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Andrew Nicholls and Darrell Vickers

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Andrew Nicholls
Born
Andrew John Nicholls

(1957-07-14) 14 July 1957 (age 67)
Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, England
NationalityCanadian
Occupation(s)Screenwriter, television writer, executive producer, playwright, musician, short story writer, poet
Known forFilm, television, animation, radio, stand-up comedy, comic strips
Children1
Darrell Vickers
Born
Darrell Vickers

(1957-07-17) 17 July 1957 (age 67)
Derbyshire, England
NationalityCanadian
Occupation(s)Screenwriter, television writer, executive producer, playwright, musician
Known forFilm, television, animation, radio, stand-up comedy, comic strips
Children1

Andrew John Nicholls (born 14 July 1957) and Darrell Vickers (born 17 July 1957) are an English-born Canadian writing team. They were head writers of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson from 1988 to 1992. Both their families moved independently from England to the same town in Canada, and they met in junior high in 1969, where they began collaborating almost immediately. The duo moved to Los Angeles in 1983 to continue their careers, and are members of WGA, WGC, SACD, SOCAN, ACCT, and ATAS.

Career

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Nicholls and Vickers began writing music and comedy together while at Ridgeway Junior High School (now École élémentaire Antonine Maillet or Antonine-Maillet Elementary School) in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. After high school they wrote for stage, radio, TV, syndicated cartoonists, and stand-up comedians.

From 1979 to 1982 they performed in Southern Ontario as Nobby Clegg and the Civilians, after having received airplay at Brampton alternative station CFNY-FM with home-recorded songs. The band found some success with the singles "Essay - Me Dad" and "I Wanna Be in Commercials", which were also included in the 1981 compilation Toronto Calling. Nicholls and Vickers later used the band's name for a character on the Showtime show Rude Awakening. In that series, the Nobby Clegg character was played by Roger Daltrey, best known as the lead singer of The Who.

From 1986 to 1992 they helped write 770 hours of produced material for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, earning four Emmy nominations, and were the show's head writers from December 1988 until Carson's retirement on 22 May 1992.

In 1997, the pair received a Genie nomination, Best Animated Series, for Ned's Newt (Nelvana). They also received a WGC nomination for the series in 1999. The title character was voiced by Harland Williams and was cited in several interviews as one of the favorite TV shows of legendary cartoonist Ed Gorey.[1]

In 2001, the two received a Gemini nomination for "Best Comedy Series" for their work developing, writing the pilot, and serving as story editors on John Callahan's Quads!.

The duo were nominated for a Pulcinella Award, Best Animated Episode, at the 2003 Cartoons on the Bay Festival in Positano, Italy, for both The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and The World of Tosh. They were again nominated for the Pulcinella for Best Kids Series at the 2015 festival, for Pumpkin Reports.

In 2008, Will & Dewitt was awarded a Gemini Award for Best Pre-School Series. Nicholls & Vickers wrote the series bible and 28 episodes, and served as story editors.

Vickers co-founded a music band in 2008 called Death of the Author Brigade — which was formed through the internet (none of the band members have met in person). The band broke up in 2013. See Solo Projects (Vickers) for additional details.

In 2010, Nicholls wrote a revealingly honest exposé about the entertainment industry and the life of a Television writer and Showrunner, Valuable Lessons: How I Made (And Lost) Seven Million Dollars Writing For Over A Hundred Shows You Never Heard Of.[2] See Solo Projects (Nicholls) for additional details.

Since 2012, Nicholls has published short fiction in Black Clock, The Santa Monica Review, Cosmonauts Avenue,[3] The Boiler Journal,[4] New World Writing,[5][6] Literature For Life,[7] Kugelmass, The Sherman Oaks Review of Books, Shark Reef,[8] and elsewhere.

Between 2015 and 2017, Vickers commenced on several solo television projects: executive producing the first season and writing two episodes of Hitting The Breaks (2015–16); writing the sitcom pilot for Chasing Tail (2017); creating and writing the pilot for the reality cooking show, Feast of a Lifetime, starring Lynn Crawford (2017); creating the reality show, You're the Boss (2017); and writing for the hour-long comedy drama, Marley Roberts (2017).

