From Mindy Kaling to "Vegas" executive producer Greg Walker — these are the minds behind the year's buzziest shows.

This story first appeared in the Oct. 12 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.

MATTHEW CARNAHAN

House of Lies SHOWTIME

His acid-tinged take on consultant work (now filming its second season) earned star Don Cheadle an Emmy nomination.

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ROB DOHERTY

Elementary CBS

Early ratings showed his modern twist on Sherlock Homes had beaten CBS' The Mentalist in its old 10 p.m. Thursday slot.

DANA FOX, NEIL GOLDMAN AND GARRETT DONOVAN

Ben and Kate FOX

Fox's brother-sister comedy had a modest debut but was that rare new (network!) comedy to earn nearly all positive reviews.

DAVID GUARASCIO AND MOSES PORT

Community NBC

Being asked to take over for ousted showrunner Dan Harmon warrants watching. And the series scored its first-ever Emmy nomination last season for comedy series writing.

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DEE JOHNSON

Nashville ABC

The soap (penned by Callie Khouri) is set to bow Oct. 10 amid positive buzz for its mingling of stars (Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere) and country-style behind-the-music drama.

MINDY KALING AND MATT WARBURTON

The Mindy Project FOX

Its New Girl lead-in allowed the single-gal comedy to perform better than the network's previous inhabitant at 9:30 Tuesday, Raising Hope.

ANDREW KREISBERG

Arrow The CW

With built-in comic-book cred and a star-on-the-rise in lead Stephen Amell, his superhero saga could emerge as the network's much-needed new hit.

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ERIC KRIPKE

Revolution NBC

His drama is the latest brain-bending J.J. Abrams creation whose debut crushed its Monday-night competition (ABC's Castle, CBS' Hawaii Five-0).

SHAWN RYAN AND KARL GAJDUSEK

Last Resort ABC

Andre Braugher and Scott Speedman top Ryan's modest-performing but well-received new military drama.

GREG WALKER

Vegas CBS

Total viewers exceeded 14 million for his new 1960s-set Sin City backstory featuring Dennis Quaid and Emmy winner Michael Chiklis.

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LIZZY WEISS

Switched at Birth ABC FAMILY

Her teen drama is now the No. 1 scripted cable series on Monday nights for women ages 18-to-49.