Joe Napolitano

One of the best jobs in Hollywood is that of a successful TV director. All it takes is a clear understanding that TV is essentially a writer's medium and that the job of a TV director is to make sure the actors hit their marks. Joe Napolitano has understood this well, working steadily as a TV director since the early 1990s. His forte is one-hour dramas. Over the years, the series for which Napolitano has directed multiple episodes include the David E. Kelley drama series "Boston Public," the medical drama "Strong Medicine," and the sci-fi series "Quantum Leap." Another critical element of a successful TV director career is an understanding that in between the repeated and more lucrative gigs, it pays to take whatever work is available. As such, Napolitano's resume is also chock full of single episode assignments, from the quirky drama "Northern Exposure," the legal drama s"The Practice," and the legal comedy "Ally McBeal." Separately, Napolitano has worked extensively in features as a First Assistant Director, most notably for Brian De Palma. Their collaborations have included the thriller "Blow Out," the cult crime drama "Scarface," the period crime drama "The Untouchables." He has also directed a pair of feature films, the 1991 comedy "Earth Angel" and the 1997 thriller "Contagious."