John Schaffner is an American production designer and art director.
Shaffner has been recognized as an Outstanding Alumnus of the University of Montana, where he earned a B.F.A. and is the recipient of the university’s School of Fine Arts Odyssey Award. He has also been recognized with the Alumni Merit Award from Carnegie Mellon University, where he received an M.F.A. He began his career in New York and regional theatre, designing for the New York Shakespeare Festival in Central Park and the Seattle Repertory Theatre. Prior to serving as chairman and CEO of the Television Academy (from 2008 to 2011), Shaffner served as Governors’ Appointee to the Executive Committee, vice chair and second vice chair and governor of the Art Directors and Set Decorators Peer Group (five years). He chaired the Budget Review Committee and co-chaired the Television Cares Committee, developing the Television Academy Honors, for which he coined the phrase “television with a conscience.”
Shaffner and his partner Joe Stewart are the recipients of three Primetime Emmy awards for David Copperfield specials and two Daytime Emmy Awards for Ellen. Shaffner has been also recognized with a Primetime Emmy for The George Lopez Show. The duo has been nominated a total of 32 times for Primetime and Daytime Emmys. They have also received the Art Directors Guild Award.
As multi-camera designers, their work includes the designs for Conan, The Doctors, Rachael Ray, Craig Ferguson, Mike and Molly, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, Friends, The Drew Carey Show and Dharma and Greg. Shaffner and Stewart design the annual American Music Awards, Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon and the Miss Universe Shows. The red edition of the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus is their design.
