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Editing Frank Lupo

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Lupo worked on the Universal Television lot in the same era as Cannell, the prolific showrunner behind ''[[w:The Rockford Files|The Rockford Files]]'' and ''[[w:Baretta|Baretta]]''.<ref group="external" name="variety_lupo_cannell_era">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/frank-lupo-dead-66-wiseguy-stephen-j-cannell-1234924299/#:~:text=Lupo%20worked%20on%20the%20Universal,The%20Rockford%20Files%22%20and%20%22Baretta|title=Lupo and Cannell at Universal|publisher=Variety|date=March 9, 2021|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref> After writing episodes of such shows as ABC's ''Battlestar Galactica'' and NBC's ''B.J. and the Bear'', he worked with the late ''Rockford Files'' creator for the first time in 1981 on the ABC series ''[[w:The Greatest American Hero|The Greatest American Hero]]'', for which Lupo wrote several episodes.<ref group="external" name="thr_lupo_greatest_american_hero">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/frank-lupo-stephen-j-cannell-creative-partner-on-the-a-team-hunter-and-wiseguy-dies-at-66#:~:text=After%20writing%20episodes%20of%20such,the%20ABC%20series%20The%20Greatest%20American%20Hero|title=Lupo on Greatest American Hero|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 9, 2021|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref><ref group="external" name="variety_lupo_greatest_american_hero_episodes">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/frank-lupo-dead-66-wiseguy-stephen-j-cannell-1234924299/#:~:text=Lupo%20wrote%20several%20episodes%20of%20Cannell%27s%20ABC%20dramedy%20%22The%20Greatest%20American%20Hero|title=Lupo Writes for Greatest American Hero|publisher=Variety|date=March 9, 2021|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref>
Lupo worked on the Universal Television lot in the same era as Cannell, the prolific showrunner behind ''[[w:The Rockford Files|The Rockford Files]]'' and ''[[w:Baretta|Baretta]]''.<ref group="external" name="variety_lupo_cannell_era">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/frank-lupo-dead-66-wiseguy-stephen-j-cannell-1234924299/#:~:text=Lupo%20worked%20on%20the%20Universal,The%20Rockford%20Files%22%20and%20%22Baretta|title=Lupo and Cannell at Universal|publisher=Variety|date=March 9, 2021|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref> After writing episodes of such shows as ABC's ''Battlestar Galactica'' and NBC's ''B.J. and the Bear'', he worked with the late ''Rockford Files'' creator for the first time in 1981 on the ABC series ''[[w:The Greatest American Hero|The Greatest American Hero]]'', for which Lupo wrote several episodes.<ref group="external" name="thr_lupo_greatest_american_hero">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/frank-lupo-stephen-j-cannell-creative-partner-on-the-a-team-hunter-and-wiseguy-dies-at-66#:~:text=After%20writing%20episodes%20of%20such,the%20ABC%20series%20The%20Greatest%20American%20Hero|title=Lupo on Greatest American Hero|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 9, 2021|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref><ref group="external" name="variety_lupo_greatest_american_hero_episodes">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/frank-lupo-dead-66-wiseguy-stephen-j-cannell-1234924299/#:~:text=Lupo%20wrote%20several%20episodes%20of%20Cannell%27s%20ABC%20dramedy%20%22The%20Greatest%20American%20Hero|title=Lupo Writes for Greatest American Hero|publisher=Variety|date=March 9, 2021|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref>
==== Mentorship and Writing Partnerships ====
Lupo's relationship with Cannell extended beyond simple collaboration into genuine mentorship. According to Cannell, when Lupo and his writing partner had their contracts separated at Universal, it was Cannell who facilitated the change.<ref group="commentary" name="cannell_interview_lupo_partnership">{{cite web|url=https://craigmcdonaldbooks.blogspot.com/2010/10/rogue-males-stephen-j-cannell-interview.html#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20producers%20we,twice%20as%20much%20material|title=Stephen J. Cannell Interview|author=Craig McDonald|publisher=Craig McDonald Books|date=October 2010|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref> Cannell recounted that he discovered Lupo and his partner were writing individual scripts and then handing them to each other for polish work, essentially functioning as two separate writers rather than a true partnership. Cannell told them they could be making twice as much money and giving him twice as much material if they worked separately, and had their contracts separated—a move Cannell noted was unheard of in the industry since it required the studio to pay more money.