Producer Deborah Spera teaches the graduate course Developing Comedy Series at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.

In 2012, she and former Lifetime executive Maria Grasso partnered to launch One-Two Punch Productions, which has a two-year first look deal at ITV Studios America. Spera most recently worked with Grasso as an executive producer on MTV’s new drama series Finding Carter.

During Spera’s seven-year tenure as the president of television for The Mark Gordon Company, she served as an executive producer on CBS’ Criminal Minds, Lifetime’s Army Wives, the CW’s Reaper and CBS’ Suspect Behavior. The company also produces such critically acclaimed programming as ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice.

Prior to The Mark Gordon Company, Spera served for eight years as vice president of movies, minis and series at Showtime Networks. She developed and worked on more than 40 projects, several of which garnered Emmy, Golden Globe and Peabody nominations and wins including This American Life, The Baby Dance, Wild Iris, 12 Angry Men, Inherit the Wind, On the Beach, Rocky Marciano, Freak City and 10,000 Black Men Named George.

Spera was previously in features at Eden Roc Pictures and New Regency Productions where she worked on such films as What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Under Siege, Free Willy, Sommersby, The Mambo Kings, Guilty by Suspicion and JFK.

Spera is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and resides in Los Angeles with her husband and three children.