For Debora Cahn getting to create and run her own Netflix hit series was simple. First, get jobs and spend years writing and producing on iconic shows like The West Wing, Homeland, and Grey’s Anatomy.

Cahn is creator, showrunner, and Executive Producer of Netflix’s The Diplomat which she thinks of as sort of the flip of West Wing, a show she joined in its fourth season and stayed through the finale, with a focus on international affairs rather than domestic politics. Now for its third season it has received more Emmy nominations than ever with seven including two for Cahn – Outstanding Drama Series and Writing in a Drama Series – and it is especially sweet because this reps her first Emmy writing nomination, although she is a past two time WGA Award winner (for “The Supremes” episode of West Wing, as well as writing on the Limited Series, Fosse/Verdon). In all three years of the series, star Keri Russell has been nominated, and the show itself was also up for Drama Series last season too.

Cahn says she has learned from the best, including of course West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin and Grey’s Anatomy creator Sondra Rhimes, the latter show she joined early on in 2006 before leaving in 2013. She also worked under Martin Scorsese and Terence Winter as a writer and co-ep of HBO’s Vinyl, and wrote the TV Movie Paterno starring Al Pacino among other impressive credits.

Cahn joins me for this episode of my Deadline video series, Behind The Lens where we talk about her remarkable career, the upward trajector of The Diplomat at the Emmys, how the show resonates in this upside down political climate and how she keeps it relevant, plus where it is going in the fourth season now underway in the writers room, and so much more including the meeting during the production of Homeland where Cahn jotted down just five words that led to the creation of The Diplomat.

To watch our conversation and to go ‘behind the lens’ with Debora Cahn just click on the link above.

Join me every Monday and Friday this season for a new Behind The Lens and every Wednesday for a new episode of The Actor’s Side.

Comedy Dynamics is set to release Yes, I Am Falafel Phil, a new comedy special from Dan Ahdoot, across Prime Video, Apple TV and other platforms on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

In the special, Ahdoot takes on post-breakup fitness, foodie culture, dating, family and the absurdity of becoming a minor celebrity to children. As he chases adulthood and Hollywood validation, one Disney Channel role keeps following him: Falafel Phil from the show Kickin’ It. Shot live at the New York Comedy Club, the special is about identity, success and accepting the embarrassing version of yourself that everyone else remembers.

“This special is the result of years on the road,” Ahdoot said, “and I’m so excited the world finally gets to see what Falafel Phil has been up to.”

Comedy Dynamics CEO Brian Volk-Weiss told us, “Dan is a multi-talented comedian that’s continuing to rise in comedy. We’re excited to share his hilarious new special with the world.”

A headlining stand-up comic, actor and writer, Ahdoot’s credits in television include Netflix’s Cobra Kai and The Crew and the comedy Bajillion Dollar Propertie$. A frequent guest on The Tonight Show, he’s also been seen in ABC’s Super Fun Night with Rebel Wilson, Comedy Central’s Workaholics and @midnight, and Adult Swim’s Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell.

Ahdoot wrote the film Public Disturbance for Lionsgate, in addition to the memoir Undercooked, and has developed for television at CBS, ABC, Fox, Hulu and Freeform. He currently co-hosts the podcast Second Thought with Suzy Weiss at The Free Press and is repped by Innovative Artists and Entertainment 360.

Joseph Kosinski’s new take on the classic 80s TV series Miami Vice is adding on to its already stacked cast as sources tell Deadline Whitney Peak is set to join Universal’s Miami Vice ’85. Alden Ehrenreich recently was added to the cast. Kosinski will direct with a script by Dan Gilroy.

The film explores the glamour and corruption of mid-’80s Miami in an all-new version of Miami Vice, inspired by the pilot episode of the landmark Universal Television series that influenced culture and set the style of everything from fashion to filmmaking. Bringing current technological expertise to the sights and sounds of the series, Miami Vice ‘85  will be filmed for Imax and is set for release on May 19, 2028. Production will begin this year.

The film is produced by Dylan Clark/Dylan Clark Productions and Kosinski. Gilroy’s script is based on characters created by Anthony Yerkovich from the series he executive produced with Michael Mann. Eric Warren Singer wrote an earlier draft of the screenplay. EVP Production Development Sara Scott and Creative Executive of Production Development Christina Hoffrogge will oversee the project for the studio. 

While the X-Men auditions ever taken up a lot of the air space when it comes to hot roles for rising stars, the female leads in Miami Vice after secretly gained a ton of attention. Peak was one of many female actors testing for the part with the final chem tests taking place with Michael B. Jordan last month (while unconfirmed, sources say Field will play Jordan’s love interest in the pic). Peak would ultimately land the role with production set to start top of 2026.

Peak will next be seen playing ‘Lenore Dove’ in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping opposite Joseph Zada, set for a November 20 worldwide release, as well as the Amazon/MGM film 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank, directed by SMILF creator Frankie Shaw.

She most recently starred in the Netflix shark thriller Thrash opposite Phoebe Dynevor which released worldwide in April on Netflix reaching #1 worldwide within 24 hours of release.

She is repped by CAA, Play Management, Canopy Media Partners and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.