In 2016, MOJAVE! The Musical — featuring the tagline: "Go Ahead And Run...It Loves Fast Food," with book, music, and lyrics by Nicholls and Vickers — was directed by Mindy Cooper at its first reading on May 25, 2016, in the Della Davidson Studio, UC Davis, California.[9]

In 2019, Nicholls' full-length stage play {LOVE/Logic}, directed by Josy Miller, had its world premiere at the Wyatt Theater Pavilion, UC Davis, California.[10]

Nicholls published a how-to book in 2020 about the work and art of creating comedy for print, TV and stage: Comedy Writer: Craft advice from a veteran of sitcoms, sketch, animation, late night, print and stage comedy.[11] That same year, Nicholls began publishing poetry in the online journal Light: a journal of light verse since 1992.[12][13]

In 2021, Nicholls mounted his play, A Bee in a Jar, with the UC Davis Department of Theatre and Dance and Catalyst: A Theatre Think Tank, virtually using OBS Studio and Zoom to cast in three time zones.[14]

In 2022, Vickers wrote the pilot script for the television series, Mama Zen.

In 2022, Nicholls' play, Yes, And... won First Place in the Frostburg, Maryland 13th Annual One-Act Play Festival.

In 2023, Nicholls' play Jinx had a staged reading, directed by Bob Burgos, at the Ensemble Studio Theater in Los Angeles.

In 2024, Yes, And... was paired with a Nicholls & Vickers debut play, In Bob We Trust, for a run at the Embassy Theater in Cumberland, MD.

As a writing team, Vickers and Nicholls have over 1200 hours of produced television credits, including creating twenty TV series, writing and producing 38 television and radio pilots, and writing and producing over 400 episodes of children's TV (as of 2022).

Partial writing credits

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Stand-up comedians

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Film

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Year Title Credits Studio Notes
1992 Noises Off Additional Material by Touchstone Pictures
2004 A Year Off Screenplay by Dor Film / DOR Film Productions (Vienna) unreleased film
2006 Casper's Scare School Screenplay by Cartoon Network

Television (animation and live-action)

