4/1 - Stephen J. Cannell

Stephen Joseph Cannell is an American television producer, writer, novelist and occasional actor who is also the founder of Stephen J. Cannell Productions.

Cannell has created or co-created nearly 40 television series, mostly crime dramas, including The Rockford Files, The Greatest American Hero, The A-Team, Wiseguy, 21 Jump Street, Silk Stalkings, and The Commish. In the process he has, by his own count, scripted more than 450 episodes, and produced or executive produced over 1,500 episodes.

Stephen Cannell created & produced Baa Baa Black Sheep (later syndicated as Black Sheep Squadron) is a television series that aired on NBC from 1976 until 1978. Its premise was based on the experiences of United States Marine Corps aviator Pappy Boyington and his World War II "Black Sheep Squadron".  Robert Conrad starred as Greg "Pappy" Boyington on the series.