Christine Zander is an American television writer and producer. She started writing for national television on NBC's Saturday Night Live (1987–1993).

Personal life Zander is the daughter of Marie Zander, who died in May 2001. She has one brother Ernie Zander."Zander." Chicago Tribune. N.p., 23 May 2001. Web. 10 Nov. 2016. She married actor and writer Mark Nutter in 1987, and together they had son Andrew Nutter. Nutter and Zander first met at the cabaret Cross-Currents in Chicago where they were both performing improvisational comedy, and Nutter also played keyboard for the Second City touring company.Williams, Albert. "Detour De France." Chicago Reader. Sun-Times Media, n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2016. The couple relocated from Chicago to New York City when Zander was offered a position at Saturday Night Live in 1986. After seven years of working for Saturday Night Live, Mark Nutter and Zander relocated with their baby to Los Angeles for Nutter to find more opportunities as a writer. They have since divorced.

Career

Saturday Night Live

Christine Zander joined midway through the 1986-87 season of Saturday Night Live along with other famous comedy writers such as Kevin Nealon and Phil Hartman (as well as Bonnie and Terry Turner, who joined a couple months later). The first sketch Zander was able to get on the air starred Bill Murray as the one night stand of cast member Jan Hooks.Bolonik, Kera. "Secrets of "Saturday Night Live's" Writers Room: "The Pressure Was Intense, but It Was Incredible"." Salon. Salon Media Group, Inc., 29 Sept. 2015. Web. 10 Nov. 2016. During her time there, she worked closely with Nora Dunn on various sketches. When Dunn left the show, she became very close with Julia Sweeney, helping her craft sketches for the famous character "Pat," an androgynous and cripplingly awkward boss.Bolonik, Kera. "Julia Sweeney's "SNL" Backstage Stories." Salon. Salon Media Group, Inc., 5 May 2015. Web. 10 Nov. 2016. Zander and Sweeney later collaborated on a fictional biography for the character, It's Pat! My Life Exposed, which was published by Hyperion in September 1992. Her favorite sketches to write on the show were "Pat", "Attitudes" starring John Malcovich, and "Their Eyes Evolved to Be on Their Breasts", which involved women who developed eyes on their breasts so as to better meet the male gaze.

When Christine Z. joined the staff of Saturday Night Live, she and Rosie Shuster were the only two females on the writing staff. In 1992 Zander told the New York Times, If you don't have a lot of women to bounce ideas off or back you up it can get a little crazy around here. None of the men are individually sexist; it's just hard for them to have faith in something from a woman's point of view.

Zander left the show in 1993, after 6½ years with the show.

3rd Rock from the Sun Zander was thrilled to join her writer friends from SNL Bonnie and Terry Turner who created the NBC sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun in 1996. The sitcom followed a group of extraterrestrials sent to Earth to investigate human society, and it starred famous actors John Lithgow and Joseph Gordon-Levitt."3rd Rock from the Sun." TV.com. CBS Interactive, Inc., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2016. The show was fairly popular; its ratings ranked 22nd in the 1995 television season and 27th in the 1996 season. Zander eventually became executive producer of the series in 1999 until the show's end in 2001.

Filmography

As writer

YearTitleNotes1987–1993Saturday Night LiveTelevision series Nominated-- Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program (1987, 1990–1991, 1993)

Won-- Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program (1989)1994NursesTelevision series Episode: "Don't Hit the Road, Jack"1994She TVTelevision series Episode: "Episode #1.2"1995Bringing Up JackTelevision series2000Shadow LifeShort film directed by Julia Sweeney1996–20013rd Rock from the SunTelevision series Also producer2002That '80s ShowTelevision series Also producer

Episode: "My Dead Friend"2003–2006Less than PerfectTelevision series Also producer2006Untitled Patricia Heaton ProjectTelevision pilot Also producer2007The Singles TableTelevision series Episode: "The Work Dinner"2007Samantha Who?Television series Also producer

Episode: "The Wedding"2009Ab FabTelevision movie Also producer2009–2010Nurse JackieTelevision series Also producer

Episodes: "Apple Bong" and "School Nurse"2011Running WildeTelevision series Also producer

Episode: "Alienated"2011Raising HopeTelevision series Also producer

Episodes: "Prodigy" and "Everybody Flirts... Sometimes"2013The Goodwin GamesTelevision series Also producer

Episode: "Happy Hour"2013MomTelevision series Also producer2014Jennifer FallsTelevision series Also producer

Episode: "School Trouble"2015Kevin from WorkTelevision series Also producer

Episodes: "Escape from Work" and "Birthday from Work"2016–2018*Loosely Exactly NicoleTelevision series Also producer2019–2021The UnicornTelevision series

Episodes: "The Unicorn and The Catfish" and "A Big Move"

As producer

YearTitleNotes1996–20013rd Rock from the SunTelevision series Executive producer 2000–2001

Nominated-- Outstanding Comedy Series (1997–1998)2001–2002Grounded for LifeTelevision series Consulting producer2002That '80s ShowTelevision series Executive producer2002–2006Less than PerfectTelevision series Co-executive producer2006Untitled Patricia Heaton Project Television movie Executive producer2007–2008Samantha Who?Television series Consulting producer2009Ab FabTelevision movie Executive producer2009–2010Nurse JackieTelevision series Co-executive producer 2009

Executive producer 2010

Nominated-- Outstanding Comedy Series (2010)2010Running WildeTelevision series Co-executive producer2011–2012Raising HopeTelevision series Co-executive producer2013The Goodwin GamesTelevision series Co-executive producer2013MomTelevision series Consulting producer2014Jennifer FallsTelevision series Consulting producer2015Kevin from WorkTelevision series Co-executive producer2016*Loosely Exactly NicoleTelevision series Executive producer

References

External links