William Scott Prady (born June 7, 1960) is an American television writer and producer known for co-creating and producing The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019) and Stuart Fails to Save the Universe (2026–). He also served as an executive producer on Dharma & Greg (1997–2002), Good Morning, Miami (2003), and Gilmore Girls (2004–2005).
Early life Prady was born in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and attended Wayne State University. He dropped out of the university, and moved to New York City where he worked at a RadioShack. During this time, he was involved in the creation of the filePro software for the TRS-80 microcomputer.
Career In 1983, Prady was a production assistant for The Jim Henson Company on a proposed television special centering on the world of technology. When the project failed to come to fruition, he stayed with the company and worked in the merchandising department. With the encouragement of Jim Henson, he began writing on projects including Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series and The Jim Henson Hour (on which he was visually caricatured as the character Chip). In 1991, he received an Emmy-award nomination for co-writing The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson. He wrote the Disney theme park attractions Muppet*Vision 3D and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience.
In 1995, Prady joined the writing staff of the HBO series Dream On. In 1997, he joined the writing staff of Dharma & Greg, rising to executive producer and taking over as showrunner in 2001. He also served as a writer and producer on Good Morning, Miami, Caroline in the City, Related, Platypus Man and Gilmore Girls.
In 2007, Prady co-created the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, on which he served as executive producer for the show's twelve-season run.
In 2012, Prady joined the University of Southern California as an adjunct faculty member in its cinematic arts school. In April 2015, it was announced that ABC had picked up Prady's pilot presentation for a new version of The Muppet Show with Bob Kushell attached as showrunner.
In January 2020, Prady signed a first-look deal with Netflix to develop scripted series for the streamer. In 2022, he entered a similar agreement with Warner Bros. Television to develop scripted programming under his production company Pine Tree Entertainment.
In 2026, he joined Chuck Lorre and Zak Penn to create the series Stuart Fails to Save the Universe for HBO Max.
Personal life Prady is Jewish and is on the autism spectrum.
Prady was one of 135 candidates who ran for Governor of California in the 2003 recall election, running as a Democrat, and receiving 474 votes, tying him for 111th place.
In 2010, Prady was given honorary membership in the Royal Canadian Institute for the Advancement of Science. In 2013, Prady was awarded NASA's Exceptional Public Achievement Medal. He has served as a trustee of the Humanitas Prize "New Voices" program. In 2022, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa by Wayne State University.
In 2020, Prady made a cameo appearance in Bill & Ted Face the Music.
Filmography
Film Year(s)TitleRole1993Billy Bunny's Animal SongsWriter; direct-to-video film1994Muppet Classic Theater1995Here Come the MunstersWriter; television film2020Bill & Ted Face the MusicScientist #1
Television Year(s)TitleRole1985–1986You Can't Do That On TelevisionWriter1987Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series1989The Jim Henson Hour1990The Cosby ShowThe Magical World of DisneyThe Muppets Celebrate Jim HensonWriter; television special1991Married... with ChildrenWriterThe Carol Burnett Show1994–1996Dream OnWriter, story editor, producer1995Platypus ManWriter, episode: "Lower East Side Story"1995–1997Caroline in the CityWriter, producer1997–2002Dharma & Greg Writer, executive producer1999Star Trek: VoyagerWriter2003Good Morning, Miami Writer, executive producer2004–2005Gilmore GirlsWriter, co-executive producer2005Related2006Two and a Half MenWriter2007–2019The Big Bang TheoryCreator, writer, executive producer2015–2016The MuppetsCreator, executive producer, writer2017–2024Young SheldonExecutive consultant, consulting producer2026-Stuart Fails to Save the UniverseCreator, executive producer, writer
Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Program Result 1989 WGA Award Outstanding Achievement: Variety, Musical, Award, Tribute or Special Event Miss Piggy's Hollywood 1990 The Earth Day Special 1991 CableACE Award Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programming The Presidential Inaugural Celebration for Children 1991 WGA Award Outstanding Achievement: Variety, Musical, Award, Tribute or Special Event The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson 1991 Emmy Award Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program 1996 The People's Choice Awards Favorite New Television Comedy Series Caroline in the City 1998 Dharma & Greg 1998 Golden Globe Award Best Series: Musical or Comedy 1999 1999 WGA Award Outstanding Achievement: Comedy Series 2009 TCA Award Outstanding Achievement in Comedy The Big Bang Theory 2009 Satellite Award Best Television Series: Musical or Comedy 2010 Golden Globe Award Best Series: Musical or Comedy 2010 The People's Choice Awards Favorite Television Comedy Series 2010 TCA Award Outstanding Achievement in Comedy 2011 Emmy Award Outstanding Comedy Series 2011 The People's Choice Awards Favorite Television Comedy Series 2011 Producers Guild of America Award Outstanding Comedy Series 2011 Critics' Choice Television Award Best Comedy Series 2012 Satellite Award Best Television Series: Musical or Comedy 2012 TCA Award Outstanding Achievement in Comedy 2012 Monte-Carlo Television Festival Outstanding International Producer 2012 Emmy Award Outstanding Comedy Series 2012 Producers Guild of America Award 2012 Critics' Choice Television Award Best Comedy Series 2012 Golden Globe Award Best Series: Musical or Comedy 2013 The People's Choice Awards Favorite Television Comedy Series 2013 Critics' Choice Television Award Best Comedy Series 2013 TCA Award Outstanding Achievement in Comedy 2013 Teen Choice Awards Choice Award: Best Comedy 2013 Monte-Carlo Television Festival International TV Audience Award 2013 Emmy Award Outstanding Comedy Series 2013 Golden Globe Award Best Series: Musical or Comedy 2014 The People's Choice Awards Favorite Television Comedy Series 2022 Drama League Award Outstanding Production of a Play Dana H.
References
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