Yuppie Spawn

Those of you with young children have probably wondered who the sinister force behind the televised abomination known as the "The Naked Brother's Band" was. In Friday's Wall Street Journal, the Hollywood Report provides the answer (sub req):

When it premiered in 1987, the prime-time soap opera "thirtysomething" was unlike anything else on television. An homage to yuppie angst, the show developed into a lower-rated but critically adored antidote to the "Dallas" and "Dynasty" genre that otherwise ruled that decade.

Now, 20 years later, "thirtysomething" isn't even available on DVD, and none of its cast members have gone on to acting stardom. But nearly all of them have become highly influential in the entertainment world in other ways, stepping behind the cameras to write, direct and produce hit television shows this season.

Peter Horton, the heartthrob of "thirtysomething" as English-literature professor Gary Shepard, went on to executive-produce ABC's mega-hit "Grey's Anatomy." He is now the executive producer of this year's modest hit "Dirty Sexy Money" on ABC.

The new prime-time soap "Lipstick Jungle," making its debut Feb. 7 on NBC, is executive-produced by Timothy Busfield, who played adulterous ad man Elliot Weston on "thirtysomething." Ken Olin, best known as the show's conflicted yuppie protagonist, Michael Steadman, produces, directs, writes and acts on ABC's drama "Brothers and Sisters." And Nickelodeon's hit show "The Naked Brothers Band" is the creation of Polly Draper, who played driven City Hall worker Ellyn Warren.

Somehow it all makes sense now.