Writer Frank Gillman was born in Washington, D.C. in 1962 and came to Los Angeles after graduating from Boston University in 1985 to pursue his dreams of a career in the entertainment industry.
Had his father been in the field of entertainment rather than real estate law, that journey would have been a heck of a lot quicker. Instead, a feat of genetic engineering long ago established a biological and comedic link with third-cousin-by-marriage on his father's side, Mel Powell, with whom Gillman co-created "Get Sirius" at the Souplantation in Brentwood in a galaxy far, far, away.
He has written numerous scripts, short stories and magazine articles for various publications and is a pioneer in the field of phonemail comedy. He is also working on a novel entitled "Solomon's Child."
In addition to writing, Gillman was the lead singer and songwriter for the popular Los Angeles based bands Postage Due and The Finding during the late1980's and early 1990's. Embarking on a solo career in 1994 he released his debut album, "The Watcher" on Ultimate of Cool Records in October of 1996.
Gillman's rather obscure collection of memorabilia never featured on the classic ABC series Barney Miller was part of the inspiration for Hal Linden's character name in the pilot episode of "Get Sirius."
Gillman is a fanatical fan of the Washington
Redskin football dynasty and predicts Super Bowl dominance
this coming season for his beloved burgundy and gold. He lives
in La Canada with his sexy red-headed wife Joy, cute daughter
Caitlin, fuzzy dog Little Guy, and less-fuzzy dog Max, who are truly the lights of his
life.
| Mel Powell | Don Tsuchiyama |
Writer Mel Powell was born in New York City in 1964, relocating to Los Angeles in 1969. Although he continues to insist that it was his idea, it was most likely the great job offer his father got.
A graduate of Brentwood School in 1981, Yale College in 1985, and the U.C.L.A. School of Law in 1988, Powell (to the chagrin of the aforementioned parents) threw away all of that expensive education to pursue a career in the entertainment business. However, to placate them somewhat, he has remained heavily involved in Shofar Synagogue, where he serves as the figurehead guy who makes the official announcements at the end of the services so the Rabbi doesn't have to.
He has written numerous spec scripts for feature films, including "Second Wind," the adaptation of a novel by Dr. Neil Shulman, author of the novel that became the successful motion picture "Doc Hollywood" starring Michael J. Fox.
He has also written freelance radio comedy, from commercials to skits to songs, for the Cutler Comedy division of Premiere Radio Networks.
But his primary focus and love is television comedy. He has written spec scripts, developed several original sitcoms which are waiting to commence long and popular runs.
Powell, son of the late Charles M. Powell, long-time officer and governor of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, is not the brilliant jazz pianist of the same name, although he does wish he had listened to his mother and taken his childhood piano studies more seriously. However, he freely admits that he continues to this day not to listen to her just the same.
Powell is a rabid hockey fan of the Los Angeles Kings, a phenomenal brainstormer, and an editor extraordinaire and punch-up artist of everyone's work but his own. He lives in Brentwood, not far from the infamous scene of a famous double murder, but more importantly within two blocks of a Mrs. Fields and a Ben & Jerry's. Somehow, all is right with the world. In fact, a close friend of Powell's could offer only one suggestion to improve on this biography. "Lead a more interesting life." Powell promises to work on it.
| Frank Gillman | Don Tsuchiyama |
DON TSUCHIYAMA is a self-proclaimed industry hyphenate, a "writer - computer geek - housewife." In addition to the pilot for "Get Sirius," he has written four unproduced screenplays, two sitcom specs, two spec scripts for "Star Trek: Voyager," and a terrific recipe for cheese au gratin. Don has worked as a writing intern at "Star Trek: Voyager" and as the house manager for ComedySportz, a Los Angeles improv group, for the past five years. Don is also a member of the Board of Directors for StoryBoard, a script evaluation/development group. He is a second-generation, native-born, Southern Californian and lives in Los Angeles with his wife, son, two dogs and one very annoying cat. In his spare time he enjoys movies, ice hockey, and anything with chocolate on it.
| Frank Gillman | Mel Powell |