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

edit

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.[1]

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

edit

Lynch and his sister Rachel were raised in Los Angeles where their father was a nuclear physicist.[2] His parents divorced when he was eight.[3]

Lynch is the father of four children.[4]

Filmography

edit

Television

edit
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

edit
  1. ^ "For the kids" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1984-08-20. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  2. ^ Bushman, David (17 January 2018). "The Secret World of Thomas W. Lynch". Medium. Paley.
  3. ^ Bushman, David (17 January 2018). "The Secret World of Thomas W. Lynch". Medium. Paley.
  4. ^ Bushman, David (17 January 2018). "The Secret World of Thomas W. Lynch". Medium. Paley.
edit