Rick Hawkins

Rick comes to JP Kids with twenty-four years of writing and producing experience in all forms of television: comedy, drama, and variety, all with a focus on quality family programming. As a writer, he was awarded an Emmy for the classic "Gone With the Wind" sketch on The Carol Burnett Show, and also wrote the Movie-of-the-Week The Love Boat that was adapted into the popular long-running series. As Producer and writer, Hawkins worked on Punky Brewster, the first Prime Time series developed for children, and also Executive Produced Mama’s Family, one of the first and most successful syndicated series on television. Rick helped to launch the thriving Warner Bros. television network ("The WB"), Executive Producing and developing the hit sitcoms The Wayans Brothers and Sister/Sister. Every series Hawkins has Executive Produced has successfully sold into syndication. Most recently, Hawkins Executive Produced and wrote Carol Burnett’s Showstoppers, a special which was watched by more than thirty million viewers and won CBS its best sweeps ratings in the time slot in ten years.

Over the course of his career, Rick has been nominated for seven Emmy awards and is a two-time recipient of the Scott Newman award (for Punky Brewster and Major Dad). He is a guest lecturer for UCLA, USC, and the Warner Bros. Comedy Workshop and has served as a Librettist for two musicals - "Lunch" and "Say Goodnight," the musical story of George Burns and Gracie Allen.

Rick is a proud father of four. He enjoys gourmet cooking and is a sports enthusiast.