Aaron Harberts
Born (1973-01-20) January 20, 1973 (age 50)
Iowa[1]
OccupationWriter/producer
Alma materNorthwestern University
Years active1998–present
PartnerScott (1996–present)

Aaron Harberts (born January 20, 1973) is an American television writer and producer. He was a co-showrunner of CBS's Star Trek: Discovery with Gretchen J. Berg[2][3][4][5] until their departure in June 2018.[6] Harberts and Berg have been writing/producing partners since they met as students at Northwestern University.[2] In 2019, Aaron Harberts and Gretchen Berg teamed up again as writers and executive producers for Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist on NBC.[7]

Career

Harberts and Berg's first staff writing job was on the ninth season of Beverly Hills, 90210 in 1998.[8] When 90210 finished after its tenth season they were offered a producing role on Roswell which was then starting its second season.[8] At the end of Roswell's production they started work on Wonderfalls where they met Bryan Fuller who would later hire them to work on Pushing Daisies and Star Trek: Discovery.[2] They also wrote for and/or served as executive producers on Mercy, Off the Map, GCB, Revenge and Reign, and created their own series Pepper Dennis.[2][9][10]

In 2001, Harberts and Berg did three rewrites for the 2001 film Valentine which helped to get the film a green light.[1] But at the time they were just starting work on Roswell so were unavailable for further rewrites and other writers took over.[1][11]

Harberts and Berg were initially brought onto the staff of Star Trek: Discovery in 2016 by its creator and initial showrunner Bryan Fuller as executive producers.[2] When Fuller left to concentrate on American Gods and a planned reboot of Amazing Stories, they were offered the chance to take on the showrunner role.[2][12] But Harberts and Berg were later fired from the show due to alleged infighting and verbal altercations during production, with Harberts allegedly shouting expletives at a fellow writer.[13][14]

As of July 2019, Harberts and Berg continue to work together as writers and executive producers for the current NBC hit show Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist. Berg and Harberts help navigate the decisions Zoey must make regarding whether to reveal her secrets, and the resulting impacts on her relationships. The characters on this hour-long musical drama express their inner-most feelings and desires to Zoey through frequent musical numbers. The first episode aired January 7, 2020.[15][16]

Personal life

Harberts is openly gay and married, having been with his partner Scott since 1996.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Fehrocious (November 19, 2000). "Aaron Harberts and Gretchen J. Berg Interview". Crashdown.com. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Reynolds, Daniel (January 17, 2018). "How a Non-Trekkie Became One of Star Trek's First Gay Showrunners". Advocate. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  3. ^ Park, Andrea (September 21, 2017). "Aaron Harberts on leading Star Trek: Discovery". CBS News. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  4. ^ Rodman, Sarah (September 15, 2017). "Star Trek: Discovery Showrunners on Boldly Going Somewhere New with the Fabled Space Franchise". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  5. ^ Miller, Liz Shannon (November 12, 2017). "Star Trek: Discovery Producers Unpack the Midseason Finale, and Why This is the Most Romantic Star Trek Ever". IndieWire. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  6. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (June 14, 2018). "'Star Trek: Discovery' Showrunners Out; Alex Kurtzman to Take Over (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  7. ^ Thomas, Galt (April 22, 2020). "Recent project Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  8. ^ a b Holloway, Daniel (August 29, 2017). "Can Star Trek: Discovery Help CBS Boldly Go into a Streaming Future?". Variety. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  9. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 21, 2013). "Gretchen Berg & Aaron Harberts Sign New Overall Deal With ABC Studios, Will Be Executive Producers On ABC's Revenge". Deadline. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  10. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 13, 2011). "Gretchen Berg And Aaron Harberts To Run ABC's Good Christian Belles". Deadline. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  11. ^ Harris, Dana (March 29, 2000). "Blanks to helm WB romantic horror pic". Variety. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  12. ^ Littleton, Cynthia; Ryan, Maureen; Birnbaum, Debra (October 26, 2016). "Bryan Fuller Stepping Back from Showrunner Role on Star Trek: Discovery". Variety. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  13. ^ Martinelli, Marissa (June 15, 2018). "Star Trek: Discovery Replaces Its Showrunners, Reportedly Over Drama in the Writers Room". Slate. Retrieved 2020-02-23.
  14. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (June 14, 2018). "'Star Trek: Discovery' Showrunners Out; Alex Kurtzman to Take Over (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  15. ^ Thomas, Galt (April 22, 2020). "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist Official Work Status". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  16. ^ Thomas, Galt (April 22, 2020). "Official show page by NBC". NBC. Retrieved 2020-04-22.

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