Liz Brixius and Linda Wallem
As the co-creators, executive producers and writers of Showtime’s hit series Nurse Jackie, Liz Brixius (right) and Linda Wallem run the show at the popular dark comedy. Brixius and Wallem each began their careers with a slightly different focus—as a college poetry teacher and an actress, respectively—before turning their talents toward writing for television and film. Starring Edie Falco as the flawed yet highly sympathetic title character, Nurse Jackie takes a humorous spin on some of the more unsavory aspects of being human. Brixius hopes the show creates a sense of tolerance through humor. “To stand outside of Jackie and judge her might be easier than diving in and loving her—because loving her is going to be a bumpy ride. An ER is a grim joint—full of pain and miracles. If you can’t rejoice in gallows humor, you’re only half-alive. Humor rounds us out.” -CB
