Examples:
Seth Macfarlane still is head writer of Family Guy.
Kevin Williamson was head writer of his creation Dawson’s Creek, but he left, only returning to write the last episode.
The same is true of Larry David and Seinfeld- he left as head writer, returning only to write the last (awful) episode.
Any other examples?
J. Michael Straczynski created and wrote the bulk of all 5 season of Babylon 5. A crazy amount of writing that set records in TV history apparently.
Matt Stone and Trey Parker are still head writers (or even sole writers? I dunno) on South Park.
Joss Whedon, I believe?
Joss Whedon’s duties on Buffy and Angel decreased over the runs of both shows, although he was always the executive producer and had final say on every script and plotline. Many fans blame Marti Noxon, who was pretty much the main creative force on the last two seasons of Buffy, for the show’s gradual decline in quality (although I still think the worst Buffy episodes are better than 90% of anything else on TV). One thing about Whedon is that while different episodes had different writer credits, he always returned to write and direct any key, landmark episodes on both shows (such as season finales).
He’s publishing them, now, too, through Cafe Press. There are (or will be) 14 books that you can buy, with a 15th free to everyone who buys all 14.
Oh, yeah, I’m buying them all. I just wish the remaining 18 scripts (according to the back of the book, JMS wrote 92 of the 110 series shows) could also be published.
David Milch on Deadwood. From what I understand he writes the final draft of every episode.
IIRC, Aaron Sorkin was the sole writer for the first four seasons of the West Wing (except for two episodes in Season 4).
And for all 41 episodes of Sports Night, the entire run of that show.
Rod Serling was the primary writer of “The Twilight Zone” for its entire run, though there were numerous other writers, including Richard Matheson and Earl “The Waltons” Hamner.
IIRC before JMS broke the record, the previous writer with most eps written in a row was Terry Nation for Blake’s 7.
Brian
Terry Nation wrote the first season of Blake’s 7, but his streak was broken at 14 and he wrote a total of 20 episodes of the 52. Script editor Chris Boucher wrote 9 episodes
Jay Sommers created and cowrote the first 31 episodes of Green Acres, usually with Dick Chevillat. Of the show’s 170 episodes, Sommers and Chevillat were credited (either together or with others) as writers in all but 6. I didn’t count, but it looks like Sommers was credited with well over 100 episodes, and probably close to 150. He also stayed with the show until it was cancelled. I’d say that he’s the leading candidate for the most episodes written.
I just checked, what JMS claims is the only American season by a solo writer.
also
Brian