Live Poll: Best Creator That Television Has Ever Seen

A television creator is someone who creates the characters, as well as, the premise for a TV series. They also usually write the pilot movie/episode and outline a planned  story arc of the series over its first few seasons. They also may continue to write episodes for the show or have little to no involvement beyond the genesis of the show.

A developer is someone who takes another creators' show characters only or another creators series and re-imagines the series within a different context. This usually happens when a show is either rebooted after a long absence or adapted for a version in another country

An executive producer or show runner is someone who takes a creator's or developer's pilot or TV series and is responsible for the "big picture" and day-to day management of the TV series. They were not responsible for the creation of the series, but do shape the show and help it grow into what it will become with the framework of the creator's or developer original vision. They even may add new characters or new story arcs to the original vision.

I think the scope of the poll should be limited to creator or co-creator credits only. I think developers credits that add to an established impressive resume of creator credits should be considered as part of their "creation" body of work. However, I think executive producers and show runners are not creators. While their work may have creative elements, they are not responsible for the "birth" or "re-birth"(developer) of the original series characters or premise.

I also think poll takers can evaluate a creator's body of work how they see fit. However, quality is as important quantity, from my viewpoint, so having a handful of generation defining shows counts as much as dozens of popular, but less iconic series.  I would agree Vince Gilligan and Larry David should be cut. Although, I think having two or three truly iconic series is enough to be in the conversation (a la David Lean), but a one-hit wonder probably isn't enough. I don't think Aaron Spelling or Quinn Martin have the creator credentials to be in the conversation either. Neither created a single hit TV series while their credentials as producers are outstanding, this poll suggestion isn't about producing.

Aaron Spelling was the co-creator of The Lloyd Bridges Show, My Brother the Angel, The Guns of Will Sonnett, The New People

Quinn Martin was the creator of no series

I also want to limit the scope to drama and comedic series. Mark Burnett, Simon Fuller, and Merv Griffin could be some possibilities among others if including reality, game shows and other formats. It seem like that could be a entire list on its own and would be like comparing apples and oranges. I think it is best to compare them separately.

Simon Fuller was the creator of Pop Idol,I Dream, The Next Great American Band, Superstars of Dance, If I Can Dream, So You Think You Can Dance and the various individual country incarnations of these shows.

Nice post. Lots of information to comtemplate.

David E Kelley, hands down, has created some of my fave shows. However, something happened between the last 2 seasons of Boston Legal, which I DETEST.
Several characters were written out--without exposition, and the show simply went on. If they depend on us to care about the characters, to keep a show going, then they owe it to us to respect those characters. If that means ending the show--so be it!

" If they depend on us to care about the characters, to keep a show going, then they owe it to us to respect those characters. If that means ending the show--so be it!"

I agree, whole-heartedly

Thanks!

I agree a sad state of affairs and reflective of society rather than a bias in selection. I wish I could have included more. There seems to be more woman writers and more female creators than before. But the poll is a snapshot of bodies of work that take decades to build and least a couple hit or iconic series. I could see the two you mention plus Shonda Rhimes easily joining this group if they continue to add to their bodies of work.

'Good to see Rhimes on the list. She wouldn't get my vote but her inclusion is important, I think. 'Too bad Grey's Anatomy went so downhill after a few very good  seasons. Private Practice was mostly disappointing, especially since the main character was so compelling when she was on Grey's. I haven't seen Scandal but she still gets kudos for making it in a male-dominated field and for five or so really entertaining and resonant seasons of Grey's.

I agree---particularly Dunham. 

Tried 'How to Get Away With Murder'?

I agree the question can help in adding clarity, I  removed the first television reference to ensure it is understood that they didn't create television. But I jumbled the words in the second half of the question to be abundantly clear what the creative act is "creating new TV series" rather than "TV-show-creation". Some poll takers may not be familiar with what a television show creator is and does, so I added a sentence in the introduction, as well.

Revised Introduction and Question
It was once said "Let there be light, and there was light ... and it was good." These series creators have figuratively done the same, creating over and over again, one hit TV show after another. A television creator is someone who creates the premise and characters for a TV series, as well as, usually the writes the pilot episode.

Which creator's body of work* in creating new TV shows is the best? * minimum three dramatic or comedic creator or developer series credits