Next Gen 2010: Hollywood's Young Guns

With a lifelong knack for numbers, Richley seemed destined for a career in the business and finance world -- until an old college friend of his dad's offered some advice. "[NBC's] Rick Ludwin told me: 'Have some fun. Look into the page program at NBC,' " says Richley, a Chicago native who joined the page ranks less than two weeks later and found himself scouring scripts in search of the next Friends. "I immediately felt, this is what I have to do." His instincts for good material have been well utilized at Lionsgate Television, where in the past six years he has helped develop Showtime's Weeds and Nurse Jackie and AMC's Emmy juggernaut Mad Men, as well as countless reality and documentary projects. For Richley, the father of a 2-year-old, and a baby on the way, the best part of his job is still those early moments of inspiration. "When the writers talk for hours about this world and their characters ... that kind of passion and knowledge -- you can't beat it," he says.