wells on writing for Dana Delany as "Colleen McMurphy," and working with the writer John Sacret Young on China Beach
Martin Sheen
John Wells on working with Martin Sheen as "Jed Bartlett" on The West Wing
Aaron Sorkin
John Wells on how he came to produce and write The West Wing, which was created by Aaron Sorkin
John Wells on the initial audience for The West Wing and the early process of writing the show, including Aaron Sorkin rewriting every script
John Wells on Aaron Sorkin clashing with the network over The West Wing and Sorkin leaving the show
John Wells on the series finale of The West Wing and Aaron Sorkin's participation
John Spencer
John Wells on producing and writing The West Wing after Aaron Sorkin's departure and dealing with the death of John Spencer who had played "Leo McGarry" on the show
Sherry Stringfield
John Wells on the casting process for ER: Sherry Stringfield
John Sacret Young
John Wells on writing for Dana Delany as "Colleen McMurphy," and the writer John Sacret Young on China Beach