10DU or Die! A Children of Tendu Road Trip Special

10DU or Die! A Children of Tendu Road Trip Special

Author: Children of Tendu March 2, 2015 Duration: 3:26:00

A mere week ago, Jose (Agent Carter, Sleepy Hollow) Molina and Javier (Lost, The Middleman) Grillo-Marxuach set off on an epic road trip to Las Vegas Nevada - their goal? To not only make it to Sin City alive, but to record a super-sized podcast answering your questions about television, the business and the cradt of writing during the drive!

Among the topics Jose and Javi cover in this rambling mutual interview?

How do writers decompress after a season of building stories... can one burn out on a show, and how do you leave gracefully... writing spec scripts for staffing versus writing pilots or plays... the concept of "eye protein"... weird things happening at a circle K... how do jose and javi critique their own, and other people's material... how do you get a script from good to great - or from great to good... "writer hypermilling"... what would be their dream show to run... their twenty years ongoing debate about ER vs Chicago Hope (hint, Jose is WRONG)... how do you respond when a showrunner insists that a made-up word is a real word... the caloric load of a snickers bar... what is a "murdernook" and how was integral to the writing process on Agent Carter... the problematic engine of Firefly... and finally, a lengthy and informative conversation about adaptation - and these two writers opinions not just about great adaptations like Game of Thrones, but also some real practical advice taken from their numerous attempts to bring some of your favorite non-TV media to the air!

So strap on your seat belt on and join the road trip - this is the closest you can come to spending three hours and change in a car with two veteran writers...

only without the smell.

oh... the smell.


Children of Tendu is a conversation between two working television writers who have seen it all from both sides of the writers' room table. Hosts Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Jose Molina aren't just names from your favorite show credits; they're seasoned veterans who have navigated the trenches of network TV, genre series, and long-running procedurals. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the real, unvarnished mechanics of building a career in this industry. You'll hear them dissect everything from landing that first staffing job and navigating studio politics to the craft of pitching and the personal resilience required to last for decades. Their advice is never theoretical-it's grounded in specific stories from their time on shows like "Lost," "Firefly," and "Law & Order: SVU." This podcast functions as a persistent, frank mentorship for anyone curious about how television gets made and how to find a place within it. The tone is direct, often funny, and always focused on actionable insight rather than glamour. For aspiring writers, producers, or anyone fascinated by the creative and business realities of TV, Grillo-Marxuach and Molina offer a rare, sustained look at the path in and the skills needed to stay. Tune in for a masterclass that only insiders can provide, where every conversation is built on hard-earned experience and a genuine desire to demystify the process.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Children of Tendu
Podcast Episodes
Pitching in the New Normal -  THINGS HAVE CHANGED! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:39
The last time Jose and Javi talked about pitching it was 2019, and pitches were massive in-person affairs in which writers had to pitch six seasons and a movie... what has changed? EVERYTHING! In this scintillating hour…
THEY'RE BACK AND THEY'RE PISSED - PART TWO [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:12
It's the epic conclusion to the beginning of the first chapter in a new era of Tendu! Join Jose and Javi as they navigate the vicissitudes of television writing in the post strikes, post pandemic, post peak TV era. It's…
THEY ARE BACK AND THEY ARE PISSED - PART ONE! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:57
It has been three long years since the Children of Tendu graced the podcast-sphere, and the world of writing for television has changed enormously.. So, yeah, they're back, and they are PISSED! Yes, Jose and Javi continu…
An Introduction to Javi's New Podcast - Multiplex Overthruster! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:29:49
Hi there! Javi here, and no, I don't have a new episode of Children of Tendu - Jose and I are still figuring out the state of the business post pandemic, post strike, post streaming - but in the meantime, why not sample…
ON THE LINE - OUR BEST AND FINAL [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:36
A few days before the WGA made its historic deal with the AMPTP, Jose and Javi made one last trip to the line, this time at Universal Studios, to interview our sisters, brothers, and others in the guild who bravely walke…
Live From The Line Part Two: The Conversation Continues - CBS Radford [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:44:08
On a hot and noisy day, Jose and Javi set up shop on the strike line at CBS Radford and talk to WGA luminaries ranging from showrunners Julie Plec and Craig Silverstein to show creator Evan Bleiweiss and the strike capta…
LIVE FROM THE STRIKE LINE! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:57
Taking their cues from Lucy Van Pelt, the Children of Tendu set up a booth on the strike line and took questions, gave advice, and even quizzed their betters about their methods and madness. Featuring interviews with pro…
The Leafblower Sessions: Part Two [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:47:45
In this extra special episode of the podcast, Jose and Javi take a deep, show-by-show dive into Javi's career, dissecting his experiences and distilling the lessons he has learned over the course of his decades-spanning…
The Leafblower Sessions, Part One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:55
In this extra special episode of the podcast, Jose and Javi take a deep, show-by-show dive into Jose's career, dissecting his experiences and distilling the lessons he has learned over the course of his decades-spanning…