<ref group="commentary" name="cannell_interview_contract_separation">{{cite web|url=https://craigmcdonaldbooks.blogspot.com/2010/10/rogue-males-stephen-j-cannell-interview.html#:~:text=So%20he%20had%20our%20contracts,studio%20has%20to%20pay%20more%20money|title=Cannell on Contract Separation|author=Craig McDonald|publisher=Craig McDonald Books|date=October 2010|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref> Cannell characterized Lupo as "a great guy" who was "fun to work with."<ref group="commentary" name="cannell_interview_lupo_character">{{cite web|url=https://craigmcdonaldbooks.blogspot.com/2010/10/rogue-males-stephen-j-cannell-interview.html#:~:text=Frank%27s%20great.%20He%27s%20fun%20to%20work%20with|title=Cannell on Lupo's Character|author=Craig McDonald|publisher=Craig McDonald Books|date=October 2010|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref>
Another industry professional, writer-director Ken Sanzel, also spoke highly of Lupo's collaborative spirit. When Sanzel's pilot ''Lawless'' was picked up, he had written and produced the pilot which starred Daniel Baldwin and had a markedly different tone from what eventually aired. The network brought in Lupo as the showrunner, and Lupo retooled the show considerably.<ref group="commentary" name="sanzel_interview_lawless">{{cite web|url=https://www.actionreloaded.com/interview-director-ken-sanzel/#:~:text=I%20wasn%27t%20involved%20in%20the,and%20brought%20in%20Frank%20Lupo%20as%20the%20showrunner|title=Ken Sanzel Interview|publisher=Action Reloaded|date=2021|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref> Similarly, when Sanzel wrote a spec feature that he condensed to 60 pages as a mental exercise, he showed it to director Ralph Hemecker, who got it into producer John Wells' hands. Wells asked about developing it as the series ''Johnny Zero'', but by the time the show got going, Sanzel was writing and directing another pilot. Wells brought in writer R. Scott Gemill to retool the show, with Lupo's creative input helping to shape it for Fox's specifications.<ref group="commentary" name="sanzel_interview_johnny_zero">{{cite web|url=https://www.actionreloaded.com/interview-director-ken-sanzel/#:~:text=By%20the%20time%20Johnny%20Zero,retool%20the%20show%20to%20FOX%27s%20specifications|title=Sanzel on Johnny Zero Development|publisher=Action Reloaded|date=2021|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref>
[[Kent McCord]], [[Troy (1980)|star of]] ''[[Galactica 1980]]'' during Lupo's production oversight, recalled Cannell's generosity and loyalty to his circle of collaborators, which included Lupo. McCord had attempted to develop a series called ''Chief'' about a retired police officer who becomes chief of a small California town and gets called on to investigate serial crimes. When McCord pitched the concept to Cannell initially, Cannell suggested a different approach that McCord wasn't ready for at the time. Years later, when McCord finally got the rights back from Universal and called Cannell about it, Cannell had to confess he had forgotten McCord's original pitch entirely—but had since developed ''[[w:Unsub|Unsub]]'' with David Burke and Steve Kronish, a series with a remarkably similar premise about tracking serial criminals.<ref group="commentary" name="mccord_interview_unsub_development">{{cite web|url=https://willharris.substack.com/p/interview-kent-mccord-discusses-chief#:~:text=So%20I%20called%20Steve%20from,Steve%20Kronish...%22%20And%20he%20goes%20through%20a%20whole%20bunch|title=Kent McCord Interview|author=Will Harris|publisher=Will Harris Substack|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref> Despite the awkward situation, Cannell offered McCord a role on ''Unsub'', demonstrating the loyalty that characterized his relationships with collaborators like Lupo. McCord noted that Cannell "was a great friend who had a group of people around him who he was loyal to and who were loyal to him."<ref group="commentary" name="mccord_interview_cannell_loyalty">{{cite web|url=https://willharris.substack.com/p/interview-kent-mccord-discusses-chief#:~:text=I%20loved%20Steve%2C%20and%20he,and%20who%20were%20loyal%20to%20him|title=McCord on Cannell's Loyalty|author=Will Harris|publisher=Will Harris Substack|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref>


