Gordon Smith (screenwriter)

Gordon Smith is an American television screenwriter, best known for his work on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Smith has been nominated for three individual Primetime Emmys, and won the Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Episodic Drama in 2018 for the episode "Chicanery", and has received several other nominations.

Career

Smith started as an office production assistant for season 3 of Breaking Bad, then became Vince Gilligan's assistant in season 4, and the writers assistant in season 5.[1][2] Smith co-wrote the Breaking Bad mini-featurette titled Chicks 'N' Guns which was released on the fifth season Blu-ray.[3]

Smith was then hired as a staff writer for the Breaking Bad spinoff Better Call Saul.[4] His first television script, for the episode "Five-O" (from season 1) earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series.[2][5] He also wrote episode 8 from the first season, titled "RICO". For the second season of Better Call Saul, Smith was promoted to story editor and wrote two episodes, "Gloves Off" and "Inflatable". In the third season, he was promoted to a producer, and wrote another two episodes, "Chicanery" and "Fall". The episode "Chicanery" earned Smith his second Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series.[1]

In April 2017, Smith signed with Sony Pictures Television, where he served as a consulting producer for the WGN America television series Outsiders and was confirmed to return to Better Call Saul for its fourth season.[4] For season 4, Smith was promoted to supervising producer and wrote two episodes, "Something Beautiful" and "Coushatta". For the fifth season, Smith was promoted co-executive producer and wrote two episodes, "Namaste" and "Bagman".[6] Smith also made his directorial debut with the episode "Namaste".[7]

Accolades
Year Ceremony Category Episode / Work Result Ref.
2015 67th Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series "Five-O" Nominated [8]
2015 Gold Derby Awards Best Drama Episode "Five-O"; shared with director Adam Bernstein Nominated [9]
2016 68th Writers Guild of America Awards Drama Series Better Call Saul; shared with writing staff Nominated [10]
New Series Better Call Saul; shared with writing staff Nominated
2017 69th Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series "Chicanery" Nominated [8]
Outstanding Drama Series Better Call Saul; shared with production staff Nominated
69th Writers Guild of America Awards Drama Series Better Call Saul; shared with writing staff Nominated [11]
Episodic Drama "Gloves Off" Nominated
2017 Gold Derby Awards Best Drama Episode "Chicanery"; shared with director Daniel Sackheim Nominated [12]
2018 70th Writers Guild of America Awards Drama Series Better Call Saul; shared with writing staff Nominated [13]
Episodic Drama "Chicanery" Won
2019 71st Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Drama Series Better Call Saul; shared with production staff Nominated [8]
2020 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series "Bagman" Nominated
Outstanding Drama Series Better Call Saul; shared with production staff Nominated

References
  1. Herman, Alison (September 13, 2017). "Gordon Smith Breaks Down His Emmy-Nominated Episode of 'Better Call Saul'". The Ringer. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  2. Sepinwall, Alan (July 16, 2015). "'I BROKE MY BOY!': 'Better Call Saul' writer on his Emmy-nominated script". Uproxx. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  3. Gallagher, Brian (June 3, 2013). "Breaking Bad: The Fifth Season 'Chicks 'N' Guns' Blu-ray Featurette". MovieWeb. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  4. Andreeva, Nellie (April 7, 2017). "'Better Call Saul' Writer Gordon Smith Inks Overall Deal With Sony TV". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  5. Friedman, Megan (March 11, 2015). "Behind Mike's Gut-Wrenching Backstory on Better Call Saul". Esquire. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  6. "Better Call Saul". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  7. Fienberg, Daniel (March 9, 2020). "'Better Call Saul' Veteran on His Journey From 'Breaking Bad' PA to 'Namaste' Director". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  8. "Gordon Smith". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  9. Montgomery, Daniel (September 17, 2015). "Gold Derby TV Awards: 'Game of Thrones' sweeps, big wins for Amy Schumer, 'Parks and Rec'". Gold Derby. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  10. McNary, Dave (February 13, 2016). "WGA Honors 'Big Short,' 'Spotlight,' 'Mad Men' at 68th Awards". Variety. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  11. Schwindt, Oriana (December 5, 2016). "Writers Guild TV Nominations: 'Stranger Things,' 'Westworld,' 'This Is Us,' 'Atlanta' Break Through". Variety. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  12. Montgomery, Daniel (July 26, 2017). "2017 Gold Derby TV Awards nominations: 'This is Us,' 'Veep,' 'The Leftovers,' 'Stranger Things' among top contenders". Gold Derby. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  13. "WGA Awards: The Complete Winners List". Variety. February 11, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
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