Rob Thomas (writer)

:"This article is about the writer Rob Thomas. For other people with this name see Rob Thomas (disambiguation).Infobox Writer


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name = Rob Thomas
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birthdate = Birth date and age|1965|8|15|mf=y
birthplace = Sunnyside, Washington
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nationality = United States
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website = http://www.slaverats.com/

Rob Thomas (born August 15 1965 in Sunnyside, Washington) is an author and screenwriter, best known for his book "Rats Saw God" and his television program "Veronica Mars".

Background

Before he began writing novels for young adults, Thomas taught high-school journalism at John Marshall High School in San Antonio, Texas, advised the University of Texas student magazine, and worked for Channel One News; this last experience informs his novel "Satellite Down". Rob played guitar or bass for, and was the primary lyricist for, three Austin, Texas, bands -- Public Bulletin, Hey Zeus, and Black Irish -- from the mid-'80s to the early '90s.

His first television writing credit came on a 1996 episode of "Space Ghost Coast to Coast" which appeared on Cartoon Network, after writing the script that would eventually become the 1999 film "Fortune Cookie". Based on the script he was offered a job on the writing staff of "Dawson's Creek" during the show's first season. After reading the same script Jeff Sagansky, then president of Sony Entertainment, suggested he create a romantic pilot. That show soon developed into "Cupid", a critically acclaimed dramedy series which was canceled after 14 episodes. It led to Thomas being asked to run ABC's 1999 series "Snoops", although he left due to creative differences with producer David E. Kelley before the show aired.

Thomas got his own show in 2004 — the critically successful but again low-rated "Veronica Mars", which battled ratings until it was canceled after the third season. He was also offered the showrunner position on NBC's "Friday Night Lights" in 2006, which he declined in favor of the possibility (and eventual reality) of a third season of "Veronica Mars", CBS's "Viva Laughlin" in 2007, which he also declined, and ABC's "Miss/Guided", which he accepted and joined in May 2007 before leaving in July of the same year, again due to creative differences. Since then, he has worked as a writer on ABC's short-lived primetime serial "Big Shots", co-wrote and shot the comedy pilot "Party Down" with Paul Rudd, John Enbom and Dan Etheridge, and has had three pilots ordered for the 2008-09 television season: a remake of "Cupid" for ABC, a US adaptation of New Zealand series "Outrageous Fortune" for ABC, and a modern spinoff of "Beverly Hills, 90210" for The CW. Thomas spent a week writing the "90210" script, but now CW is looking for another Head Writer to rewrite the script. Thomas is still expected to continue to serve as executive producer. [ [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3ibe47ce7261506e1842929f038de19297 The Hollywood Reporter ] ]

He has also adapted the screenplay for "Drive Me Crazy", and directed "On Air," a twenty-minute film adaptation of a story from "Doing Time".

Books

*"Green Thumb" (1999) (ISBN 0-689-82886-1 )
*"Satellite Down" (1998) (ISBN 0-689-83052-1 )
*"" (1997) (ISBN 0-689-82414-9 )
*"Slave Day" (1997) (ISBN 0-689-82193-X )
*"Rats Saw God" (1996) (ISBN 0-689-80777-5 )

Television programs

*"Outrageous Fortune (US Version)" (writer, executive producer)
*"Veronica Mars" (2004) (creator, writer, executive producer)
*"Snoops" (1999) (show runner)
*"Dawson's Creek" (1998) (writer)
*"Cupid" (1998) (executive producer, writer)
*"Space Ghost Coast to Coast" (1998) (writer)
*"90210 (TV series)" (2008) (creator, writer)

Films

*"Fortune Cookie" (1999) (writer)
*"Drive Me Crazy" (1999) (screenwriter)

Trivia

*Was coached by Celester Collier in basketball at San Marcos High School in San Marcos, Texas during his high school days. [Celester Collier]

References

External links

*
* [http://www.slaverats.com/ Slaverats.com] , Thomas' official site
* [http://www.maximumfun.org/blog/2007/07/podcast-tsoya-live-in-la-with-rob.html Extensive public radio interview ] on The Sound of Young America
* [http://www.popgurls.com/article_show.php3?id=558 PopGurls Interview: Rob Thomas]

Persondata
NAME=Thomas, Rob
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Young adult novel author, television program writer
DATE OF BIRTH=August 15, 1965
PLACE OF BIRTH=Sunnyside, Washington, United States of America
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=