=== ''The A-Team'' and Major Successes ===
=== ''The A-Team'' and Major Successes ===
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Lupo was a co-creator and key producing partner with Cannell on such subsequent Stephen J. Cannell Productions hits as NBC's ''[[w:Hunter (TV series)|Hunter]]'' (starring Fred Dryer), ''[[w:Riptide (TV series)|Riptide]]'', and ''[[w:Werewolf (TV series)|Werewolf]]''.<ref group="external" name="variety_lupo_cannell_subsequent_hits">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/frank-lupo-dead-66-wiseguy-stephen-j-cannell-1234924299/#:~:text=Lupo%20was%20a%20co%2Dcreator,NBC%27s%20%22Hunter%2C%22%20starring%20Fred%20Dreyer|title=Lupo's Stephen J. Cannell Productions Successes|publisher=Variety|date=March 9, 2021|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref> He is perhaps best known for co-creating 1980s action shows such as ''The A-Team'', ''Riptide'', ''Hunter'', and ''[[w:Wiseguy (TV series)|Wiseguy]]''; he also served as an executive producer and writer on each of those series.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_lupo_best_known">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/frank-lupo#:~:text=He%20is%20perhaps%20best%20known,producer%20and%20writer%20on%20each%20of%20those%20series|title=Lupo's Best Known Works|publisher=Television Academy|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref>
Lupo was a co-creator and key producing partner with Cannell on such subsequent Stephen J. Cannell Productions hits as NBC's ''[[w:Hunter (TV series)|Hunter]]'' (starring Fred Dryer), ''[[w:Riptide (TV series)|Riptide]]'', and ''[[w:Werewolf (TV series)|Werewolf]]''.<ref group="external" name="variety_lupo_cannell_subsequent_hits">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/frank-lupo-dead-66-wiseguy-stephen-j-cannell-1234924299/#:~:text=Lupo%20was%20a%20co%2Dcreator,NBC%27s%20%22Hunter%2C%22%20starring%20Fred%20Dreyer|title=Lupo's Stephen J. Cannell Productions Successes|publisher=Variety|date=March 9, 2021|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref> He is perhaps best known for co-creating 1980s action shows such as ''The A-Team'', ''Riptide'', ''Hunter'', and ''[[w:Wiseguy (TV series)|Wiseguy]]''; he also served as an executive producer and writer on each of those series.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_lupo_best_known">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/frank-lupo#:~:text=He%20is%20perhaps%20best%20known,producer%20and%20writer%20on%20each%20of%20those%20series|title=Lupo's Best Known Works|publisher=Television Academy|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref>
==== ''Hunter'' Revival ====
Cannell discussed the 2003 ''Hunter'' revival in detail, explaining his pitch strategy to NBC executive Jeff Zucker. Cannell recalled telling Zucker it would be "the shortest meeting that you will ever have," explaining that ''Hunter'' had controlled its time period for seven years at NBC, and that ''[[w:Walker, Texas Ranger|Walker, Texas Ranger]]'' had done exactly the same thing on CBS. Cannell argued there was a market for this type of programming on Saturday nights that wasn't being serviced by current shows.<ref group="commentary" name="cannell_interview_hunter_pitch">{{cite web|url=https://craigmcdonaldbooks.blogspot.com/2010/10/rogue-males-stephen-j-cannell-interview.html#:~:text=I%20walked%20into%20Jeff%20Zucker%27s,not%20being%20serviced|title=Cannell on Hunter Revival Pitch|author=Craig McDonald|publisher=Craig McDonald Books|date=October 2010|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref> He proposed targeting an older demographic that didn't want to "go out and shake their booty on Saturday night."<ref group="commentary" name="cannell_interview_hunter_demographic">{{cite web|url=https://craigmcdonaldbooks.blogspot.com/2010/10/rogue-males-stephen-j-cannell-interview.html#:~:text=all%20of%20those%20people%20that,shake%20their%20booty%20on%20Saturday%20night|title=Hunter Target Demographic|author=Craig McDonald|publisher=Craig McDonald Books|date=October 2010|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref>
