James L. Brooks

Since the late 1960s, writer-director-producer James L. Brooks was a powerful comedic force on both the big screen and on television, creating multi-awarding winning fare that also proved to be smashing popular hits. After getting his start as a writer on shows like "The Andy Griffith Show" (CBS, 1960-68) and "My Three Sons" (ABC/CBS, 1960-1972), Brooks created "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (CBS, 1970-77), a groundbreaking sitcom centered around a single, independent woman that earned several Emmy Awards and became one of the most revered programs of all time. Brooks continued his television success with "Taxi" (ABC/NBC, 1978-1983) before experiencing Academy Award triumph with his sentimental, but not maudlin tragic-comedy, "Terms of Endearment" (1983). He followed up with "Broadcast News" (1987), a hilariously honest look at the complicated lives of people in the television news business, before creating with animator Matt Groening "The Simpsons" (Fox, 1990- ), an animated sitcom that became a cultural phenomenon and later a hugely successful movie in 2007. He had more critical and awards success with the heartwarming romantic comedy, "As Good As It Gets" (1997), which only confirmed his unique ability to create popular fare in all mediums that was also lauded by critics.