At the 76th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, many actors, writers, directors, and creators were honored for some of the year’s most compelling pieces of television. However, Greg Berlanti, a television veteran known in recent memory for his hand in creating a handful of shows known collectively as a part of the Arrowverse, was tributed for his work on past shows that stood the test of time. The writer-producer received the coveted Governor’s Emmy Award from Dawson’s Creek star Joshua Jackson and Fellow Travelers actor Matt Bomer for his contributions to the big and small screen and his charitable work through his foundation, the Berlanti Family Foundation.
Who is Greg Berlanti?
Greg Berlanti’s career began on television when he was hired as a writer on the 90s coming-of-age romance series Dawson’s Creek,starring James Van Der Beek and Katie Holmes. While working on Dawson’s, he worked on a handful of episodes and rose through the ranks to become a producer and the series’ showrunner for two seasons. One of his major contributions was depicting the first network television kiss between two openly gay characters in the season 3 finale of the show entitled “True Love”.
Initially, the then-relatively new writer-producer threatened to leave the show when the WB network pushed back against including the term of affection. Fortunately for Greg Berlanti, this was the same year he was offered the opportunity to serve as showrunner, so as a stipulation, he implored that the kiss remain in the episode, and the network relented. Following his exit from the series in the early 2000s, Berlant made his directorial debut with The Broken Hearts Club. The romantic comedy, which starred a relatively unknown Zach Braff, was lauded at the time by critics and audiences for its realistic depiction of gay men.
Greg Berlanti would go on to create series after series, including Jack & Bobby, Brothers & Sisters, and Everwood, many of which aired on the network he was formerly employed by, the WB. As the network would rebrand itself in 2006 as the CW when CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment announced a partnership to launch a joint network, Greg Berlanti and his team weren’t too far behind. Berlanti and comic book writer Marc Guggenheim would go on to write the screenplay of 2011’s Green Lantern, starring Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively.
A New Network
The two would team up to work on a grounded, gritty depiction of Green Arrow. In March, the series Arrow debuted on the CW, starring Stephen Amell and Katie Cassidy. As the show grew in popularity with an average of 4.2 million viewers per episode due to its dynamic action, it was renewed for another season, and more heroes began to join Oliver Queen’s fray.
Barry Allen, played by Glee alum Grant Gustin, is introduced as a goofy, tardy crime-scene investigator from Central City who’s been tapped to provide insight on a metahuman-related crime scene in Starling City, Green Arrow’s hometown. When Barry returns to his city, he is inexplicably struck by lightning while in his lab, which kickstarts his speedy superpowers and his own series The Flash in 2013.
Both series, along with Melissa Benoist’s starring vehicle Supergirl, led to the culmination of the Arrowverse, in which DC superheroes and supervillains were introduced and adapted for the modern era. From Smallville’s Tom Welling and Erica Durance to Superman Returns’ Brandon Routh and the late, great Kevin Conroy, no shortage of talent appeared in the Arrowverse.
While working on the superhero side of the CW, Greg Berlanti was also able to make more staples for the CW and beyond, including the edgy Archie Comics adaptation Riverdale, Netflix’s You, Free Guy, The Flight Attendant, and many more. Unfortunately, the tales within the universe would come to an end with the series finale of The Flash, “A New World, Part Four,” on May 24, 2023.
Greg Berlanti’s Impassioned Emmys Speech
The acclaimed writer-producer took the stage at the Peacock Theater and openly embraced both Jackson and Bomer, following their moving words. As an openly gay storyteller, he began to start reminiscing about how impactful television was in his life. The news footage of homosexuals protesting for fair treatment during the AIDS outbreak in the 1980s motivated him as a closeted teenager to one day be brave and share his own stories. He shared how his late mother would be one of his biggest supporters when he decided to emulate Jim Henson and tell stories through puppeteering.
She would go out of her way to print up business cards for him and pass them around town to garner business for him at kids’ birthday parties. He then uses her as an example of allies who will help people who felt like he did as a teenager to tell their unique stories.
“Her belief travels through me and out to all the kids out there who today may feel alone or scared to tell their truth to the world. If my mom were here today, she would want you to know that you are loved and you have a story to tell, and we need those stories now more than ever,” the Fly Me to the Moon director stated.
Final Thoughts
As an instrumental part of modern television before and after the superhero craze and his work with numerous philanthropic endeavors, Berlanti is incredibly deserving of the honor. It felt incredibly inspiring and heartwarming to see him finally receive a token of appreciation from the Television Academy after decades of entertainment under his belt. He’s since been able to transition into filmmaking seamlessly, having worked as the director of smash hits Love, Simon, and Fly Me to the Moon. As an accomplished storyteller with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Greg Berlanti will surely be able to work on any projects he pleases.
For More Great Content
Are you desiring top-tier content that covers everything? From thrilling sports and intoxicating entertainment news to gaming tips and professional betting advice, Total Apex covers it all. Delve into our no-fluff articles to stay ahead of the game with the latest sports action, uncover the hottest trends in entertainment, and get the latest scoops in the gaming industry that will take your experiences to the next level.
Finally, our betting advice will give you a decisive edge over the competition and increase your odds of beating the books. Whether you’re looking to stay updated or gain a competitive edge, Total Apex is your one-stop shop for all things compelling and relevant. Don’t forget we cover Fantasy Sports, too!
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
Comments / 0