Bill Prady
American television writer and producer (born 1960)
Kelly Pino
(m. 1982; div. 1984)Kirith Bernstein
(m. 1997; div. 2016)Jessica Queller
(m. 2021)William Scott Prady (born June 7, 1960) is an American television writer and producer known for co-creating and producing The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019) and The Muppets (2015–2016). He also served as an executive producer on Dharma & Greg (1997–2002), Good Morning Miami (2003), and Gilmore Girls (1997–2002).
Early life
Prady was born in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and attended Wayne State University.[2][3] He dropped out of the university, and moved to New York City where he worked at a RadioShack. During this time, he was involved in the creation of the filePro software for the TRS-80 microcomputer.[4]
Career
In 1983, Prady was a production assistant for The Jim Henson Company on a proposed television special centering on the world of technology.[5] When the project failed to come to fruition, Prady stayed with the company and worked in the merchandising department. With the encouragement of Jim Henson, Prady began writing on projects including Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series and The Jim Henson Hour (on which he was visually caricatured as the puppet Chip).[6][7] In 1991, Prady received an Emmy-award nomination for co-writing The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson. He wrote the Disney theme park attractions Muppet*Vision 3D and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience.[8]
In 1995, Prady joined the writing staff of the HBO series Dream On. In 1997, he joined the writing staff of Dharma & Greg, rising to executive producer and taking over as showrunner in 2001. He also served as a writer and producer on Good Morning, Miami, Caroline in the City, Related, Platypus Man and Gilmore Girls.[5][9]
In 2007, Prady co-created the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, on which he served as executive producer for the show’s 12-season run.[5]
In 2012, Prady joined the University of Southern California as an adjunct faculty member in its cinematic arts school.[10] In April 2015, it was announced that ABC had picked up Prady's pilot presentation for a new version of The Muppet Show with Bob Kushell attached as showrunner.[11]
In January 2020, Prady signed a first-look deal with Netflix to develop scripted series for the streamer. In 2022, he entered a similar agreement with Warner Bros. Television to develop scripted programming under his production company Pine Tree Entertainment.[5][12]
Personal life
Prady is Jewish and is on the autism spectrum.[13][14]
Prady was one of 135 candidates who ran for Governor of California in the 2003 recall election, receiving 474 votes, tying him for 111th place.[15][16]
In 2010, Prady was given honorary membership in the Royal Canadian Institute for the Advancement of Science.[17] In 2013, Prady was awarded NASA's Exceptional Public Achievement Medal.[18] He has served as a trustee of the Humanitas Prize "New Voices" program.[19] In 2022, Prady was awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa by Wayne State University.[3]
In 2020, Prady appeared in a small cameo role in Bill & Ted Face the Music.[20]
Filmography
Film
| Year(s) | Production | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Billy Bunny's Animal Songs | Writer; direct-to-video film |
| 1994 | Muppet Classic Theater | |
| 1995 | Here Come the Munsters | Writer; television film[21] |
| 2020 | Bill & Ted Face the Music | Scientist #1[20] |
Television
| Year(s) | Production | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1985–1986 | You Can't Do That On Television | Writer[9][22] |
| 1987 | Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series | |
| 1989 | The Jim Henson Hour | |
| 1990 | The Cosby Show | |
| The Magical World of Disney | ||
| The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson | Writer; television special[2] | |
| 1991 | Married... with Children | Writer[2] |
| The Carol Burnett Show | ||
| 1995 | Platypus Man | Writer, episode: "Lower East Side Story" |
| 1994–1996 | Dream On | Writer, story editor, producer[2] |
| 1995–1997 | Caroline in the City | Writer, producer[2] |
| 1999 | Star Trek: Voyager | Writer |
| 1997–2002 | Dharma & Greg | Writer, executive producer[2][16] |
| 2003 | Good Morning, Miami | |
| 2004–2005 | Gilmore Girls | Writer, co-executive producer[9] |
| 2005 | Related | |
| 2006 | Two and a Half Men | Writer[9] |
| 2007–2019 | The Big Bang Theory | Creator, writer, executive producer |
| 2015–2016 | The Muppets | Creator, executive producer, writer |
| 2017–2021 | Young Sheldon | Executive consultant, consulting producer |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Program | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | WGA Award | Outstanding Achievement: Variety, Musical, Award, Tribute or Special Event | Miss Piggy’s Hollywood | Won |
| 1990 | The Earth Day Special | Won | ||
| 1991 | CableACE Award | Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programming | The Presidential Inaugural Celebration for Children | Won |
| 1991 | WGA Award | Outstanding Achievement: Variety, Musical, Award, Tribute or Special Event | The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson | Won |
| 1991 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program | Nominated | |
| 1996 | The People's Choice Awards | Favorite New Television Comedy Series | Caroline in the City | Won |
| 1998 | Dharma & Greg | Won | ||
| 1998 | Golden Globe Award | Best Series: Musical or Comedy | Nominated | |
| 1999 | Nominated | |||
| 1999 | WGA Award | Outstanding Achievement: Comedy Series | Nominated | |
| 2009 | TCA Award | Outstanding Achievement in Comedy | The Big Bang Theory | Won |
| 2009 | Satellite Award | Best Television Series: Musical or Comedy | Nominated | |
