Joe Shelby "Josh" Griffith (born August 15, 19??) is an American
soap opera
A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term ''soap opera'' originat ...
writer and producer.
Personal life
Born on August 15, in New York, Josh is the son of Joe (Rip) Griffith and Sue Estes Griffith, both teachers and artists.
Career
Griffith began his writing career on ''
Santa Barbara'' in 1988 and continued writing for the show until 1991 when he moved over to ''
One Life to Live
''One Life to Live'' (often abbreviated as ''OLTL'') is an American soap opera broadcast on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC television network for more than 43 years, from July 15, 1968, to January 13, 2012, and then on the internet as ...
'', where he began as an associate head writer under
Michael Malone before being promoted to co-head writer in early 1992. Under his and Malone's tenure at ''One Life to Live'', the show won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in 1994. Griffith left the show in early 1995.
In 1997, Griffith was co-creator of the
NBC Daytime soap opera ''
Sunset Beach'' along with
Robert Guza Jr. The show ran for nearly three years before being cancelled in December 1999. In the spring of 2003, Griffith and Michael Malone returned to ''One Life to Live'' for a second stint as head writers, however they remained with the show for just a year. After leaving, Griffith became a script writer on
CBS Daytime's ''
As the World Turns
''As the World Turns'' (often abbreviated as ''ATWT'') is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS for 54 years from April 2, 1956, to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created ''As the World Turns'' as a sister show to her other so ...
'' under head writer
Hogan Sheffer, who shortly afterwards stepped down as head writer. He would later return to the show briefly between 2009 and 2010.
In 2006, vice president of CBS Daytime,
Barbara Bloom, brought Griffith over to ''
The Young and the Restless
''The Young and the Restless'' (often abbreviated as ''Y&R'') is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in the fictional Genoa City (named after the real-life Genoa City, Wiscon ...
'' as a creative consultant and breakdown writer under executive producer and head writer
Lynn Marie Latham; within three months, he was promoted to co-executive producer to work alongside of Latham.
Griffith assumed full executive producer duties after Latham was fired for joining the
2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike. During the strike, Griffith became a
strikebreaker, adopting
financial core status so that he could work while Guild members were on strike.
In December 2007,
Maria Arena Bell became his co-head writer.
In August 2008, Griffith was fired from his executive producer duties by
Barbara Bloom and
Steven Kent of
Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television Inc. (abbreviated as SPT) is an American television production company, production and broadcast syndication, distribution studio. Based at the Sony Pictures Studios complex in Culver City, California, it is a division o ...
, leading to Bell becoming executive producer and head writer and later replacing him with
Paul Rauch. In 2009, Griffith briefly worked as a writer on ''
General Hospital
''General Hospital'' (often abbreviated as ''GH'') is an American daytime television soap opera created by Frank and Doris Hursley which has been broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC since April 1, 1963. Originally a half-hour seria ...
''. In July 2012, it was announced that Griffith had been rehired on ''The Young and the Restless'' as the sole head writer following Bell's dismissal; he would work alongside new executive producer
Jill Farren Phelps. Episodes under their direction began airing on October 12, 2012.
In August 2013, speculation and reports indicated that Griffith had resigned as head writer, reportedly due to "creative differences" with Phelps. Further speculation adds that
Shelly Altman may take over as the new head writer, alongside
Tracey Thomson or
Jean Passanante may be brought aboard as a new co-head writer. In February 2015, Griffith was hired as co-head writer of ''
Days of Our Lives'', alongside re-hired former head,
Dena Higley. Griffith began his role as co-head scribe on February 16, 2015, with the material airing on August 19, 2015.
In February 2016, it was reported that Griffith would be departing ''Days of Our Lives'' as co-head writer, with Ryan Quan serving as his replacement. Griffith's last episode aired on September 2, 2016.
In August 2018, it was reported that Griffith would be returning to ''The Young and the Restless'' this time as supervising producer. Griffith's first episode as supervising producer aired on September 14, 2018.
In December 2018, ''Daytime Confidential'' reported that Griffith would once again act as ''The Young and the Restless's'' Head Writer following the departure of
Mal Young.
Griffith, formerly a member of
Writers Guild of America, East
The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) is a trade union, labor union representing writers in film, television, radio, news, and online media.
The WGAE and the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW), though independent entities, jointly brand the ...
, left and maintained
financial core status during the
2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike.
Positions held
''
As the World Turns
''As the World Turns'' (often abbreviated as ''ATWT'') is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS for 54 years from April 2, 1956, to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created ''As the World Turns'' as a sister show to her other so ...
'' (hired by
Hogan Sheffer)
* Script Writer: April 12, 2005 – June 29, 2006; December 14, 2009 – September 17, 2010
''
Days of Our Lives''
* Co-Head Writer: August 19, 2015 – September 2, 2016
''
General Hospital
''General Hospital'' (often abbreviated as ''GH'') is an American daytime television soap opera created by Frank and Doris Hursley which has been broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC since April 1, 1963. Originally a half-hour seria ...
'' (hired by
Brian Frons; fired by
Robert Guza, Jr.)
* Story Consultant: July 2009 – August 21, 2009
* Breakdown Writer: August 7 & 17, 2009
* Script Writer: August 21, 2009
''
One Life to Live
''One Life to Live'' (often abbreviated as ''OLTL'') is an American soap opera broadcast on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC television network for more than 43 years, from July 15, 1968, to January 13, 2012, and then on the internet as ...
''
* Associate Head Writer: 1991–1994, March 23, 2004 – September 28, 2004
* Co-Head Writer: 1992 – September 1995, March 10, 2003 – March 21, 2004
* Head Writer: February 3, 2003 – March 7, 2003
''
Santa Barbara''
* Breakdown Writer: 1988–1991
* Script Writer: 1988–1991
''
Sunset Beach''
* Co-Creator: (with
Robert Guza, Jr.) 1997
''
The Young and the Restless
''The Young and the Restless'' (often abbreviated as ''Y&R'') is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in the fictional Genoa City (named after the real-life Genoa City, Wiscon ...
'' (hired by
Barbara Bloom)
* Breakdown Writer: July 13, 2006 – October 2006
*
Creative Consultant: July 7, 2006 – September 2006
* Co-Executive Producer: October 25, 2006 – December 24, 2007; February 6, 2019 – February 6, 2023
*
Head writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera
A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (radio ...
: December 26, 2007 – April 21, 2008; October 12, 2012 – November 1, 2013; March 20, 2019 – present
*
Executive Producer
Executive producer (EP) is one of the top positions in the production of media. Depending on the medium, the executive producer may be concerned with management accounting or associated with legal issues (like copyrights or royalties). In film ...
: October 25, 2006 – October 2, 2008; February 7, 2023 – present
* Supervising Producer: September 14, 2018 – February 5, 2019
Writing history
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Executive producing tenure
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Awards and nominations
External links
Interview with OLTL Head Writers Josh Griffith and Michael Malone
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References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Griffith, Josh
Griffith
American soap opera producers
American male television writers
People from New York (state)
Daytime Emmy Award winners
Writers Guild of America Award winners
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people