Tim Minear

Tim Minear has inked a new two-year overall deal with 20th Century Fox TV, solidifying his position as one of the top writer-producers at the studio where he has been based for more than 12 years.

Under the seven-figure pact, which kicks in after the end of Minear’s current deal in June, he will join "Terriers," Fox 21’s new comedic drama series for FX from creator/executive producer Ted Griffin and executive producer Shawn Ryan. Minear will serve as an executive producer and No. 2 to Ryan in running the buddy PI show.

Additionally, he will develop new projects.

"Tim has been such a great partner to the studio," 20th TV chairman Gary Newman said. "He is as versatile as any writer we’ve ever been in business with — he can do genre, action, relationship, drama — and he has worked on an incredible number of series for us."

By bringing him onboard "Terriers," "our goal was to put someone on there who will take on the day-to-day showrunner responsibilities to enable Shawn to continue to pay attention to ’Lie to Me’ and development," Newman said.

In addition to his duties on "Terriers," Ryan is showrunner on Fox/20th’s sophomore drama "Lie to Me" and is writing a cop-drama pilot for Fox.

Ryan’s and Minear’s paths first crossed indirectly about 15 years ago; the two had (and still have) the same agent and manager. Frustrated that his specs weren’t landing him work, Ryan asked his manager Larry Shuman to show him a script by another client who had been getting gigs.

He received a copy of an "The X-Files" spec by Minear.

"I was very impressed and realized that his was better than the ones I’d written," Ryan said. The next two specs he penned got him staff jobs and started his ascension to the top TV-writing ranks.

Minear was unaware of his influence on Ryan’s career until a couple of years later when, during a Television Critics Assn. press tour, he was approached by Ryan, who introduced himself and told Minear how his spec changed the way he writes.

Minear’s "X-Files" spec also found its way to series creator Chris Carter, who hired Minear for the sci-fi’s drama’s fifth season in 1997, marking Minear’s arrival at 20th TV.

Ryan worked under Minear on Joss Whedon’s "Angel" before the two parted ways. Minear did stints on Whedon’s "Firefly" and "Dollhouse" as well as on "Wonderfalls" and two shows he created, "The Inside" and "Drive." He also consulted on several 20th shows.

When "Dollhouse" was canceled recently, Ryan and 20th TV brass approached Minear to join "Terriers."

"The tone of ’Terriers’ is very challenging as it mixes drama, comedy and crime, which plays into Tim’s talents," Newman said.

Added Ryan, "Tim is somebody who has a strong point of view, and FX is a point-of-view network thriving from having strong characters with a strong point of view."

For Minear, who has only worked in broadcast, there was an extra draw to joining the show.

"I wanted to dip a toe into cable, so it’s clearly a win-win-win," he said.

In addition to working on "Terriers," Minear is developing a take on "Alien Nation" for Syfy, also from Fox 21.

He is repped by WME and the Shuman Co. Tim Minear extends 20th TV stay Will serve as the day-to-day showrunner on Fox’s ’Terriers’

By Nellie Andreeva

Dec 7, 2009, 11:00 PM ET Tim Minear has inked a new two-year overall deal with 20th Century Fox TV, solidifying his position as one of the top writer-producers at the studio where he has been based for more than 12 years.

Under the seven-figure pact, which kicks in after the end of Minear’s current deal in June, he will join "Terriers," Fox 21’s new comedic drama series for FX from creator/executive producer Ted Griffin and executive producer Shawn Ryan. Minear will serve as an executive producer and No. 2 to Ryan in running the buddy PI show.

Additionally, he will develop new projects.

"Tim has been such a great partner to the studio," 20th TV chairman Gary Newman said. "He is as versatile as any writer we’ve ever been in business with — he can do genre, action, relationship, drama — and he has worked on an incredible number of series for us."

By bringing him onboard "Terriers," "our goal was to put someone on there who will take on the day-to-day showrunner responsibilities to enable Shawn to continue to pay attention to ’Lie to Me’ and development," Newman said.

In addition to his duties on "Terriers," Ryan is showrunner on Fox/20th’s sophomore drama "Lie to Me" and is writing a cop-drama pilot for Fox.

Ryan’s and Minear’s paths first crossed indirectly about 15 years ago; the two had (and still have) the same agent and manager. Frustrated that his specs weren’t landing him work, Ryan asked his manager Larry Shuman to show him a script by another client who had been getting gigs.

He received a copy of an "The X-Files" spec by Minear.

"I was very impressed and realized that his was better than the ones I’d written," Ryan said. The next two specs he penned got him staff jobs and started his ascension to the top TV-writing ranks.

Minear was unaware of his influence on Ryan’s career until a couple of years later when, during a Television Critics Assn. press tour, he was approached by Ryan, who introduced himself and told Minear how his spec changed the way he writes.

Minear’s "X-Files" spec also found its way to series creator Chris Carter, who hired Minear for the sci-fi’s drama’s fifth season in 1997, marking Minear’s arrival at 20th TV.

Ryan worked under Minear on Joss Whedon’s "Angel" before the two parted ways. Minear did stints on Whedon’s "Firefly" and "Dollhouse" as well as on "Wonderfalls" and two shows he created, "The Inside" and "Drive." He also consulted on several 20th shows.

When "Dollhouse" was canceled recently, Ryan and 20th TV brass approached Minear to join "Terriers."

"The tone of ’Terriers’ is very challenging as it mixes drama, comedy and crime, which plays into Tim’s talents," Newman said.

Added Ryan, "Tim is somebody who has a strong point of view, and FX is a point-of-view network thriving from having strong characters with a strong point of view."

For Minear, who has only worked in broadcast, there was an extra draw to joining the show.

"I wanted to dip a toe into cable, so it’s clearly a win-win-win," he said.

In addition to working on "Terriers," Minear is developing a take on "Alien Nation" for Syfy, also from Fox 21.

He is repped by WME and the Shuman Co.