Jason Rothenberg

In 2009, the CW ordered a pilot to Jason Rothenberg and Bill Robinson's long-in-the-works drama about a group of young Washington, D.C. staffers titled Body Politic. The project was originally sold to The WB back in November 2005 by ABC Studios (then known as Touchstone Television).{{cite news |date=February 5, 2009 |title=Development Update: Thursday, February 5 |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=7948 |work=The Futon Critic |access-date=July 11, 2023 |archive-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213051025/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=7948 |url-status=live }} However the show did not appear in the CW's fall schedule in early 2009 and on May 21, 2009, in an interview with Dawn Ostroff, the CW's CEO stated the show was still in consideration for midseason.{{cite news |last=Ghosh |first=Korbi |date=May 21, 2009 |title=Dawn Ostroff says 'Gossip Girl' spin off could still get a spot on The CW schedule |url=http://zap2it.com/2009/05/dawn-ostroff-says-gossip-girl-spin-off-could-still-get-a-spot-on-the-cw-schedule/ |work=Zap2it |access-date=May 18, 2016 |archive-date=June 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616153922/http://zap2it.com/2009/05/dawn-ostroff-says-gossip-girl-spin-off-could-still-get-a-spot-on-the-cw-schedule/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last=Ghosh |first=Korbi |date=May 27, 2009 |title='Body Politic': I've now seen the pilot, The CW needs to pick it up |url=http://zap2it.com/2009/05/the-body-politic/ |work=Zap2it |access-date=May 18, 2016 |archive-date=June 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616153726/http://zap2it.com/2009/05/the-body-politic/ |url-status=dead }} Finally, on August 4, 2009, Dawn Ostroff announced that the project was officially dead for the CW.{{cite magazine |last=Ausiello |first=Michael |date=August 4, 2009 |title=Press Tour Diary: The CW executive session |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2009/08/04/press-tour-diary-the-cw-executive-session |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=October 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024182052/https://ew.com/article/2009/08/04/press-tour-diary-the-cw-executive-session/ |url-status=dead }}

After the CW didn't pick up the pilot, the Rothenberg and Robinson tried to promote the potential series to other networks including NBC and ABC. It was reported that NBC liked what they saw, but didn't have space for it and ABC was considering the series for midseason.{{cite news |last=C |first=Nick |date=June 19, 2009 |title=Body Politic Future |url=https://nickctv.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/body-politic-future/ |website=WordPress |access-date=July 11, 2023 |archive-date=October 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012171536/https://nickctv.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/body-politic-future/ |url-status=live }} In the end, no one picked up the series.

Although the series was left out, critics were positive enough with the 14–20-minute pilot presentation. E! Online describe it as the "Best Pilot you may never see" and that "if the CW ever wants us to take it seriously as a trademark network of our generation, it needs to branch out from its usual routine of picking up shows geared for a younger audience. The Body Politic is a cure to that problem".{{cite news |last=Abrams |first=Natalie |date=June 6, 2009 |title=The Body Politic: The Best Pilot You May Never See |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/127629/the-body-politic-the-best-pilot-you-may-never-see |work=E! |access-date=July 11, 2023 |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405030023/https://www.eonline.com/news/127629/the-body-politic-the-best-pilot-you-may-never-see |url-status=live }}