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Year Title Credits Network/Studio Notes
1976–1978 We're Only Joking Writers CHCH
1978 Screech Writers CHCH, Megamedia TV
1979–1980 Golden Horseshoe Theatre Writers CHCH
1980 Flappers Writers CBC
1983 K-KID TV Writers Olympic Films
Thicke of the Night Writers MGM Television, Metromedia syndicated talk show
1984 The Love Boat Writers ABC
George Carlin's Apt. 2-C aka Apt. 2C Writers HBO, Cablestuff
1985 Danger Bay Writers CBC Television, Disney Channel
1985–1988 Check it Out! Story Editors, Writers (11 episodes) CTV, USA Cable, D.L. Taffner
1986–1992 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Writers (1986-1992), Head Writers (1988-1992) NBC, Carson Tonight
1989–1991 The Tonight Show Anniversary Specials Writers (26th), Head Writers (27-29th) NBC, Carson Tonight
1990 This World Now Writers CHCH, Megamedia TV
Doghouse Writers YTV
1991–1992 Drexell's Class Created by, Creative Consultants, Writers (four episodes) Fox Starring Dabney Coleman
1992 Have Mercy Wrote pilot, Executive Producers CBS, Lorimar Starring Isabella Hoffman and Patrick Warburton
1993 The Mighty Quinns Wrote pilot, Executive Producers Warner Bros., CBS Starring Robert Urich
Death and Taxes aka Death + Taxes Wrote pilot, Executive Producers NBC, Lorimar Starring Teri Garr and Craig Bierko
It Had To Be You Wrote pilot, Executive Producers CBS, Warner Bros. Starring Faye Dunaway
The Trouble with Larry Created by, Executive Producers CBS, Warner Bros. Starring Bronson Pinchot and Courteney Cox
1994 The George Carlin Show Writers (two episodes) Fox, Warner Bros.
1994–1995 The Parent 'Hood Created by, Executive Producers The WB Starring Robert Townsend
1995–1996 Campus Cops Executive Producers Universal, USA Network, John Landis
1996 Love And Marriage Writers Fox
Malcolm & Eddie Creative Consultants Columbia TriStar, UPN
1996–1997 Pearl Creative Consultants CBS, Witt-Thomas Productions
1997–1998 The Magic Hour Writers Fox
1998 Hollywood Dog Wrote pilot HBO Independent Productions Starring William H. Macy
Bob and Margaret Creative Consultants (1999) Nelvana, Comedy Central, Channel 4 (UK) also wrote one story (2001)
Ned's Newt Developed by (1997–99) Teletoon (now Cartoon Network Canada) Nelvana, Fox Kids (US)
You Wish Co-Executive Producers, Wrote one episode ABC, Disney
Smart Guy Creative Consultants, Wrote one episode The WB, Walt Disney Television
Rude Awakening Wrote three episodes Showtime, Mandalay TV
1999 The Blob Wrote pilot MTV, John Landis
Divorced on Mars Wrote pilot Salter Street TV
2000 Kevin's Castle (pilot) Co-Created by, Executive Producers Disney Channel, Family Channel Canada
2000–2001 John Callahan's Quads! Developed by, Wrote pilot, Story Editors Nelvana, Teletoon, SBS (Australia)
2001–2002 John Callahan's Pelswick Developed by, Wrote pilot, Story Editors Nelvana, Nickelodeon, CBC (Canada)
2002 Inspector Gadget Wrote live-action pilot PAX, DIC Entertainment
The World of Tosh Story Editors Nickelodeon (UK)
2002–2003 The Cube Created by, Wrote pilot The WB, MTV, Triage reality-series
2002–2004 The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius Wrote nine episodes Nickelodeon
2003 Rocketship Bedroom Created by, Written by, Produced with Bob Staake Disney Channel
Last Girls Wrote pilot Happy Life (Sweden) now defunct production company
Mr. Magoo Wrote live-action pilot Classic Media
The Fairly OddParents Wrote three episodes Nickelodeon
Strange Days at Blake Holsey High Wrote one episode Discovery Kids, Fireworks aka Black Hole High
2004 Super Cooper Cowrote pilot script, Developed Series Disney TVA, Disney Channel with creator Steve Billnitzer
W.I.T.C.H. Developed Series, Executive Producers Disney Channel, ABC Family (US), France 3, Jetix also wrote pilot and ten episodes
Futz! Wrote two episodes 9 Story Entertainment
2005 The Office Temps Created by Global TV, Lone Eagle Entertainment
Super Chicken Developed pilot DreamWorks Animation
2006 George of the Jungle Developed pilot, Wrote 15 episodes Cartoon Network, Classic Media
2007 Will & Dewitt Created bible, Developed by, Story Editors YTV, Kids' WB, WildBrain wrote 28 episodes
Back at the Barnyard Wrote one episode Nickelodeon
Rocky and Bullwinkle Wrote fourth season DVD promo shorts DreamWorks Classics
Monster Buster Club Wrote two episodes Toon Disney (US), Marathon
Kid vs. Kat Created series bible YTV, Studio B, Disney XD
Gerald McBoing-Boing (TV series) Wrote eight episodes Cartoon Network, Teletoon
2008 Casper's Scare School Created bible, Wrote 18 episodes TF1 (France)
League of Super Evil Wrote three episodes YTV, Cartoon Network, WildBrain
Walter and Tandoori Developed by, Wrote three episodes Image Entertainment (Montreal)
Noonbory and the Super Seven Wrote five episodes Daewon Media
The New Adventures of Nanoboy Wrote two episodes Scrawl Studios (Singapore)
K-9 (TV series) Original development Jetix UK, Park Entertainment, Network 10 (Australia)
Chateau Hofstadter Wrote series bible, Developed by ARTE France, One Film, Maha Film
Mr. Quaver Developed series Mastran Music Group
2009 Dreamkix Writers Design Storm (Korea)
Shaking Dance Squad Force Created series bible, Wrote pilot Cookie Jar
Rated A for Awesome Wrote two episodes Nerd Corps Entertainment
2009–2010 Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 Wrote three episodes Mattel, Nelvana
Peter Pepper's Pet Spectacular (pilot) Created series bible, Story Editors, Writers Cookie Jar Entertainment, Clockwork Zoo
2011 Decidedly Debra aka Debra! Writers Cookie Jar, Family Channel
Health Nutz Rewrote episodes (two seasons) APTN
2015 Pumpkin Reports Wrote 50 episodes Boing (France) internationally syndicated
2018 Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures Wrote one episode, Staff (season one) Netflix, Mattel

Radio

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Year Title Credits Network Notes
1980 The Alleged Report Additional Material by syndicated comedy series
The Continuing Adventures Of... Adventureman! Created and Written by CBC Radio comedy series
Countless Travels of Matthew Matics Created and Written by CBC Radio comedy series
1981 Great Canadian Characters Created and Written by CBC Radio series
1983 This Day in History Material by CBC Radio series

Comic Strip

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Year Title Credits Publisher Notes
1979–2006 Frank & Ernest Written by United Media syndicated comic strip

