Erica Messer

{{Short description|American television writer, producer, and story editor}}

Erica Messer is an American television writer, producer, and story editor. Since 2011, she has been the showrunner of Criminal Minds after being one of the main writers since the premiere in 2005. She has written episodes for television such as Alias, The O.C., Charmed, and Criminal Minds. She has also co-produced two shows: Charmed and Criminal Minds, as well as acting as a story editor on Alias and executive story editor on The O.C.

Career

Messer began her career with the television series Alias in 2001 as a screenwriter. In 2002, she was promoted to story editor on Alias. Messer, then in 2003–04, wrote several episodes for The O.C. and serving as executive story editor. She wrote one episode for Charmed in 2004. From 2004 to 2005, Messer was the co-producer of Charmed. From 2005 to the present, she has been with the television series Criminal Minds as a screenwriter, producer, supervising producer, and executive producer. In 2010, Messer was named co-showrunner. In 2011, she was named sole showrunner. In 2013, Messer re-signed her contract with Criminal Minds.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2013/05/criminal-minds-contract-negotiations-erica-messer-cast-488327/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=January 13, 2016|date=May 2, 2013|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|title='Criminal Minds' Showrunner Erica Messer Signs New Deal; Is The Cast Next?}} In 2014, CBS was looking for a spin-off.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cbs-plots-criminal-minds-spinoff-757403|access-date=January 13, 2016|date=December 12, 2014|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first1=Lesley|last1=Goldberg|first2=Michael|last2=O'Connell|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|title=CBS Plots 'Criminal Minds' Spinoff From Showrunner Erica Messer}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/cbs-plans-another-criminal-minds-spinoff-1201378760/|work=Variety|access-date=January 13, 2016|date=December 13, 2014|author=Variety Staff|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|title=CBS Plans Another 'Criminal Minds' Spinoff}} In 2015, Messer wrote the backdoor pilot episode "Beyond Borders" in the tenth season of Criminal Minds for which the spin-off Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders was created.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/criminal-minds-season-11-aisha-827614|work=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=January 13, 2016|date=September 29, 2015|last=Vick|first=Megan|title='Criminal Minds' Boss Talks Aisha Tyler's Debut and 'Beyond Borders' Crossovers}} Messer has also co-written multiple episodes of Criminal Minds with star Kirsten Vangsness.