{{See also|The 100 (TV series)}}

On May 9, 2013, it was announced that CW ordered The 100, developed by Rothenberg and based on first novel in the book series of the same name by Kass Morgan.{{cite magazine |last=Hibberd |first=James |date=May 9, 2013 |title=CW orders 3 new sci-fi shows |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2013/05/09/cw-sci-fi-shows |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}{{cite web |title=100, THE (CW) |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/100/ |work=The Futon Critic |access-date=July 22, 2015 |archive-date=July 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711230554/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/100/ |url-status=live }} The series premiered on Wednesday, March 19, 2014, and was watched by an estimated 2.7 million American viewers, and received an 18–49 rating of 0.9.{{cite news |date=March 20, 2014 |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Survivor' Adjusted Up; No Adjustment for 'The 100' |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/03/20/wednesday-final-ratings-survivor-adjusted-up-no-adjustment-for-the-100/246391/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321015018/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/03/20/wednesday-final-ratings-survivor-adjusted-up-no-adjustment-for-the-100/246391/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 21, 2014 |work=TV by the Numbers}} It is considered the most-watched show in its time-slot on The CW since 2010 with the series Life Unexpected.{{cite news |date=March 20, 2014 |title='The 100' Premiere is the CW's Most Watched Show in the Time Period Since 2010 |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/03/20/the-100-premiere-is-the-cws-most-watched-show-in-the-time-period-since-2010/246477/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321001752/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/03/20/the-100-premiere-is-the-cws-most-watched-show-in-the-time-period-since-2010/246477/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 21, 2014 |work=TV by the Numbers}} On Rotten Tomatoes, the show's first season had 72% of professional reviewers reviewing it positively, with a consensus of "Although flooded with stereotypes, the suspenseful atmosphere helps make The 100 a rare high-concept guilty pleasure."{{cite web |title=The 100 (2014- ) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/-CW/ |work=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=July 11, 2023 |archive-date=June 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613010851/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/-CW |url-status=live }} On Metacritic, the first season scores 63 out of 100 points.{{cite web |title=The 100 : Season 1 |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-100 |work=Metacritic |access-date=July 11, 2023 |archive-date=January 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106210322/http://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-100 |url-status=live }}

The second season premiered on Wednesday, October 23, 2014, and received an 18–49 rating of 0.5 with 1.54 million American viewers, which was less than the final episode of season one.{{cite news|date=May 8, 2014|title='Beauty and the Beast', 'The 100' and 'Hart of Dixie' Renewed by The CW|work=TV by the Numbers|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/05/08/beauty-and-the-beast-renewed-by-the-cw/261847/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508223837/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/05/08/beauty-and-the-beast-renewed-by-the-cw/261847/|archive-date=May 8, 2014}}{{cite news |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |date=October 23, 2014 |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: 'The Middle', 'The Goldbergs', 'Modern Family', & 'Criminal Minds' Adjusted Up; 'black-ish' Adjusted Down + Final World Series Numbers |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/10/23/wednesday-final-ratings-the-middle-the-goldbergs-modern-family-black-ish-adjusted-down-final-world-series-numbers/318375/ |url-status=dead |work=TV by the Numbers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025164721/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/10/23/wednesday-final-ratings-the-middle-the-goldbergs-modern-family-black-ish-adjusted-down-final-world-series-numbers/318375 |archive-date=October 25, 2014}} However the second season was met with more favorable reviews, holding a rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. IGN also gave the show a more positive review. IGN editor Eric Goldman writes, "Overcoming most of its early growing pains pretty quickly, The 100 was a very strong show by the end of its first season. But Season 2 elevated the series into the upper echelon, as the show become one of the coolest and most daring series on TV these days."{{cite news |last=Goldman |first=Eric |date=March 15, 2015 |title=The 100: Season 2 Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/15/the-100-season-2-review |work=IGN |access-date=July 11, 2023 |archive-date=January 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106152353/https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/15/the-100-season-2-review |url-status=live }}

