Stephen J. Cannell
Stephen J. Cannell
Stephen Joseph Cannell /ˈkænəl/was an American television producer, writer, novelist, and occasional actor, and the founder of Cannell Entertainmentand the Cannell Studios...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionProducer
Date of Birth5 February 1941
CountryUnited States of America
county grade grew
I was born in L.A. County Hospital, but I grew up in Pasadena. I married my 8th grade sweetheart, Marcia.
attitude character writing
The character's attitude is more important than plot.
firsts television online
I'm hoping that these series, that originally aired in the 80's and 90's, prove to be as entertaining online and on portable devices as they were when first broadcast on network television.
kids class perfect
Since I was the stupidest kid in my class, it never occurred to me to try and be perfect, so I've always been happy as a writer just to entertain myself. That's an easier place to start.
shows
I really hesitate to say that any of my shows influenced other writers.
battles carrying cast create darkness energy gets grudges guy involved kinds moral people righteous themselves tons waste
So many people get involved with carrying grudges and having these moral battles with people, where they cast themselves as the righteous and the other guy is the dirtbag. They waste tons of energy on it, create all kinds of darkness around themselves and the other person. It gets you nothing.
finally hardly hit matured mind sit
I finally get to the place where the book has matured in my mind and I can hardly wait to start writing it. Then I just sit down and I start. I hit the go button. I have an outline, which is 70 pages, but I don't look at it. I never have to look at it.
believed best dad life success worshipped
My dad was my best friend. I worshipped him. All of my success in life really comes from him. He believed that you get nothing from negativity.
morning
I've been very successful at selling my things, but I've also been getting up at 4 in the morning for 40 years.
dad design four furniture tv
My dad was an interior design and furniture person. I started working with him for four years before my first TV writing break.
fairly good happened people shows starts ten trying
Everyone starts out desperately trying to make a hit, but some people are just more mistake-prone than others. I happened to be fairly mistake-prone. Of the 40 shows I made, I'd say ten were hits, which is a pretty good average.
behind business huge successes system whether wife
Having a support system is huge for writers. My parents were always encouraging and told me they were behind me, whether or not I made it in the business. My wife was always there for my successes and failures.
achieve anybody anyone believed concept harder life means ten work
I believed in the concept of over-performing. I believe anyone can achieve their goals in life if they over-perform, and that means you have to work ten times harder than anybody you see.
guy larger taught work
I'm a very conservative businessman. I don't work on credit. My father was the guy who taught me how to think straight, not to delude myself and think I was larger than I was.