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“The studios have always hated writers.” With that unfiltered statement, John Altschuler, co-creator of Silicon Valley, didn’t mince words during his keynote at the Iberseries & Platino Industria event in Madrid. Speaking with rare candor, the veteran writer and producer offered a sharp analysis of how Hollywood sees its creatives, while also sharing thoughts on past successes, current projects, and the future of storytelling.
Writers at the Heart, Yet Disdained
In Altschuler’s view, the core contradiction of the American entertainment industry lies in its relationship with screenwriters. “They despise writers,” he said plainly, highlighting what many in the industry know but few say so openly. Despite writers being at the center of the U.S. production model—especially in television, where their influence often defines a series—he painted a stark picture of their treatment by studios.
By contrast, Altschuler pointed to Europe, where the creative process tends to revolve around the director. He didn’t necessarily see this as better or worse, just different. “Maybe we should try blending Hollywood’s productivity with Europe’s artistic sensibility,” he mused. That idea resonates: imagine TV shows that move fast and reach big audiences, but remain deeply personal and original.
As someone who’s written for both network TV and streaming-era hits, I sense in Altschuler’s words the fatigue of a seasoned writer, but also the hope of someone still chasing what storytelling can become. To read Pluribus finale shocks fans as season 2 faces long wait
A Creative Bond Born in Middle-Class Roots
Altschuler spoke fondly about his longtime collaborator Mike Judge, with whom he created Silicon Valley and wrote for the beloved animated series King of the Hill. Their shared upbringing in middle-class America shaped their writing—grounded, a bit cynical, but brimming with authenticity.
He recalled that during King of the Hill’s peak, actors like Brad Pitt, Ben Stiller, and Jennifer Aniston asked to be part of the show. “They just wanted to be in it,” he said, reflecting on that oddly humble moment when Hollywood stars flocked to a modest cartoon because they loved its voice and tone.
I’ve always thought King of the Hill was quietly brilliant. Its strength was in understanding the quirks and contradictions of regular people, and turning them into something deeply human and often hilarious. You can see that same sensibility carried over into Silicon Valley, just applied to tech moguls and app developers.
Silicon Valley: A Satirical Punch at the Tech World
Silicon Valley wasn’t just clever—it was sharp, ruthless, and timely. For Altschuler, the show was a reaction to an industry, the tech world, that had gone underrepresented and under-critiqued. “The Big Bang Theory didn’t get it right,” he said, pointing to its broader, more sanitized portrayal of nerd culture.
By contrast, Silicon Valley didn’t try to soften the blow. The characters may have talked about “changing the world,” but behind that was what Altschuler called an opportunistic hunger. “They’re greedy, ravenous, terrible people,” he said. “So I was like, this is a show.” That irony—changing the world while cashing in—was fuel for the series’ best episodes. To read Taylor Swift opens up in final Eras Tour docuseries episode
As a viewer who binged all six seasons, I admired how the show dared to present the tech elite not as misunderstood heroes, but as flawed, power-hungry players. That honesty felt rare on TV.
A Look Ahead: New Tales and New Ground
Altschuler isn’t done. He revealed he’s working on a new series adapted from the book The Gangster’s Guide to Sobriety: My Life in 12 Steps. The project is a collaboration with longtime partner Dave Krinsky and Richie Stephens, the author whose real-life experiences fuel the story. It’s set to be an Irish-U.K. co-production, opening up fresh territory for Altschuler, who’s mostly worked in American television.
While details remain limited, the premise—combining addiction, redemption, and crime—suggests another world full of contradictions, which is clearly something Altschuler thrives on.
The Power of Intellectual Property
To wrap up his keynote, Altschuler stressed a hard truth about today’s entertainment game: everything revolves around intellectual property. “IP is everything,” he stated, noting how streaming and digital platforms have only amplified that obsession.
He’s not wrong. Today, studios pile money behind recognizable names and worlds—superheroes, sequels, or bestselling books—leaving less room for original risk-taking. But someone like Altschuler, with his mix of industry savvy and indie spirit, might just find ways to sneak surprises in through those same doors.
Takeaways from John Altschuler’s keynote:
- Writers remain undervalued in the American studio system, despite driving much of its success.
- Collaboration with Mike Judge came from shared values and background, influencing shows like King of the Hill.
- Silicon Valley aimed to expose hypocrisy in tech culture, not glorify it.
- A new series based on a true story of addiction and crime is in development.
- In the age of streaming, intellectual property dominates—but creativity still finds pockets of resistance.
Listening to Altschuler is like talking to someone who still believes in the storytelling craft, but won’t hesitate to call out the flaws in the system. He’s not nostalgic. He’s not bitter. He’s honest—and that feels rare today.