On January 11, 2015, The CW renewed the series for a third season.{{cite news |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=January 11, 2015 |title=CW Renews 'Arrow,' 'Flash,' 'Supernatural,' 'Vampire Diaries,' 'Originals,' More |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cw-renews-arrow-flash-supernatural-762522 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=May 17, 2016 |archive-date=May 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526021957/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cw-renews-arrow-flash-supernatural-762522 |url-status=live }} In this season, Lexa, a lesbian character, was controversially killed.{{cite news |last=Prudom |first=Laura |date=March 3, 2016 |title='The 100' Boss Talks Latest Casualty, That Flashback Twist |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/the-100-spoilers-lexa-dead-becca-commander-season-3-episode-7-thirteen-1201722251/ |work=Variety |access-date=May 17, 2016 |archive-date=May 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160525053252/http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/the-100-spoilers-lexa-dead-becca-commander-season-3-episode-7-thirteen-1201722251/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Ryan |first=Maureen |date=March 14, 2016 |title=What TV Can Learn From 'The 100' Mess |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/opinion/the-100-lexa-jason-rothenberg-1201729110/ |work=Variety |access-date=May 17, 2016 |archive-date=June 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603193133/https://variety.com/2016/tv/opinion/the-100-lexa-jason-rothenberg-1201729110/ |url-status=live }} After criticism by fans and critics, Rothenberg posted an apology letter.{{cite news|date=March 11, 2016|title=Fans revolt after gay TV character killed off|work=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-35786382|access-date=May 17, 2016|archive-date=December 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211161034/http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-35786382|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Rothenberg |first=Jason |date=March 24, 2016 |title=The Life and Death of Lexa |url=https://medium.com/@jrothenberg/the-life-and-death-of-lexa-e461224be1db |work=Medium |access-date=May 17, 2016 |archive-date=June 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623224939/https://medium.com/@jrothenberg/the-life-and-death-of-lexa-e461224be1db |url-status=live }}

The series continued into its seventh season, with its final episode being written and directed by Rothenberg and airing on September 30, 2020.{{Cite tweet|number=1158048665929277440|title=With #The100 Season 6 finale just days away, I have some bittersweet news to share: Season 7 will be our last. We are eternally grateful to WB & CW for always allowing us to tell our story the way we want to & to wrap the show on our terms. What an incredible ride this has been!|user=JRothenbergTV|last=Rothenberg|first=Jason|date=August 4, 2019|language=en|access-date=August 7, 2019}}{{cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=March 4, 2020|title=The CW Sets Premiere Dates For 'Stargirl', 'In The Dark' Season 2 & Final Season Of 'The 100'|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/the-cw-sets-premiere-dates-stargirl-in-the-dark-season-2-final-season-the-100-1202874370/|access-date=March 4, 2020|work=Deadline Hollywood|archive-date=March 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304234744/https://deadline.com/2020/03/the-cw-sets-premiere-dates-stargirl-in-the-dark-season-2-final-season-the-100-1202874370/|url-status=live}} Rothenberg was credited as the writer for sixteen of the one-hundred episodes of the series.

The 100 episodes written by Jason Rothenberg:

• "Pilot" (Season 1, Episode 1)
• "Earth Skills" (Season 1, Episode 2)
• "We Are Grounders, Part Two" (Season 1, Episode 13)
• "The 48" (Season 2, Episode 1)
• "Blood Must Have Blood, Part Two" (Season 2, Episode 16)
• "Wanheda, Part One" (Season 3, Episode 1)
• "Perverse Instantiation, Part Two" (Season 3, Episode 16)
• "Echoes" (Season 4, Episode 1)
• "Praimfaya" (Season 4, Episode 13)
• "Eden" (Season 5, Episode 1)
• "Damocles, Part Two" (Season 5, Episode 13)
• "Sanctum" (Season 6, Episode 1)
• "The Blood of Sanctum" (Season 6, Episode 13)
• "From the Ashes" (Season 7, Episode 1)
• "Anaconda" (Season 7, Episode 8)
• "The Last War" (Season 7, Episode 16) (also director)

In October 2016, Deadline reported that The CW bought the rights of to the new Rothenberg and Greg Berlanti project Searchers,{{cite news |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=October 25, 2016 |title=The CW Buys Action Drama 'Searchers' From 'The 100' Creator & Greg Berlanti |url=https://deadline.com/2016/10/searchers-cw-action-drama-the-100-creator-jason-rothenberg-greg-berlanti-1201842759/ |access-date=April 6, 2017 |archive-date=April 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407054337/http://deadline.com/2016/10/searchers-cw-action-drama-the-100-creator-jason-rothenberg-greg-berlanti-1201842759/ |url-status=live }} but by May 2017, Deadline reported that CW has opted not to proceed with the pilot.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

The numbers in directing and writing credits refer to the number of episodes.

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{IMDb name|1003202}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rothenberg, Jason}}

Category:American male screenwriters

Category:American television writers

Category:American male television writers

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:American television producers

Category:American showrunners

Category:American television show creators

Category:Living people