Children of Tendu

Children of Tendu

Author: Children of Tendu Language: English Episodes: 46
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.
Episodes
IS THIS OUR SERIES FINALE? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:55:15
Seven years ago, veteran television writer/producers Jose Molina and Javier Grillo-Marxuach set out to consign all their experience to a podcast and to give it away for free. One Golden Age of television, a pandemic, and…
The Editorial Of Tendu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:55:15
Most writers have very little idea of what goes on in an edit bay, and how to best manage the collaborative relationship between a TV writer/producer and the show's editor. To remedy this situation, Javi and Jose have br…
The Directorate of Tendu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01:12
In this super-sized deep-dive, Jose and Javi interview Jeremiah Chechik - director not just of the pilot episode of Javi's show "The Middleman" but also TV shows including "Chuck", "Gossip Girl", "Shadowhunters", "Helix"…
THE CHILDREN OF TENDU MEET THE PRESIDENT OF THE WRITERS GUILD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:44
The Writers Guild is currently engaged in a landmark labor action which has already changed the face of the entertainment industry. In this special episode, Jose and Javi have a lengthy and candid conversation with WGA P…
The Big Pitch - Part Two [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:54
In this the second part and conclusion of "The Big Pitch" Jose and javi discuss what happened after The Big Pitch... what networks heard The Big Pitch, who didn't and why? What was it like in the rooms where they pitched…
THE BIG PITCH - PART ONE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:42
Most TV writers do not hear a series being pitched until they are the ones doing the pitching. In this brand new episode, the Children of Tendu discuss the process by which they developed a pitch for a TV adaptation of a…
Actors of Tendu! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:35:44
In this special episode of the podcast, the Children of Tendu enlist guest stars Natalie Morales - star of Javi's show The Middleman - and Jason O'Mara - who starred in, and worked with Jose on, Terra Nova - to discuss h…
Agents of Tendu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01:45
There is one question. The ETERNAL question. The question that all who want to write in Hollywood ask themselves over and over again. How do I get an agent? In this very special episode, Jose's first agent, Matt Bedrosia…
The Union of Tendu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:39:33
When a guy writes on shows ranging from "Family Guy" to "Futurama" and "The Golden Girls", you pay attention to what he has to say. When that same guy is also Vice President of the Writers Guild, you clean out your ears,…