Thomas W. Lynch (born February 25, 1956) is an American television producer. He is the founder of the Tom Lynch Company (previously Lynch Entertainment; owned by Lynch Pictures, as well as Lynch/Biller Productions with Gary Biller), based in Los Angeles and founded in 1983. He has co-created several children's television programs, including Kids Incorporated and The Jersey for the Disney Channel, Class of 3000 for Cartoon Network, and five shows for Nickelodeon: The Secret World of Alex Mack, Caitlin's Way, Romeo!, Make It Pop, and The Other Kingdom.
Career
The New York Times referred to him as "the David E. Kelley of Tween TV", a reference to his prolific array of successful television shows aimed at the 8- to 14-year-old age group. He has created several hit teenage/children's programs such as The Secret World of Alex Mack, The Journey of Allen Strange, and the drama series Caitlin's Way for Nickelodeon and the drama series Scout's Safari for Discovery Kids (which also aired on NBC during its original run on Discovery Kids).
Lynch also created the TBS music video series Night Tracks and the popular long-running syndicated/Disney Channel musical-variety series Kids Incorporated, which spawned the careers of several future stars such as Jennifer Love Hewitt and Stacy Ferguson (known as Fergie of the popular R&B group The Black Eyed Peas). Kids Incorporated was Lynch's first hit series. By the 1980s, Gary Biller was Lynch's partner, thus identifying it as Lynch/Biller Productions.
By the 2000s, he also executive produced the dramedy Sk8 and the ground-breaking teen drama Just Deal for NBC's TNBC Saturday morning lineup, the sitcoms 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd and Romeo! for Nickelodeon, the drama South of Nowhere for Noggin's nighttime block "The N," the sci-fi series Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension for YTV, and the animated musical series Class of 3000 for Cartoon Network. In 2009, Lynch executive produced two new series: the comedy series The Assistants for The N, and the sci-fi comedy The Troop for Nickelodeon. The Troop filmed its second season and aired late 2010/early 2011.
In addition to his Emmy nomination for Outstanding Children's Series for Scout's Safari, Lynch's shows have been nominated for GLAAD Awards, Humanitas Prize, Kids Choice Awards, Teen Choice Awards, WGA Awards, DGA Awards, Image Awards, Gemini Awards, Leo Awards and Young Artists Awards.
Lynch has written pilots for a number of networks such as NBC, FX and CBS. He currently is in development on several projects for Nickelodeon, The N, MTV, Spike and Cartoon Network.
In 2011, Lynch executive-produced Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures for Nickelodeon.
In 2015, Lynch created Make It Pop starring Megan Lee, Louriza Tronco, Erika Tham, and Dale Whibley. It premiered on Nickelodeon on March 26. Make It Pop is renewed for a second Season and it premiered on January 4, 2016, with a Christmas special aired December 5, 2015.
In 2016, The Other Kingdom officially premiered April 10, 2016, on Nickelodeon and Lynch served as creator and executive producer of the show.
In 2023, Lynch was the executive producer and showrunner of the TV series I Woke Up a Vampire, premiering on May 5, 2023, and currently streaming on Netflix. The show starred Kaileen Angelic Chang, who was a nominee for the Canadian Screen Award's 2024 Best Lead Performer, Children's or Youth .
Personal life Lynch was born and raised in Los Angeles, where his father was a nuclear physicist and his mother a bookkeeper for large law firms. His siblings are sisters Mary Josephine (Joey) and Raphael and brothers Anthony, Colum, Desmond and Niall. His parents divorced when he was eight.
Lynch and his wife Christine have four children.
Filmography
Television Year TV Series Credit Notes 1976The JacksonsProduction Assistant 1983–1991Kids IncorporatedCo-Creator, Producer, Executive Producer 1983–1992Night TracksCo-Creator, Producer, Executive Producer 1984Linda Ronstadt in Concert: What’s NewCo-Executive Producer 1986Combat HighExecutive ProducerTelevision film 1989The Diceman ComethProducer 1991Riders in the SkyExecutive Producer1 Episode 1993XuxaDirector, executive producer 1994–1998The Secret World of Alex MackWriter, director, executive producer, Co-Creator 1995Breakthroughs: Amazing Things To ComeExecutive ProducerTelevision film1996Shadow Zone: The Undead ExpressExecutive ProducerTelevision filmThe PathfinderScreenplay By, Executive ProducerTelevision film1997Sea World and Busch Gardens Adventures: Alien Vacation!Executive ProducerShadow Zone: My Teacher Ate My HomeworkExecutive ProducerSong of HiawathaExecutive Producer 1997–2000The Journey of Allen StrangeWriter, executive producer, Creator 1998Magic JerseyProducerTV Pilot To "The Jersey"1999Smiling Fish and Goat on FireExecutive ProducerStray DogWritten ByTelevision film, A prequel to "Caitlin's Way". 1999–2002100 Deeds for Eddie McDowdWriter, executive producer 1999–2004The JerseyCo-Creator, Writer, Executive Producer2000-2002Caitlin's WayCo-Creator, Executive ProducerJust DealCo-Creator, Writer, Executive Producer 2001–2002SkateCo-Creator, Writer, Executive Producer2002GalidorCreator, Writer, Executive ProducerThe Red SneakersExecutive ProducerTelevision filmFavor & FamilyExecutive ProducerPrepExecutive ProducerTelevision film 2002–2004Scout's SafariCreator, Writer, Executive Producer 2003–2006Romeo!Co-Creator, Writer, Executive Producer 2004Have You Heard? Secret CentralExecutive ProducerDirect to Video 2005–2008South of NowhereCreator, Writer, Executive Producer 2006–2008Class of 3000Co-Creator, Writer, Executive Producer 2009The AssistantsExecutive Producer1 Episode 2009–2013The TroopWriter, executive producer2010AmiraKey GripDirect To VideoMadso's WarExecutive ProducerTelevision film 2011–2013Bucket & Skinner's Epic AdventuresWriter, executive producer2014S.H.R.I.E.K.Executive Producer5 episodesSmart AlecExecutive ProducerTelevision film 2015Vacation ChasersExecutive Producer 2015–2016Make It PopCo-Creator, Writer, Executive Producer 2016The Other KingdomCreator, Writer, Director, Executive Producer 2023I Woke Up a Vampire Creator, Writer, Executive Producer2024En PointeExecutive Producer15-minute short
References
External links Tom Lynch Company website