John Wells

Writer / Show Creator


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

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.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"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."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
John Wells on how ER  came about and Michael Crichton's original idea for the show
05:48
John Wells on crafting the stories of China Beach  using real life stories from veterans 
04:17
John Wells on Aaron Sorkin clashing with the network over The West Wing and Sorkin leaving the show
05:01
John Wells on being discovered by Steven Bochco and writing for Shell Game
02:46
John Wells on advice to aspiring writers
02:10
Full Interview

Play 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

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John Wells on how he came to be a writer/producer for China Beach
03:54
John Wells on writing for Dana Delany as "Colleen McMurphy," and working with the writer John Sacret Young on China Beach
03:05
John Wells on the various writers of China Beach
01:46
John Wells on crafting the stories of China Beach using real life stories from veterans 
04:17
John Wells on favorite China Beach stories and episodes
05:51
John Wells on the legacy of China Beach
03:39

ER

View Show Page
John Wells on how ER came about and Michael Crichton's original idea for the show
05:48
John Wells on the casting process for ER
02:44
John Wells on shooting the pilot for ER and the subsequent look and tone of the series
06:10
John Wells on the writing of ER and the use of real medical terminology in the scripts
07:10
John Wells on observing real life emergency rooms to write for ER
03:56
John Wells on network notes about ER
02:04
John Wells on coming up with new ideas over ER's fifteen-year run and the public getting medical information from the show
06:27
John Wells on issues the ER producers had with some advertisers
04:47
John Wells on the large number of cast changes on ER over fifteen seasons, including George Clooney leaving the show after five years
06:56
John Wells on the end of ER and writing the finale
03:39
John Wells on the legacy of ER
02:36

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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John Wells on various awards he's received for his work, including the Emmy
02:38

Shameless

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John Wells on executive producing Shameless starring William H. Macy
09:28
John Wells on adapting Shameless from the original British series
02:08
John Wells on William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum as "Frank Gallagher" and "Fiona Gallagher" on Shameless
01:50
John Wells on balancing the drama and the comedy on Shameless
04:32
John Wells on having the characters break the fourth wall on Shameless
02:53
John Wells on season six of Shameless and notes from Showtime regarding the series
03:29

Southland

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John Wells on executive producing Southland
06:43

Third Watch

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John Wells on Third Watch addressing 9/11 with the episode "In Their Own Words" and subsequent stories on the show
05:11
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")
01:52

West Wing, The

View Show Page
John Wells on how he came to produce and write The West Wing
02:11
John Wells on pitching The West Wing to the network with Aaron Sorkin
01:59
John Wells on the initial audience for The West Wing and the early process of writing the show, including Aaron Sorkin rewriting every script
03:40
John Wells on Aaron Sorkin clashing with the network over The West Wing and Sorkin leaving the show
05:01
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
02:27
John Wells on continuing The West Wing after "Jed Bartlett's" presidency 
04:14
John Wells on working with Martin Sheen as "Jed Bartlett" on The West Wing
01:59
John Wells on the series finale of The West Wing and Aaron Sorkin's participation
02:26
Topics

9/11

View Topic
John Wells on Third Watch addressing 9/11 with the episode "In Their Own Words"
05:11

Advertising and Sponsorship

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John Wells on issues the ER producers had with some advertisers
04:47

Advice

View Topic
John Wells on advice to aspiring writers
02:10

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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John Wells on his mentors
03:05

Emmy Awards

View Topic
John Wells on various awards he's received for his work, including the Emmy
02:38

Historic Events and Social Change

View Topic
John Wells on crafting the stories of China Beach using real life stories from Vietnam veterans 
04:17
John Wells on Third Watch addressing 9/11 with the episode "In Their Own Words"
05:11

Television Industry

View Topic
John Wells on issues the ER producers had with some advertisers
04:47
John Wells on advice to aspiring writers
02:10

Vietnam War

View Topic
John Wells on crafting the stories of China Beach using real life stories from Vietnam veterans 
04:17

War

View Topic
John Wells on crafting the stories of China Beach using real life stories from Vietnam veterans 
04:17
Professions

Writers

View Profession
John Wells on crafting the stories of China Beach using real life stories from veterans 
04:17
John Wells on the writing of ER and the use of real medical terminology in the scripts
07:10
John Wells on his writing process
05:58
John Wells on how writing for television differs from writing for feature film
03:07
John Wells on advice to aspiring writers
02:10
Genres

Comedy Series

View Genre
John Wells on creating and producing Shameless
24:21

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

View Genre
John Wells on executive producing Southland
06:43

Drama Series

View Genre
John Wells on writing and producing China Beach
22:32
John Wells on writing and producing The West Wing
23:57

Medical Dramas

View Genre
John Wells on writing and producing ER
14:42
John Wells on writing and producing ER (Part 2)
37:35
John Wells on executive producing Third Watch
05:11
People

Steven Bochco

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John Wells on being discovered by Steven Bochco and writing for Shell Game
03:04

George Clooney

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John Wells on the casting process for ER: George Clooney
00:54
John Wells on the large number of cast changes on ER over fifteen seasons, including George Clooney leaving the show after five years
06:56

Michael Crichton

View Person Page
John Wells on how ER came about and Michael Crichton's original idea for the show
05:48

Dana Delany

View Person Page
John Wells on writing for Dana Delany as "Colleen McMurphy," and working with the writer John Sacret Young on China Beach
03:05

Martin Sheen

View Person Page
John Wells on working with Martin Sheen as "Jed Bartlett" on The West Wing
01:59

Aaron Sorkin

View Person Page
John Wells on how he came to produce and write The West Wing, which was created by Aaron Sorkin
02:11
John Wells on the initial audience for The West Wing and the early process of writing the show, including Aaron Sorkin rewriting every script
03:40
John Wells on Aaron Sorkin clashing with the network over The West Wing and Sorkin leaving the show
05:01
John Wells on the series finale of The West Wing and Aaron Sorkin's participation
02:26

John Spencer

View Person Page
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
02:27

Sherry Stringfield

View Person Page
John Wells on the casting process for ER: Sherry Stringfield
00:26

John Sacret Young

View Person Page
John Wells on writing for Dana Delany as "Colleen McMurphy," and the writer John Sacret Young on China Beach
03:05

All Interviews

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