He began his television career as a cue-card holder for the children's television series
Captain Kangaroo. He worked his way up in the network, becoming a director of television soap operas, including
The Edge of Night,
The Guiding Light,
As the World Turns, and
Search for Tomorrow, becoming director of daytime programs for CBS from 1975 to 1978. He was credited for credited with helping innovate the look of soap operas by making them look more cinematic. During that time, he oversaw the production of ''
Dawson's Creek, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 7th Heaven, Charmed, Felicity, Popular, Everwood and Smallville.
He was credited by Variety'' for mentoring
J. J. Abrams,
Joss Whedon,
Greg Berlanti on how to run television series. Litvack was a co-executive producer of
Hill Street Blues,
Smallville, and consulting producer of
Fringe. == Personal life ==