Wendy Mericle is an Americantelevision writer andproducer. She is known for her work on theABCdramedyDesperate Housewives andThe CW'ssuperhero seriesArrow.
Wendy Mericle | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Writer, producer |
| Years active | 2001 - present |
Life and career
editFrom the age of seven on, Mericle grew up without a television, despite going on to become a television writer, executive producer and showrunner. She stated, "It is a very strange thing to be able to say to people I've never seen an entire episode ofThe Cosby Show, or that I have no idea [what they mean] when they make jokes aboutFamily Ties. There's no baseline for me. But I do have a strong background in literature, in film, and that has served me well."[1]
Her career began onThe WB'sGrosse Pointe, as assistant to executive producerRobin Schiff. She then went on to write for thedrama seriesEverwood, where she first worked with creatorGreg Berlanti. She would go on to work on the seriesJack & Bobby andEli Stone, where she served as writer and story editor on the latter. She held positions on The WB/The CW'sSmallville,CBS'Ghost Whisperer, and theABCparanormal/dramedyEastwick.[2]
In December 2014, Mericle sold her first project toFOX. The series would revolve around advanced female U.S. soldiers competing for a placement in the male-dominatedNavy SEALs. The project was executive produced byBasil Iwanyk, for his studioThunder Road, andWarner Bros.[3] Ultimately it was not ordered to pilot.
In 2011, Mericle joined theABC[broken anchor] comedy seriesDesperate Housewives'eighth and final season, as an executive story editor. She later became a co-producer and writer of two episodes ("What's to Discuss, Old Friend" and "Lost My Power").
The stories that I like to break are the ones that have very strong emotional underpinnings. One of the things that I wanted to do when I came on the show in an Executive Producer capacity was to make sure that the emotional storylines were really there, and I wanted to bring them to the fore and to explore the relationships in equal parts to the action.
Mericle boarded theDC Comics producedCW seriesArrow, as writer and producer. Marking her fourth collaboration with co-creatorGreg Berlanti. She was promoted to co-executive producer with the start of the third season. In April 2015, it was announced Mericle would be promoted to co-showrunner for the series' fourth season, alongsideMarc Guggenheim,[4] a role Mericle stepped down from at the end of season six.[5]
She has stated that her favorite character to write for isJohn Diggle, saying, "I like that he's a strong voice with a strong point of view, and one that I think I agree with in a lot of ways. He also served in the military and has a very interesting world view I find intriguing. I like writing to that."[1]
In April 2018 it was announced that Mericle had signed a development deal withABC Studios where she will develop new projects and work with the studio's Head of Drama Development, Nne Ebong.[6]
References
edit- ^abcGutiérrez, David (November 6, 2015)."On Target: Wendy Mericle talks Arrow Season Four".Emmys.com. RetrievedNovember 8, 2015.
- ^"Wendy Mericle".TV.com. RetrievedAugust 26, 2014.
- ^"Female Navy SEALs Drama Set At Fox With Basil Iwanyk Producing".Deadline Hollywood. December 22, 2014. RetrievedDecember 23, 2014.
- ^Guggenheim, Marc (April 23, 2015)."Please welcome current Arrow Co-EP and future Arrow Co-Showrunner @MericlesHappen to Twitter!!! #theregoestheneighborhood".Twitter. RetrievedApril 24, 2015.
- ^Andreeva, Nellie (April 17, 2018)."'Arrow': Beth Schwartz Named New Showrunner, Wendy Mericle Exits, Marc Guggenheim To Be Consultant On 2 Shows".Deadline Hollywood. RetrievedApril 17, 2018.
- ^Andreeva, Nellie (April 20, 2018)."Outgoing 'Arrow' Co-Showrunner Wendy Mericle Inks ABC Studios Overall Deal".Deadline Hollywood. RetrievedApril 24, 2018.