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Thomas W. Lynch (born February 25, 1956, in Los Angeles, California) is an American television series creator and executive producer who is the head of his own production company, Tom Lynch Company (previously Lynch Entertainment which is owned by Lynch Pictures, as well as Lynch/Biller Productions with Gary Biller) based in Los Angeles, CA.
Career
The New York Times referred to him as "the David E. Kelley of Tween TV," a reference to his prolific array of successful television shows aimed at the 8- to 14-year-old age group. He has created several hit teenage/children's programs such as The Secret World of Alex Mack, The Journey of Allen Strange, and the drama series Caitlin's Way for Nickelodeon and the drama series Scout's Safari for Discovery Kids (which also aired on NBC during its original run on Discovery Kids).
Lynch also created the TBS music video series, Night Tracks, and the popular long-running syndicated/Disney Channel musical-variety series Kids Incorporated, which spawned the careers of several future stars such as Jennifer Love Hewitt and Stacy Ferguson (known as Fergie of the popular R&B group The Black Eyed Peas). Kids Incorporated was Lynch's first hit series. By the 1980s, Gary Biller was Lynch's partner, thus identifying it as Lynch/Biller Productions.
By the 2000s, he also executive produced the dramedy Sk8 and the ground-breaking teen drama Just Deal for NBC's TNBC Saturday morning lineup, the sitcoms 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd and Romeo! for Nickelodeon, the drama South of Nowhere for Noggin's nighttime block "The N," the sci-fi series Galidor for YTV, and the animated musical series Class of 3000 for Cartoon Network. In 2009, Lynch executive produced two new series: the comedy series The Assistants for The N, and the sci-fi comedy The Troop for Nickelodeon. The Troop filmed its second season and aired late 2010/early 2011.
In addition to his Emmy nomination for Outstanding Children's Series for Scout's Safari, Lynch's shows have been nominated for GLAAD Awards, Humanitas Prize, Kids Choice Awards, Teen Choice Awards, WGA Awards, DGA Awards, Image Awards, Gemini Awards, Leo Awards and Young Artists Awards.
Lynch has written pilots for a number of networks such as NBC, FX and CBS. He currently is in development on several projects for Nickelodeon, The N, MTV, Spike and Cartoon Network.
In 2011, Lynch executive-produced Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures for Nickelodeon.
In 2015, Lynch created Make It Pop starring Megan Lee, Louriza Tronco, Erika Tham, and Dale Whibley. It premiered on Nickelodeon on March 26. Make It Pop is renewed for a second Season and it premiered on January 4, 2016, with a Christmas special aired December 5, 2015.
In 2016, The Other Kingdom officially premiered April 10, 2016, on Nickelodeon and Lynch served as creator and executive producer of the show.
Personal life
Lynch and his sister Rachel were raised in Los Angeles where their father was a nuclear physicist. His parents divorced when he was eight.
Lynch is the father of four children.
Filmography
Television
| Year | TV Series | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | The Jacksons | Production Assistant | |
| 1983-1991 | Kids Incorporated | Co-Creator, Producer, Executive Producer | |
| 1983-1992 | Night Tracks | Co-Creator, Producer, Executive Producer | |
| 1984 | Linda Ronstadt in Concert: What’s New | Co-Executive Producer | |
| 1986 | Combat High | Executive Producer | Television film |
| 1989 | The Diceman Cometh | Producer | |
| 1991 | Riders in the Sky | Executive Producer | 1 Episode |
| 1993 | Xuxa | Director, executive producer | |
| 1994-1998 | The Secret World of Alex Mack | Writer, director, executive producer, Co-Creator | |
| 1995 | Breakthroughs: Amazing Things To Come | Executive Producer | Television film |
| 1996 | Shadow Zone: The Undead Express | Executive Producer | Television film |
| The Pathfinder | Screenplay By, Executive Producer | Television film | |
| 1997 | Sea World and Busch Gardens Adventures: Alien Vacation! | Executive Producer | |
| Shadow Zone: My Teacher Ate My Homework | Executive Producer | ||
| Song of Hiawatha | Executive Producer | ||
| 1997-2000 | The Journey of Allen Strange | Writer, executive producer, Creator | |
| 1998 | Magic Jersey | Producer | Tv Pilot To "The Jersey" |
| 1999 | Smiling Fish and Goat on Fire | Executive Producer | |
| Stray Dog | Written By | Television film, A prequel to "Caitlin's Way". | |
| 1999-2002 | 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd | Writer, executive producer | |
| 1999-2004 | The Jersey | Co-Creator, Writer, Executive Producer | |
| 2000-2002 | Caitlin's Way | Co-Creator, Executive Producer | |
| Just Deal | Co-Creator, Writer, Executive Producer | ||
| 2001-2002 | Skate | Co-Creator, Writer, Executive Producer | |
| 2002 | Galidor | Creator, Writer, Executive Producer | |
| The Red Sneakers | Executive Producer | Television film | |
| Favor & Family | Executive Producer | ||
| Prep | Executive Producer | Television film | |
| 2002-2004 | Scout's Safari | Creator, Writer, Executive Producer | |
| 2003-2006 | Romeo! | Co-Creator, Writer, Executive Producer | |
| 2004 | Have You Heard? Secret Central | Executive Producer | Direct to Video |
| 2005-2008 | South of Nowhere | Creator, Writer, Executive Producer | |
| 2006-2008 | Class of 3000 | Co-Creator, Writer, Executive Producer | |
| 2009 | The Assistants | Executive Producer | 1 Episode |
| 2009-2013 | The Troop | Writer, executive producer | |
| 2010 | Amira | Key Grip | Direct To Video |
| Madso's War | Executive Producer | Television film | |
| 2011-2013 | Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures | Writer, executive producer | |
| 2014 | S.H.R.I.E.K. | Executive Producer | 5 episodes |
| Smart Alec | Executive Producer | Television film | |
| 2015 | Vacation Chasers | Executive Producer | |
| 2015-2016 | Make It Pop | Co-Creator, Writer, Executive Producer | |
| 2016 | The Other Kingdom | Creator, Writer, Director, Executive Producer | |
| 2023 | I Woke Up a Vampire | Creator, Writer, Executive Producer |
References
- "For the kids" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1984-08-20. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
- Bushman, David (17 January 2018). "The Secret World of Thomas W. Lynch". Medium. Paley.
- Bushman, David (17 January 2018). "The Secret World of Thomas W. Lynch". Medium. Paley.
- Bushman, David (17 January 2018). "The Secret World of Thomas W. Lynch". Medium. Paley.