When Lupo and Cannell reunited to produce the ''Hunter'' reunion movie, they faced a creative decision about the show's tone. Cannell explained that while he knew how to write shows like ''[[w:NYPD Blue|NYPD Blue]]'' and had done dark material with ''Wiseguy'', they debated whether to modernize ''Hunter'' with shades of gray or produce it in the style of the 1980s original. They ultimately decided to remain faithful to the eighties aesthetic because they knew their core audience—the same viewers who had watched the original series—would be home on Saturday nights. Cannell noted that while their demographics were older than networks typically wanted, they won the household ratings, which was the goal.<ref group="commentary" name="cannell_interview_hunter_tone_decision">{{cite web|url=https://craigmcdonaldbooks.blogspot.com/2010/10/rogue-males-stephen-j-cannell-interview.html#:~:text=Frank%20and%20I%20sat%20there,were%20home%20on%20Saturday%20nights|title=Hunter Revival Tone Decision|author=Craig McDonald|publisher=Craig McDonald Books|date=October 2010|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref>


Lupo and Cannell also co-created the much-praised CBS drama ''Wiseguy'', starring [[w:Ken Wahl|Ken Wahl]] as an undercover FBI agent trying to penetrate the world of organized crime.<ref group="external" name="variety_wiseguy_creation">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/frank-lupo-dead-66-wiseguy-stephen-j-cannell-1234924299/#:~:text=Lupo%20and%20Cannell%20also%20co,trying%20to%20penetrate%20the%20world%20of%20organized%20crime|title=Wiseguy Created by Lupo and Cannell|publisher=Variety|date=March 9, 2021|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref> The series, which ran from 1987 to 1990,<ref group="external" name="imdb_wiseguy_years">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0526967/|title=Wiseguy Years|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref> also featured future ''Breaking Bad'' and ''Better Call Saul'' co-star [[w:Jonathan Banks|Jonathan Banks]] as Wahl's cynical FBI boss.<ref group="external" name="variety_wiseguy_jonathan_banks">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/frank-lupo-dead-66-wiseguy-stephen-j-cannell-1234924299/#:~:text=The%20series%20also%20featured%20future,as%20Wahl%27s%20cynical%20FBI%20boss|title=Jonathan Banks in Wiseguy|publisher=Variety|date=March 9, 2021|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref>
Lupo and Cannell also co-created the much-praised CBS drama ''Wiseguy'', starring [[w:Ken Wahl|Ken Wahl]] as an undercover FBI agent trying to penetrate the world of organized crime.<ref group="external" name="variety_wiseguy_creation">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/frank-lupo-dead-66-wiseguy-stephen-j-cannell-1234924299/#:~:text=Lupo%20and%20Cannell%20also%20co,trying%20to%20penetrate%20the%20world%20of%20organized%20crime|title=Wiseguy Created by Lupo and Cannell|publisher=Variety|date=March 9, 2021|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref> The series, which ran from 1987 to 1990,<ref group="external" name="imdb_wiseguy_years">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0526967/|title=Wiseguy Years|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref> also featured future ''Breaking Bad'' and ''Better Call Saul'' co-star [[w:Jonathan Banks|Jonathan Banks]] as Wahl's cynical FBI boss.<ref group="external" name="variety_wiseguy_jonathan_banks">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/frank-lupo-dead-66-wiseguy-stephen-j-cannell-1234924299/#:~:text=The%20series%20also%20featured%20future,as%20Wahl%27s%20cynical%20FBI%20boss|title=Jonathan Banks in Wiseguy|publisher=Variety|date=March 9, 2021|accessdate=November 4, 2025}}</ref>
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=== ''Galactica 1980'' ===
=== ''Galactica 1980'' ===
* "[[Spaceball]]" (co-written with [[Jeff Freilich|Jeff Freilich]] and [[Glen A. Larson|Glen A. Larson]])
* "[[Spaceball]]" (co-written with [[w:Jeff Freilich|Jeff Freilich]] and [[w:Glen A. Larson|Glen A. Larson]])


''See also: [[:Category:Episodes written by Frank Lupo|Episodes written by Frank Lupo]]''
''See also: [[:Category:Episodes written by Frank Lupo|Episodes written by Frank Lupo]]''
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[[Category:Writers (1980)]]
[[Category:Writers (1980)]]
[[Category:Writers (TOS)]]
[[Category:Writers (TOS)]]
[[Category:1980]]
{{indicator|1980}}[[Category:1980]]
[[Category:TOS]]
{{indicator|TOS}}[[Category:TOS]]
[[de: Frank Lupo]]
[[de: Frank Lupo]]

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