Michael John Petty

With Us Since

2022

Location

North Idaho

School

Montana State University

Expertise

Westerns, DC Comics adaptations, Supernatural

Michael has interviewed actors, screenwriters, producers, and writers alike, including John Rhys-Davies, Zahn McClarnon, Dallas Jenkins, Jon Gunn, Jeremy Adams, Bryan Q. Miller, Marc Guggenheim, and the cast and crew of AMC's "Dark Winds."
He is an award-winning author and filmmaker. His historical fiction short story, "The Devil's Left Hand," won the Spur Award for "Best Short Western Fiction" in 2025. Previously, his short horror screenplay, "Reaper," received the Platinum Award for "Best Script" at the Los Angeles Horror Competition, and he produced the award-winning western short, "The Territory's Best."
Michael is a member of the Western Writers of America and has been a recurring guest on podcasts devoted to Chris Carter's "The X-Files" and "Millennium."

Experience

Michael has been covering the entertainment industry since before every celebrity had a podcast. Beginning with Across the Airwaves Productions in 2010, he reviewed a variety of television shows and feature films across various genres. Michael hosted a handful of podcasts on the network before it dissolved in 2017. He has since continued to engage with the digital media space at outlets such as TVLine, Looper, Collider, Superman Homepage, and more. Aside from simply writing about his favorite stories, Michael also writes some fantastical tales of his own, including the supernatural thriller novella, "The Beast of Bear-tooth Mountain" and subsequent installments of the growing Bear-tooth Mountain Archive, as well as various "Weird West" adventures featuring the gunslinger Shane Cassidy.

Education

Michael has a Bachelor of Arts in film and photography from Montana State University.

TVLine Editorial Policies

TVLine's content is a collaboration between a core group of experienced entertainment editors and a team of writers, beat reporters, interviewers, critics, and experts in the vast world of television. Our goal is to provide up-to-the-minute breaking news coverage as well as original and engaging opinion and editorial content that serves fans of the television world.

Our team of editors and advisors constantly updates and reviews articles to ensure they're current, comprehensive, and informative. Additional information on our editorial process available here.

Stories By Michael John Petty

%cc%

Drama

Drama By Michael John Petty

Why Antaan From Lanterns Looks So Familiar

Lanterns' mysterious Antaan has a familiar face, thanks to a television career spanning acclaimed crime dramas, comedies, and another DC Universe role.
By Michael John Petty Read More
%cc%

Television

Television By Michael John Petty

5 Television Dramas Better Than The Movies That Inspired Them

From Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Friday Night Lights, these five TV dramas proved that sometimes the small-screen version can be even better than the movie.
By Michael John Petty Read More
%cc%

Procedural

Procedural By Michael John Petty

Bones' Seeley Booth Is Related To One Of The Most Famous Assassins In American History

Did you know that FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth from "Bones" is actually a direct descendant of the man who killed the 16th president of the United States?
By Michael John Petty Read More
%cc%

Television

Television By Michael John Petty

Think Lanterns Is Too Grounded? Watch This Cult-Favorite Green Lantern Series

While the vibe of HBO's Lanterns is closer to True Detective than Return of the Jedi, Cartoon Network offered a much zippier Hal Jordan in the early 2010s.
By Michael John Petty Read More
%cc%

Television

Television By Michael John Petty

Walton Goggins Asked For A Change That Made Justified's Boyd Crowder Even Better

Walton Goggins initially rejected his Justified role, but he eventually came around to the idea of playing Boyd Crowder — under one condition.
By Michael John Petty Read More
%cc%

Television

Television By Michael John Petty

5 Superman: The Animated Series Episodes That Perfectly Define The Man Of Steel

When it comes to animated Superman shows, none hold a candle to Superman: The Animated Series. Here are the episodes that best define the Man of Steel.
By Michael John Petty Read More
%cc%

Television

Television By Michael John Petty

The Real Reason Little House On The Prairie Ended By Blowing Up The Entire Town

Little House on the Prairie fans may recall that the 1984 series finale concludes with the characters deciding to destroy the town — and destroy it they did.
By Michael John Petty Read More
%cc%

Television

Television By Michael John Petty

Evil's Creators Planned To Satirize Two Hit Legal Dramas In Season 5

Evil creators Robert and Michelle King would have explored the inherently demonic nature of the court system, had the show been renewed for a fifth season.
By Michael John Petty Read More
%cc%

Television

Television By Michael John Petty

5 Once Beloved TV Shows That Are Perfect For A Reboot

For many TV fans, "reboot" can be a dreaded term, but we'd argue that some shows deserve to be revisited years later.
By Michael John Petty Read More
%cc%

Television

Television By Michael John Petty

Yellowstone's 'Indian Relay' Episode Is Based On A Real-Life Event

Although Yellowstone didn't get every detail about Montana living right, there were times when it offered an authentic glimpse into Native American culture.
By Michael John Petty Read More

Back