About
Under the Dome brought Neal Baer to CBS to helm one of the network’s biggest genre dramas, adapting Stephen King’s novel into a high-stakes, character-driven thriller. As showrunner, Baer oversaw the expansion of King’s premise—a small town suddenly sealed off from the world by an invisible barrier—into an exploration of civic breakdown, resource scarcity, and the moral limits of survival.
Throughout the series, Baer balanced large-scale sci-fi spectacle with tightly woven interpersonal stories, grounding the mystery of the Dome in questions of governance, trust, and the fragile social contracts that hold communities together. His leadership shaped the show into a hybrid of suspense, political allegory, and human drama that remained one of CBS’s most-watched summer series during its three-season run.
Awards
International Audience Award Nomination (2014) — Monte Carlo Television Festival
Awards
George Foster Peabody Award (1995) – for Excellence in Broadcasting, as Writer
Public Service Award, National Kidney Foundation (1995) – for “The Gift” episode
People’s Choice Awards (1995–2000) – Favorite Dramatic Series / Favorite New Series
Golden Globe Nominations (1996–2000) – Best Dramatic Series
Emmy Award Nominations (1996–2001) – Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Writing
Gracie Award (1996) – for “Calling Dr. Hathaway”
Nancy Susan Reynolds Award (1997) – for HIV storyline
GLAAD Award Nomination (1999) – for “Stuck on You”
Literacy in Media Awards (1999, 2000, 2001) – for “Middle of Nowhere,” “Loose Ends,” and “Rescue Me”
Freddie Award (2000) – Outstanding Medical Show on Patient Care
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