Alumni Exploring Adolescence and Young Adulthood, One Episode at a Time Stories You May Like Get a Clue: Anna Shechtman Is a Star in the World of Crosswords Tune Your Radio Dial To … Fascinating Facts About WVBR! ‘How did Cornell Prepare You for Life After the Hill?’ Through shows like ‘XO, Kitty,’ screenwriter Jessica O’Toole ’94 relishes highlighting the ‘inherent stakes and drama’ of youth By Melissa Newcomb Growing up, Jessica O’Toole ’94 would write skits for her cousins to perform for the family during the holidays. Now, she works in Hollywood—penning stories viewed by millions of fans worldwide. A screenwriter and producer for TV shows, O’Toole has worked in the entertainment industry for more than two decades. Most recently, she has served as the showrunner—the lead writer, who also oversees the production—for Netflix’s “XO, Kitty,” a streaming spinoff from the To All the Boys films. The romcom, which has been renewed for a third season, follows a young woman who moves to Seoul, South Korea, to attend school and reunite with her long-distance boyfriend, while discovering herself and navigating relationships. O'Toole (far right) on the set of "XO, Kitty." As a critic for Screen Rant observes, the show “wears its heart on its sleeve and has an infectious energy that sucks you in.” Like “XO, Kitty,” many of O’Toole’s projects have explored the lives of teenagers and young adults—intermingling drama, romance, comedy, and adventure. O’Toole penned 15 episodes of “Greek,” an ABC Family series that ran from 2007–11, chronicling a college freshman’s efforts to shed his nerdy reputation by joining a fraternity. With son Gus and actor Gina Rodriguez, star of "Jane the Virgin." She later wrote four episodes of the CW’s “The Carrie Diaries”; a prequel to HBO’s megahit “Sex and the City,” it depicts its protagonist as an adolescent. “I love writing about teenagers, because there are so many inherent stakes and drama during that time of life,” says O’Toole, who’s married to fellow alum Jess Mullen-Carey ’94, BArch ’95. “Every decision feels like the most important one you’ll ever make.” I love writing about teenagers, because there are so many inherent stakes and drama during that time of life. Every decision feels like the most important one you’ll ever make. O’Toole was a writer and producer of the hit series “Jane the Virgin,” the U.S. adaptation of a Venezuelan telenovela about a chaste young woman who’s the mistaken recipient of artificial insemination. She also helped create the 2018 reboot of “Charmed,” for which she wrote more than a half-dozen episodes. Stories You May Like Get a Clue: Anna Shechtman Is a Star in the World of Crosswords Tune Your Radio Dial To … Fascinating Facts About WVBR! The show, which ran for four seasons on the CW, follows three sisters who discover they’re powerful witches. “My favorite part is seeing my words come to life,” O’Toole says of screenwriting. “I love being on the set and working with actors and directors.” An English major in Arts & Sciences, O’Toole worked for women’s magazines in NYC after graduation before moving to L.A. to pursue her dreams of writing for film and TV. Celebrating Commencement with her future husband, Jess Mullen-Carey ’94, BArch ’95. She took a variety of odd jobs in the entertainment industry—including one that involved cold-calling people, reciting movie synopses, and asking if the plot sounded like something they’d want to watch. She also dabbled in casting, on projects like finding criminal lookalikes for “America’s Most Wanted.” My favorite part is seeing my words come to life. I love being on the set and working with actors and directors. O’Toole was able to quit her day jobs after Universal bought her script about a college sorority. While the project wasn’t produced, she still describes the experience as “winning the lottery,” given her industry’s intense competition. Her first-ever screenwriting credit came on the 2006 comic film Material Girls, starring sisters Hilary and Haylie Duff and Oscar winner Anjelica Huston. On a panel (at far left) at a fan convention with the cast of "Charmed." Her career has since focused on TV, taking her to sets in NYC, Canada, South Korea, and elsewhere. “You have to have thick skin in this career, but it has been so much fun and so rewarding,” says O’Toole. “I’m always pinching myself, because at one point, this felt like an impossible dream.” (All photos provided.) Published April 30, 2025 Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Quizzes & Puzzles Cornellian Crossword: ‘Far, Far Above’ Alumni Alum Aimed for Zero Waste—And Wrote a Book About It Cornelliana ‘Good Health, Tempered Courage, and Sound Common Sense’