Taylor Sheridan has not been to Los Angeles in seven years and said recently that he has no interest in changing that.
During a recent appearance on the Rodeo Time podcast, the 56-year-old writer and director called Los Angeles an "awful place" where there is nothing to do except work out. "I'm the biggest content creator in Hollywood, and I haven't been to that sorry son of a b----- in seven years," he said.
Sheridan is the creator of some of the most-watched programs on television, including Yellowstone, Landman, Lioness, and Tulsa King, among others. He has built and operates that entire slate from Texas. His home base, Bosque Ranch, is in North Texas. His production studio, SGS Studios, which includes sound stages and constructed sets, is located in Fort Worth.
Sheridan got his start in the industry as an actor in Los Angeles. What he observed on sets there shaped how he runs his own productions. He said he watched directors manage by yelling at crew members and creating hostile working environments. "I watch these directors, most of them yell at everybody, yell at their crew, yell at people. ... It's a leadership by frustration," he explained. "It's a terrible way to lead, and it creates an atmosphere that nobody wants to be a part of."
That experience pushed him toward a different approach on his own sets. He said he came to understand that without camera operators, costume designers, production designers, and the rest of the crew, nothing gets made. "So, unless I'm willing to do it, I better be real nice when I ask someone to do it, and I better be real appreciative when they do," Sheridan said.
The people who work with him have taken notice. Actor Michael Kelly, who appears in Season 3 of Lioness, told ScreenRant earlier this month that he told Sheridan directly, "Bro, anything you ever want me to do, I'll do. I love being in Texas. I love saying your words." Kelly went further in his assessment of Sheridan as a creative figure. "I think he's truly a standalone talent," he said. "There's nobody who's doing or has ever done what he's doing. It's incredible what he does. And he's just one of the smartest dudes you'll ever meet. He's fricking brilliant, man. Brilliant. And just one of the greatest storytellers."
Actress Zoe Saldaña also praised Sheridan's ability to write female characters, telling CBS Mornings that he writes women who are "complex" and "wholesome." She said, "If there's one thing that I love the most, it's men that really see women and know how to write women." Saldaña highlighted her character specifically, noting, "I love the fact that there is an accurate depiction of Joe. A woman that, in front of her team, she never breaks, and she's able to carry so much responsibility on her shoulders."
Season 3 of Lioness premiered on August 2.
