Michael Showalter
Michael Showalter (born June 17, 1970) is an American comedian, actor, director, writer, and producer. A member of the sketch comedy trio Stella, he first came to recognition as a cast member on MTV's The State, which aired from 1993 to 1995. He and David Wain created the Wet Hot American Summer franchise, with Showalter co-writing and starring in Wet Hot American Summer (2001), and the Netflix series. Showalter wrote and directed The Baxter (2005), in which he starred with Michelle Williams, Justin Theroux, and Elizabeth Banks. Both films featured many of his co-stars from The State, and so do several of his other projects. Showalter is also a co-creator, co-producer, actor, and writer for the TV series Search Party. He directed the 2017 critically acclaimed feature film The Big Sick.
Michael Showalter | |
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![]() Michael Showalter at the Montclair Film Festival, May 2015 | |
Born | Princeton, New Jersey, U.S. | June 17, 1970
Medium | Stand-up, film, television |
Years active | 1992–present |
Genres | Surreal comedy, improvisational comedy, farce, dark comedy, stand-up comedy, alternative comedy, sketch comedy, anti-humor, cringe comedy, physical comedy, satire / parody |
Spouse | Anne Kalin Ellis (m. 2011) |
Children | 2 |
Early life
Showalter was born in Princeton, New Jersey, the son of Elaine Showalter (née Cottler), an author, literary critic, and professor of English, and English Showalter, a Yale-educated professor of 18th century French literature.[1] His father is Episcopalian and his mother is Jewish.[2][3] He has one older sister, Vinca Showalter LaFleur, a professional speechwriter. He attended Princeton High School. For five years, