Emmy Awards and Nominations Nominations
2002 - Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program - America: A Tribute to Heroes
2000 - Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Movie - Homicide: The Movie
1988 - Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series - St. Elsewhere"
1987 - Outstanding Drama Series - St. Elsewhere
1987 - Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series - "St. Elsewhere" - Episode Afterlife
1986 - Outstanding Drama Series -St. Elsewhere
1986 - Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series - St. Elsewhere - Episode Haunted
1985 - Outstanding Drama Series - "St. Elsewhere
1985 - Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series - St. Elsewhere - Episode Murder, She Rote
1985 - Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series - St. Elsewhere - Episode Sweet Dreams
1984 - Outstanding Drama Series - St. Elsewhere Wins
1993 - Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Drama Series - Homicide: Life on the Street - Episode Three Men And Adena.
1986 - Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series - St. Elsewhere - Episode Time Heals Part I and II
1984 - Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series - St. Elsewhere - Episode The Women[edit]
In 2007, Fontana donated a half-million dollars for the creation of a boathouse in Buffalo, New York that was originally designed, but unused, by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1905. Dedicated to his parents, the boathouse has become the fifth standing Wright-designed structure located in Buffalo. [edit]
Fontana received his degree in Theater Arts from Buffalo State College in New York. [edit]
When Melissa Leo was fired from Homicide: Life on the Street fans used the internet to start rumors on who was to be her replacement. Tired of all the false reports, Fontana then began a disinformation push by posting actress rumors every few days during that summer. Two of the more known names were Shannen Doherty and Juliette Lewis. [edit]
In 2004, Fontana received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Caucus for Television Producers, Writers and Directors. [edit]
Aginst his wishes, the pilot episode for Fontana's The Bedford Diaries was censored by the WB's standards department for air on television. The episode had orginally been accepted in full by the department, but due to the recent large fines imposed upon CBS by the FCC, the WB decided to cut footage of two girls kissing and a shot of a girl unbuttoning her jeans. The pilot episode was , however, available to watch uncut on the WB's website. [edit]
In 1982, Fontana received his first big break in television from producer Bruce Paltrow who hired him to write for the St. Elsewhere television show. Fontana would later go on to be a producer on the show. [edit]
Fontana is best known as the mind behind the television shows Homicide: Life on the Street and Oz[edit]
In 1993, Fontana received his as well as Homicide's first Emmy. The award for "Outstanding Individual Writing for a Drama Series" went to his script for Season One's episode Three Men and Adena. [edit]
On December 5th, 2005, Fontana was the emcee, along with Hank Azaria for Blythe's Spirit. The event, sponsored by the Williamstown Theatre Festival, honored the work of Tony and Emmy Award winner Blythe Danner. [edit]
Has been involved with the only two television drama series to have ever been awarded a Peabody Award: Homicide: Life on the Street and St. Elsewhere. [edit]
Dennis Farina's character, Detective Joe Fontana, on Law & Order, was named after Tom Fontana, who is a close friend of Law & Order series creator Dick Wolf. [edit]
Tom Fontana: I have yet to figure out Internet people. There is actually a Why We Hate Tom Fontana web site, because I make choices for characters that people thought weren't the way to go. But they're my characters. [edit]
Tom Fontana: We were always opposite Dynasty and Dallas. Everybody wanted to know who shot JR, not who got an appendectomy on St. Elsewhere. [edit]
Tom Fontana: I started as a playwright, and I think it is a great foundation for anyone working in Television. [edit]
Tom: When I was a kid I was always reading Superman and Batman because I am so old that I pre-date Marvel. [edit]
Tom Fontana: But the disappointing thing about the stuff that I've read is that it seems to me for people who seem as devoted to the show as they are, they don't give us any benefit of a doubt for really thinking this stuff through, they may not agree with the path we're on, but they get insulting. I almost want to get on and say, "If you can do better, come on over here!" [edit]
Tom Fontana: Actually, my mother is the most important audience member. [edit]
