RIP Stephen Cannell, only 69...

Ditto from TOG. And not just his writing and creativity regarding TV shows and movies but his novel writing as well. I've read some of his books and they were on the same par as his show writing.

I go to a great reading series once a month at a Brooklyn waterfront bar. The guy who puts the series together is, among other things, a crime novel writer, so he knows a lot of other crime writers (often Edgar nominees or winners). They come often, sometimes just to listen, sometimes to read. I overheard a conversation last Sunday between S.J. Rozan (two-time Edgar winner) and someone else. S.J. said how shocked she had been by Steve's death, because she had just seen him last month at something or other and he looked absolutely great. Her companion replied, "Of course he looked great! He lived in Southern California and was constantly in the sun. He died from melanoma."