David E. Kelley has been responsible for more TV shows than just about other single writer-producer.

From LA Law (created by Steven Bochco) to The Practice to Ally McBeal to Boston Legal to Chicago Hope to Harry’s Law to Love and Death to The Lincoln Lawyer to Big Little Lies to— 

The list goes on.

And now John and Craig have snagged him for the latest Scirptnotes podcast:

John and Craig welcome writer and showrunner David E. Kelley (Big Little Lies, Ally McBeal) to look at his process for adapting books to TV, particularly with his latest series Margo’s Got Money Troubles. They explore where to find your act breaks, crafting complicated tones, and when to trust the writer of the book.

We also look at how TV has changed over David’s storied career, how he runs a writers room, creating story engines, the difference between writing for broadcast TV and streaming, and the one thing a TV show should never be.

Among other things Kelley reveals that HBO nearly pulled the plug on Big Little Lies on the eve of the first episode’s filming.

Episode – 739 – The One with David E. Kelley