Linda Bloodworth-Thomason

A former English teacher, Bloodworth-Thomason turned to TV scriptwriting in the early 1970s and gained a foothold in the industry creating episodes of "M*A*S*H" for producer Larry Gelbart. After marrying TV producer-director Harry Thomason in 1983, she co-founded Mozark Productions, which first struck paydirt three years later with "Designing Women". These two Arkansas transplants followed up their saga of a decoratrix dynasty with the small town antics of "Evening Shade" in 1990 and "Hearts Afire" in 1992. The latter series, set in Washington, DC, mildly echoed the Thomasons' involvement with politics; they received their greatest exposure to date with their efforts in the 1992 presidential campaign of their close friend and fellow Arkansas traveller, Bill Clinton.