Michael Allan Zinberg (born March 22, 1944) is an American television director, producer and writer.
Early life and education Zinberg was born in Bexar County, Texas to Dorothy (née Rissien) and William Zinberg.
Zinberg graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio, Texas. In 1977, he earned a B.S. in radio-television-film from Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin.
Career Zinberg moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1968, with his first job as an usher at CBS Television City. He worked his way up to become a production assistant and then a writer, eventually working as an Associate Producer on the James Garner TV show Nichols.
In 1972, Zinberg joined the MTM Productions television production company that was founded by Mary Tyler Moore's husband, Grant Tinker. While at MTM Productions he wrote, produced and directed The Bob Newhart Show for six seasons, as well as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, among other popular TV shows of the 1970s and 1980s.
From 1979 to 1981, Zinberg was VP Production Development at NBC, where he was responsible for Hill Street Blues and Cheers as well as other programs.
From 1993 to 1995, Zinberg was President of NBC Productions, where he oversaw Homicide: Life on the Street, JAG and all NBC late-night programming.
, Zinberg was still producing or directing episodes of TV series, such as directing the April 2023 season 20 episode "Head Games" of the series NCIShis 23 episode, having started on that series with the November 2003 season 1 episode "Sub Rosa".
Personal life Zinberg has been married to Leslie S. Fierman Zinberg, a writer and designer, since 1969.
Filmography Selected work 1971–1972: Nichols - Assistant Producer, 24 episodes 1972–1974: The Mary Tyler Moore Show - Associate Producer, 24 episodes; Assistant Producer, 24 episodes 1972–1978: The Bob Newhart Show - Associate Producer, 75 episodes; Producer, 33 episodes; Executive Producer, 22 episodes; Director, 15 episodes 1976–1978: The Tony Randall Show - Director, 5 episodes 1982–1983: Taxi - Director, 6 episodes 1978–1979: WKRP in Cincinnati - Director, 4 episodes 1983–1984: The Yellow Rose - Executive Producer, 22 episodes 1987–1988: L.A. Law - Director, 2 episodes 1989–1990: Midnight Caller - Director - 3 episodes 1990–1991: Quantum Leap - Co-Executive Producer, 24 episodes; Director, 9 episodes 1996–1998: JAG - Co-Executive Producer, 7 episodes; Director, 2 episodes 1996–1997: Men Behaving Badly - Director, 16 episodes 1999–2002: Everybody Loves Raymond - Director, 5 episodes 1999–2004: The Practice - Director, 8 episodes 2003–2009: Monk - Director, 5 episodes 2003–2023: NCIS - Director, 23 episodes 2004–2005: Gilmore Girls - Director, 6 episodes 2008–2010: Private Practice - Director, 5 episodes 2009–2010: Lie to Me - Director, 4 episodes 2010–2011: Rizzoli & Isles - Executive Producer, 15 episodes; Director, 5 episodes 2010–2016: The Good Wife - Director, 15 episodes 2012–2013: 90210 - Director, 4 episodes 2013: Franklin & Bash - Director, 1 episode 2014: The Michael J. Fox Show - Director, 1 episode 2014: Star-Crossed - Director, 1 episode 2014: The Blacklist - Director, 2 episodes 2014–2016: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Director, 2 episodes 2014–2019: NCIS: New Orleans - Director, 13 episodes 2015–2016: The Carmichael Show - Director, 3 episodes 2015–2016: Aquarius - Director, 3 episodes 2015–2016: Rosewood - Director, 2 episodes 2017: Young Sheldon - Director, 2 episodes 2017–2018: The Good Fight - Director, 2 episodes 2020: Evil - Director, 1 episode
Honors
Emmys 1977: Outstanding Comedy Series, The Bob Newhart Show (CBS) 1991: Outstanding Drama Series, Quantum Leap (NBC) 1992: Outstanding Drama Series, Quantum Leap (NBC)
Zinberg has won the following awards and has served on the following bodies: The Lifetime Achievement Award from The Caucus of Writers, Producers and Directors Board Member, The Western Directors Council Co-Chair of the DGA Television Creative Rights Committee 1983: The Young Texas Exes Award, University of Texas at Austin 1994: The College of Communication Outstanding Alumnus Award, University of Texas at Austin UT College of Communication Foundation Advisory Council, University of Texas at Austin
References
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