| 2010 | Golden Globe Award | Best Series: Musical or Comedy | Nominated | |
| 2010 | The People's Choice Awards | Favorite Television Comedy Series | Won | |
| 2010 | TCA Award | Outstanding Achievement in Comedy | Nominated | |
| 2011 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Comedy Series | Nominated | |
| 2011 | The People's Choice Awards | Favorite Television Comedy Series | Nominated | |
| 2011 | Producers Guild of America Award | Outstanding Comedy Series | Nominated | |
| 2011 | Critics' Choice Television Award | Best Comedy Series | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Satellite Award | Best Television Series: Musical or Comedy | Won | |
| 2012 | TCA Award | Outstanding Achievement in Comedy | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Monte-Carlo Television Festival | Outstanding International Producer | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Comedy Series | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Producers Guild of America Award | Nominated | ||
| 2012 | Critics' Choice Television Award | Best Comedy Series | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Golden Globe Award | Best Series: Musical or Comedy | Nominated | |
| 2013 | The People's Choice Awards | Favorite Television Comedy Series | Won | |
| 2013 | Critics' Choice Television Award | Best Comedy Series | Won | |
| 2013 | TCA Award | Outstanding Achievement in Comedy | Won | |
| 2013 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Award: Best Comedy | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Monte-Carlo Television Festival | International TV Audience Award | Won | |
| 2013 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Comedy Series | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Golden Globe Award | Best Series: Musical or Comedy | Nominated | |
| 2014 | The People's Choice Awards | Favorite Television Comedy Series | Won | |
| 2022 | Drama League Award | Outstanding Production of a Play | Dana H. | Nominated |
References
- ^ Bill Prady [@billprady] (27 June 2014). "Re: request to solve a Wikipedia problem: My full name is William Scott Prady, and my date of birth is 6/7/60" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c d e f "Bill Prady". Cranbrook Schools. Archived from the original on 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ a b "Wayne State University commencement ceremonies celebrate class of 2022". Today@Wayne. 2018-05-15. Archived from the original on 2024-03-26. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ Collins, Paul (2009-02-06). "Must-Geek TV". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Archived from the original on 2024-02-24. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ a b c d Andreeva, Nellie (2020-01-16). "'The Big Bang Theory' Co-Creator Bill Prady Inks First-Look Deal With Netflix". Deadline. Archived from the original on 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ Huver, Scott (2015-09-22). "'The Big Bang Theory's' Bill Prady Returns to His Roots With 'The Muppets'". CBR. Archived from the original on 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ Adalian, Josef (May 12, 2015). "Everything We Know So Far about the Muppets". Vulture. Archived from the original on May 14, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
- ^ Day, Asteroid (2018-06-04). "Bill Prady". Asteroid Day. Archived from the original on 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ a b c d creativecoalition (2021-02-03). "Bill Prady". The Creative Coalition. Archived from the original on 2024-05-15. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ "They Wrote Their Love Story While Scripting Others - The New York Times". web.archive.org. 2021-11-09. Archived from the original on 2021-11-09. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Goldberg, Lesley (May 9, 2012). "'Muppets' Revived at ABC With 'Big Bang Theory' Co-Creator". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 5, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (2022-06-14). "'Big Bang Theory's' Bill Prady, Chris Sanagustin's Pine Tree Entertainment Sets Warner Bros. TV First-Look Deal". Variety. Archived from the original on 2024-07-10. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
- ^ "Bill Prady: Origins of Sheldon. Neurodiversity & Sensory Overload". Mayim Bialik's Breakdown. 2 February 2021. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "The Influence of Jewish Characters in Seinfeld and Israel | Bartleby". Archived from the original on 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
- ^ "Special Election - Statement of the Vote" (PDF). 2003. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-11-07. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
- ^ a b Lewis, Michael (2003-09-28). "The Personal Is the Antipolitical". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2024-07-10. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
- ^ "The Royal Canadian Institute for the Advancement of Science Bestows Honorary Memberships to The Big Bang Theory Creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady". prnewswire.com. October 7, 2010. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ^ "2013 Agency Honor Awards" (PDF). NASA. 2013. p. 38. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ^ "Our Board of Trustees: Bill Prady". The Humanitas Prize. 2015. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ^ a b "Threads". www.threads.net. Archived from the original on 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ "Here Come the Munsters (1995) - Munsterland". www.munsterland.net. Archived from the original on 2023-09-26. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ "THE COSBY SHOW". www.wga.org. Archived from the original on 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
External links
- Bill Prady at IMDb
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