Forward 50 2018

Joe Weisberg

By PJ Grisar December 2, 2018

Mastermind Show Runner

Joe Weisberg is the closest thing we have to a Jewish Ian Fleming. Creator of FX’s Emmy-winning spy series, “The Americans,” one of Weisberg’s first jobs out of college was at the Central Intelligence Agency.

Weisberg eventually left the Agency to teach special education in Queens. He turned to TV writing in 2010. After penning scripts for “Falling Skies” and the DirectTV run of “Damages” he pitched a Cold War espionage family drama about KGB agents posing as everyday, nuclear family Yanks.

“The Americans” ran on FX for six acclaimed seasons, ending this May. Its final episode gained Weisberg his first Emmy for outstanding writing following five nominations. His first series as show runner was such a hit, we can’t wait to see what he comes up with next. Here’s hoping it keeps the fun wigs from “The Americans.”

— PJ Grisar

PJ Grisar is a Forward culture reporter. He can be reached at [email protected] and @pjgrisar on Twitter.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO