TV's Top 50 Showrunners 2010
Gilligan spent his summer hashing out stories for Season 4 of the acclaimed drama -- which doesn't start shooting until January. "My writers and I have this wonderful lead time," says the Virginia native and "X-Files" veteran. "We're hoping to break 10 out the 13 episodes before we even start shooting."
Favorite TV Moment: The series finale of "M*A*S*H" in 1983 or Neil Armstrong taking the first steps on the moon in July 1969. "I was probably propped in front of the TV but I have no memory of it whatsoever."
Big Break: Winning a screenwriting award in 1989 for "Home Fries," which was made with Drew Barrymore in 1998. And getting hired for Season 3 of "The X-Files." "I realized my career writing movies was kind of getting cold. I figured, 'Why not work on a really great show and have the stuff I write actually get produced?' "
