Writer-Director
When shows run for a long while, you often get cast members who will write and direct episodes. Generally, they will have an interest in going into the process of writing and directing at a later point and will use the show to experiment. We saw it in The X-Files with David Duchovny, Friends with David Schwimmer, and in 7th Heaven with Barry Watson.
It could have been something to do with his cancer diagnosis. Perhaps Barry decided he didn’t want to put off any ambitions he had. This is likely what led to him writing an episode of Season 7 – “Peer Pressure” (7.8), and directing one for Season 9 – “Brother Love” (9.13). He was the only series regular to try his hand at writing and directing episodes of the show.
