THROUGH HIS LOOKING GLASS: GET LOST WITH J.J. ABRAMS
When I see the name J.J. Abrams attached to any television or film project, I am on board immediately. Very few creative minds in the industry inspire such blind faith, but to me, his track record speaks volumes.
Although Abrams only entered my personal entertainment radar with Felicity, his career really took off in the early 90’s. Though many know him as the mastermind behind Lost, he has had an interesting and impressive ride to the top. Let’s take a look…
1990: Co-wrote the film Taking Care of Business, a Jim Belushi/Charles Grodin comedy
1991: Wrote & co-produced the film Regarding Henry, the Harrison Ford/Annette Bening drama (Abrams appeared in the movie as a delivery boy)
1992: Wrote & produced the film Forever Young, the Mel Gibson drama
1993: Had a small role in the film Six Degrees of Separation, the Will Smith drama
1996: Had a small role in the film Diabolique, the Sharon Stone thriller
1996: Produced the film The Pallbearer, the David Schwimmer/Gwyneth Paltrow comedy written by Felicity writer Matt Reeves and Bionic Woman/Friday Night Lights writer Jason Katims
1997: Co-wrote the film Gone Fishin’, the Danny Glover/Joe Pesci comedy
1998: Co-wrote the film Armageddon, the Bruce Willis/Ben Affleck drama
1998 - 2002: Created & wrote the television series Felicity (Abrams also composed the main theme song)
1999: Produced the film The Suburbans, a little-seen Jennifer Love Hewitt comedy co-starring Will Ferrell
2001 - 2006: Created, wrote & produced the television series Alias (Abrams also composed the main theme song)
2001: Received an Emmy nomination for writing the pilot episode of Alias
2001: Formed the production company Bad Robot
2001: Wrote & produced the film Joy Ride, the Paul Walker thriller
2001- 2004: Wrote screenplay for revamped Superman, was in contention to direct; Superman Returns debuted in 2006 with Bryan Singer at the helm and a script by Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris
2004: Developed sitcom with ex-SNL star Cheri Oteri; not sure what ever happened to this
2004 - Present: Co-creator, executive producer & writer on the television series Lost
2005: Created, wrote & produced the television series The Catch, a pilot that was not picked up starring Abrams’ go-to guy (Felicity, Alias, Lost) Greg Grunberg from Heroes
2005: Won two Emmys, one for Outstanding Drama Series and one for directing the pilot episode (Lost)
2005 & 2006: Won ASCAP Film and Television Awards (for Lost, along with composer Michael Giacchino)
2006: Won Television Producer of the Year at the Producers Guild Awards (Lost)
2006: Won a Writers Guild of America award for Dramatic Series (Lost)
2006: Directed an episode of the talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live
2006: Directed & wrote the film Mission: Impossible III, the third installment of the Tom Cruise franchise (Abrams also composed 2 songs for the soundtrack)
2006: Inked 6-year deal between Bad Robot and Warner Bros. TV
2006: Inked 5-year deal with Paramount Pictures
2006: Produced the television series What About Brian, the Barry Watson drama
2006: Produced the television series Six Degrees, the Campbell Scott/Hope Davis drama
2006: Co-wrote an episode of the animated television show Avatar: The Last Airbender
2007: Directed an episode of the television show The Office
2007: Currently directing & producing an untitled new series for HBO about the lives of cancer patients
2008: Producing the film Cloverfield (a.k.a. 1-18-08 or the Untitled J.J. Abrams Project), the sci-fi thriller with a
2008: Directing & producing the new Star Trek film, with a screenplay by Felicity vets Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci (who are apparently slated to write the sequel to Transformers)
2008: Will produce & write Fringe, a new sci-fi television series for FOX that sounds like a cross between Alias & The X-Files
2008: Will produce Boundaries, a new television comedy series for ABC written by Six Feet Under alum Jill Soloway
2009: Will direct & produce the film currently labeled the Untitled Hunter Scott Project, with a script by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Robert Nelson Jacobs (Chocolat)
Future projects/dates unknown:
- Will be producing
the film Morning Glory, directed by
Roger Michell (Notting Hill) and written
by The Devil Wears Prada scribe Aline
Brosh McKenna
- Will be producing
the film Voices, directed by Joy Ride writer Clay Tarver
- Will be producing
an untitled film by writer/director Josh Marston (Maria Full of Grace)
Hey fan boys and girls, am I missing anything? I did my homework but let me know if any of the above dates or facts are incorrect.
So, what is your favorite Abrams production?
I knew that the guy was busy but, wow, that is a pretty wild list of accomplishments. I am surprised by how many shows he produced that were either canceled or not picked up.
I am sickened to read that he wrote "Gone Fishin." At least he has recovered nicely from that disaster!
Reply to this