Jeff Greenstein

Jeff Greenstein
Born (1963-11-21) November 21, 1963 (age 61)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Alma materTufts University (BA)
Occupation(s)Television writer, producer and director
AwardsPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series

Jeff Greenstein (born November 21, 1963) is an American television writer, producer and director.[1] Greenstein was the showrunner of Will & Grace and Dream On, as well as on Partners and Getting Personal, both of which he created. A member of the Writers Guild and Directors Guild of America,[2][3] Greenstein also created the television series State of Georgia.[4]

Early life and education

Greenstein grew up in the Sandy Springs suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. He has three siblings, sister Jill Cohen and brothers Keith and Steven Greenstein. Greenstein attended Riverwood High School and graduated from Tufts University, where he began as a computer science major, careened through the art history department, and ended up with a degree in film and dance.[5]

Career

Greenstein wrote episodes of The Charmings[6] and Mr. Belvedere, but his first job was on Dream On, where he remained for five seasons,[5] first as a writer and later as showrunner. He then signed on as a writer on the show Friends[5][7] for its inaugural season. He was the co-creator and co-showrunner of Partners,[7][8] and also co-created, produced, wrote for, and was the showrunner on Getting Personal.[9]

Greenstein was the senior writer for Will & Grace for its first six seasons, and showrunner for Seasons 5 and 6. He also helped launch Parenthood, and wrote for, executive produced, and directed Desperate Housewives.[5] His directing credits include Husbands,[5] which he also executive produced, as well as Mom,[10] The Odd Couple, 9JKL, Happy Together, and The Neighborhood.

Greenstein produces and co-hosts the film photography podcast I Dream of Cameras.

Filmography

Television

Awards and nominations

Greenstein has been nominated for Emmy Awards, Producers Guild awards, Writers Guild Awards, and the CableACE awards.[5] He won the 2000 Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series as a co-executive producer of Will & Grace,[5][15] and the CableACE award for his work on Dream On.

Greenstein received a 2001 Emmy nomination as a writer for the Will & Grace one-hour flashback episode "Lows in the Mid-Eighties".[5][16]

In 2009, Greenstein received the P.T. Barnum Award for Excellence in Entertainment, an alumni award from Tufts University.[17]

References

  1. ^ Deadline: CAA Signs TV Writer Jeff Greenstein
  2. ^ Jeff Greenstein - DGA Directory
  3. ^ Jeff Greenstein - WGA Directory
  4. ^ AV Club: State of Georgia
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Sikes, Rex (February 7, 2012). "JeffGreenstein". Milwaukee Magazine. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Leszczak, Bob (2016). Single Season Sitcoms of the 1980s: A Complete Guide. McFarland & Company. p. 195. ISBN 978-1-4766-2384-9. Retrieved February 5, 2020 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ a b Meisler, Andy (November 20, 1995). "Fox Opens Its Checkbook in a Search for Hit Comedies". The New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Owen, Rob (April 18, 1999). "Who runs the show? Often, it's the writer". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on April 29, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  9. ^ WGA Directories - Member - Jeff Greenstein
  10. ^ The Guild (DGA) - Member Profile - Jeff Greenstein
  11. ^ Vulture: Inside the Friends Writers Room
  12. ^ Richmond, Ray (April 6, 1998). "Getting Personal". Variety. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  13. ^ The Hollywood Reporter: 'Desperate Housewives' Trial
  14. ^ "TV.com". Archived from the original on 2020-09-24. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
  15. ^ Emmys.com - 2000 Outstanding Comedy Series
  16. ^ Emmys.com - Will & Grace
  17. ^ "Alumni Awards". Tufts University. Retrieved January 27, 2020.