Band

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Year Name Credits Songs Notes
1979–1982 Nobby Clegg and the Civilians Co-founders, Music and Lyrics by
  • Essay: Me Dad aka My Old Man
  • I Wanna Be In Commercials
 punk-folk songs (Apple Music, Amazon Music), video for "Essay, Me Dad" on YouTube

Website

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Year Name Credits Notes
2004–2005 Fezgod.com Created and Developed by — Design, Graphics, and Art by Bob Staake (his official site) online humour site

Musical

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Year Title Credits Venue Notes
2016 MOJAVE! The Musical Music, Lyrics, and Book by UC Davis – Della Davidson Studio world premiere May 25, 2016[9]

Solo Projects (Nicholls)

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Year Title Medium Notes
2010 Valuable Lessons (updated Kindle Edition) ebook How I Made (And Lost) Seven Million Dollars Writing For Over A Hundred Shows You Never Heard Of[2]
2012 (published in various journals)[3][4][5][6][7][8] short fiction see main article for journal titles
2019 {LOVE/Logic} stage play world premiere May 16, 2019[10]
2020 Comedy Writer book Craft advice from a veteran of sitcoms, sketch, animation, late night, print and stage comedy[11]
2020– (published in Light)[12][13] poetry "America's oldest and best-known journal of light verse"
2021 A Bee in a Jar stage play virtual world premiere February 19, 2021[14]
2024 As Man Is To God book As Man Is To God a poem on the making of Herzog's Fitzcarraldo

Solo Projects (Vickers)

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Year Title Medium Network/Studio Notes
2008–2013 Death of the Author Brigade music Cofounder (internet band where none of the musicians have met in person)
2015–2016 Hitting The Breaks television Pureflix Entertainment Executive Producer (two episodes)
2016 Chasing Tail television (sitcom) Chockstone Pictures Wrote pilot, Writer
2017 Feast of a Lifetime television (reality cooking show) Bell Media, Team Thicke Created by, Wrote pilot, starring Lynn Crawford
You're the Boss television (reality show) Wilshire Productions, Team Thicke Created by
Marley Roberts television (comedy-drama) Chockstone Pictures Writer
Bu House television Chockstone Pictures Created by, Wrote pilot
2022 Mama Zen television Pink Light Productions Wrote pilot
Snow Dogs! television Steve Gerbson Productions Developed pilot
2022–2023 Sisterhood of Surreypur television Baweja Productions Cowrote pilot and bible

References

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  1. ^ Gorey, Edward. "Interview: Edward Gorey (Newsday)". Emdashes, Modern Times Between the Lines.
  2. ^ a b Nicholls, Andrew (24 June 2010). Valuable Lessons: How I Made (And Lost) Seven Million Dollars Writing For Over A Hundred Shows You Never Heard Of. 1st edition.
  3. ^ a b Nicholls, Andrew. "Hurting Myself". cosmonautsavenue.com. Cosmonauts Avenue. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016.
  4. ^ a b Nicholls, Andrew (19 December 2014). "Slow Time". theboilerjournal.com. The Boiler.
  5. ^ a b Nicholls, Andrew (28 July 2018). "Our Committee". newworldwriting.net. New World Writing.
  6. ^ a b Nicholls, Andrew (28 July 2018). "They Were The New Cats". ewworldwriting.net. New World Writing.
  7. ^ a b Nicholls, Andrew. "The Thing On Treufel's Arm". litforlife.wpengine.com. Literature for Life.
  8. ^ a b Nicholls, Andrew. "Effort". sharkreef.org. Shark Reef.
  9. ^ a b UC Davis Press Release (28 June 2013). "Free Workshop of MOJAVE! The Musical". arts.ucdavis.edu. UC Davis.
  10. ^ a b UC Davis Press Release (28 June 2013). ""{LOVE/Logic}" Spring Quarter Production – Wyatt Pavillion Theatre". arts.ucdavis.edu. UC Davis.
  11. ^ a b Nicholls, Andrew (3 December 2020). Comedy Writer: Craft advice from a veteran of sitcoms, sketch, animation, late night, print and stage comedy. Andrew Nicholls. ISBN 979-8-6953-6680-8.
  12. ^ a b Nicholls, Andrew. "Follow the Bouncing Molecule". lightpoetrymagazine.com. Light.
  13. ^ a b Nicholls, Andrew. "Your Future". lightpoetrymagazine.com. Light.
  14. ^ a b UC Davis Press Release (28 June 2013). "A Bee in a Jar – Catalyst: A Theatre Think Tank". arts.ucdavis.edu. UC Davis.
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Interviews

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