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Thomas Schlamme

Thomas Schlamme

Director and producer · Born May 22, 1950 (76) · Houston, Texas, USA

9 Primetime Emmys · 2 other major award bodies

Thomas Schlamme (born May 22, 1950) is an American television director and producer.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 22, 1950 (76)
From
Houston, Texas, USA
Works as
Director and producer
Titles
32 on MovieCove · 60 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26

What are Thomas Schlamme's films like?

Across their 8 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Society.

Genres

Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
31%
Society
24%
Bonds
23%
Power
12%
Morality
6%
Survival
4%
Community4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 5 · Serious 1 · Dark 1

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 6 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 5 · Charged 1 · Intense 1

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 4 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 5 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Hopeful
3
Joyful
3
Melancholic
3
Warm
3
Absurd
2
Other
6

How their films linger

Feel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Thomas Schlamme's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 27 of their 32 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Hulu (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Thomas Schlamme's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

60 credits, 32 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Drop: A Snowfall Saga(2026)

    Show 8 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • A Man in Full(2024)

    Show 6 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all shows

  • Under the Banner of Heaven(2022)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote(2020)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Plot Against America(2020)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Snowfall(2017)

    Show 60 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • When We Rise(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Manhattan(2014)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • House of Cards(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Americans(2013)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Doubt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director

  • The Frontier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • Pan Am(2011)

    Show 14 episodes · Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Mr. Sunshine(2011)

    Show 9 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Parenthood(2010)

    Show 77 episodes · Director · Executive Producer · Producer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip(2006)

    Show 22 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Invasion(2005)

    Show 22 episodes · Director · Creator · Producer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Jack & Bobby(2004)

    Show 22 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • InBetweening America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Editor

  • The Best Damn Sports Show Period (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Boston Public (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 88 episodes · Director · Consulting Producer · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Sports Night(1998)

    Show 45 episodes · Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Ally McBeal(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Arsenio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Ink (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Spin City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Tracey Takes On... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 50 episodes · Producer

  • If Not for You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Almost Perfect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Pride & Joy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Kingfish: A Story of Huey P. Long(1995)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Friends(1994)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • ER(1994)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Chicago Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Martin Lawrence: You So Crazy(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • So I Married an Axe Murderer(1993)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Mad About You(1992)

    Show 16 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • The Larry Sanders Show(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Rowan Atkinson Live: Invisible Drum Kit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director

  • Rowan Atkinson Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director

  • Mambo Mouth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • Sessions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

  • Crazy from the Heart(1991)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Miss Firecracker(1989)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Bette Midler's Mondo Beyondo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Director

  • The Wonder Years(1988)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Spalding Gray: Terrors of Pleasure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Director

  • Gilbert Gottfried... Naturally (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Director

  • The Gift of Amazing Grace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • Sledge Hammer!(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Robert Klein on Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director

  • Can a Guy Say No? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director

  • Wayside School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director

  • Whoopi Goldberg: Direct from Broadway(1985)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Robert Klein: Child of the 50's, Man of the 80's (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director

  • Bette Midler: Art or Bust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director

  • Bette Midler: No Frills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Director

  • Rowan Atkinson: Not Just a Pretty Face (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 60 titles, 59 of them dated from 1983 to 2026.

Biggest box office

So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993)

$12M worldwide

Highest rated

A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote (2020)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Sports Night (1998)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 60: 1 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting55 of 60: 42 only directing, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score79thWriting1 of 60: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing16 of 60: 3 only producing, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score79thEditing1 of 60: 1 only editing, 0 with another roleOther crew1 of 60: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

60 titles, 13 with more than one role — directing and producing overlap on 13 of them.

By decade

1980s14 · crew1990s24 · crew2000s6 · 1 acting · 5 crew2010s10 · crew2020s5 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

Awards

9 Primetime Emmys and 7 other major awards from 33 major nominations, 1996–2021.

WinNomination
  1. 2021
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Specials
  2. 2017
    • Directors Guild Award, won
  3. 2007
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series - Night
  4. 2004
    • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
  5. 2003
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Drama Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
  6. 2002
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Drama Series
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Special Class Program
    • +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 1 nomination
      • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series - Night
      • Producers Guild Award, won · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
  7. 2001
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Drama Series
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 wins
      • Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series - Night
      • Producers Guild Award, won · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
  8. 2000
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Drama Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
    • +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 3 nominations
      • Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series
      • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series - Night
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated ×2 · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television
Show 4 earlier years
  1. 1999
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
    • +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 1 nomination
      • Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television
  2. 1998
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical/Variety
  3. 1997
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Music Program
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical/Variety
  4. 1996
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Thomas Schlamme's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 71st percentile, the median of all 7; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 32 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th6

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 32 titles are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved12
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · director

When We Rise (2017)

86th percentile spread · 20% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director, producer

The West Wing (1999)

Midcredits 98th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 65/100 and the pacing 52/100 in their films, across 5 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Thomas Schlamme work with?

People who share at least 2 of Thomas Schlamme's MovieCove titles; Christine Lahti shares the most, 2.