TV writer from the realm of public broadcasting turned successful writer-producer for CBS primetime. Getting her feet wet in TV production with the New York City PBS station WNET, English chalked up her first notable writing achievement when she penned an adaptation of Ursula LeGuin's science-fiction classic, "The Lathe of Heaven". She later wrote several other TV-movies ("Her Life as a Man" 1984, "Classified Love" 1986) before creating her first CBS comedy series, "Foley Square". The show lasted only half a season, but English had slightly more success with her second sitcom, the similarly slender if equally amiable "My Sister Sam". Proving the old adage that "the third time's the charm", she finally hit the jackpot with the acclaimed and popular "Murphy Brown". Spotlighting the working and private lives of a successful TV newswoman (Candice Bergen), the show drew obvious parallels with English's own high-profile media career and afforded her more than ample opportunities to showcase her gifts for creating both farce and satire. Married to producing partner Joel Shukovsky.
- Born:
May 18, 1948 in Buffalo, New York, USA
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Job Titles:
Producer, Screenwriter, Story editor, High school English teacher
Family
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Brother: Rick English.
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Father: Richard English. Divorced from English s mother
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Mother: Anne English. Divorced from English s father; remarried
Education
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Buffalo State College, Buffalo, NY, education, BA, 1970
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Nardin Academy, Buffalo, NY
Milestones
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1970 Taught high school English and drama for a year after graduating from college
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1971 Moved to NYC and worked as a story editor for the public television station WNET
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1980 Wrote PBS s first full-length TV-movie, The Lathe of Heaven
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1984 Scripted the premiere episode ABC s series, Call to Glory
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1985 Produced the short-lived CBS sitcom, Foley Square (also wrote)
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1986 Writer and producer on the CBS sitcom My Sister Sam
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1988 Created and executive produced the popular CBS sitcom, Murphy Brown (also wrote); left after the fourth season
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1992 Created and executive produced the CBS series Love & War
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1992 Formed Shukovsky-English Entertainment with husband Joel Shukovsky
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1995 Created and wrote for the short-lived CBS sitcom Double Rush
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1998 Returned to Murphy Brown (CBS) to write the series finale
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2008 Made directorial debut with the remake of the 1936 play by Clare Boothe Luce, The Women (also produced and scripted)
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Penned a monthly column for Vogue magazine