@FreeDuck,
I've been tv less for years now, which hasn't been as trying as it might sound. I used to like various shows and cable channels that tended to show british series, seemingly obscure foreign films (Bravo, but especially Z channel), and so on, and when it became a push to afford cable, I only kept the tv for my niece to watch movies on video when she visited and once in a while for myself to watch videos, and the rare effort to catch tv news (ewwwww). But, I've a longish history of following writers and directors, so I have to look up the writer creator of Deadwood - that's David Milch, I see. (Meantime, I'm checking this thread, now that I have netflix, as I watch dvds on my computer.)
Which brings up other writers (not all tv associated) - ahhhhh. Just some names:
Dennis Potter, well, here's a list from his official biography site, and this is just re tv -
Title Date of first tx
Sufficient Carbohydrate 1983,
The Confidence Course 1965,
Alice 1965
Stand up, Nigel Barton 1965
Vote, Vote, Vote for Nigel Barton 1965
Emergency Ward 9 1966
Where the Buffalo Roam 1966
Message for Posterity 1967 /1994
The Bonegrinder 1968
Shaggy Dog 1968
A Beast with Two Backs 1968
Moonlight on the Highway 1969
Son of Man 1969
Lay Down Your Arms 1970
Angels Are So Few 1970
Paper Roses 1971
Traitor 1971
Casanova 1971
Follow the Yellow Brick Road 1972
Only Make Believe 1973
A Tragedy of Two Ambitions 1973
Joe's Ark 1974
Schmoedipus 1974
Late Call 1975
Brimstone and Treacle [1976] 1987
Double Dare 1976
Where Adam Stood 1976
The Mayor of Casterbridge 1978
Pennies From Heaven 1978
Blue Remembered Hills 1979
Blade on the Feather 1980
Rain on the Roof 1980
Cream in My Coffee 1980
Tender is the Night 1985
The Singing Detective 1986
Visitors 1987
Christabel 1988
Blackeyes 1989
Lipstick on Your Collar 1993
Karaoke 1996
Cold Lazarus 1996
OK, I'll stop with the credit lists...
Frederic Raphael - Two for the Road, Glittering Prizes - a BBC series),
William Goldman - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Princess Bride, much else
(http://www.filmmakers.com/artists/williamgoldman/biography/index.htm)
Michael Dobbs' book, adapted by Andrew Davies - House of Cards (BBC)
Larry Gelbart - writer creator of Mash, zillions of credits
David Chase - Sopranos
Alan Burns/James Brooks - writer creators Mary Tyler Moore Show
There are more, that's all whose names immediately come to mind.