9. Dana Walden

When Joss Whedon's "Firefly" series went down in flames in 2002, the quirky writer swore he'd never work with Fox again. Fast-forward six years, and he's come back to the net with "Dollhouse." Credit Walden, known for fostering talent-friendly work environments and business models. This year she solidified that reputation by renewing Fox's deal with "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane, forming an animation department and syndicating CBS' "How I Met Your Mother" (despite it not having reached the traditional 100-episode milestone). She's currently prepping for "Glee," the next offering from "Nip/Tuck" creator Ryan Murphy, and the comedy "Boldly Going Nowhere." But the 17-year studio vet, who catches up on the competition by watching TV while running on the treadmill every morning, remains cautious about any future decisions: "We're careful about choosing whom to go into business with," she says. "We're in it for the long haul."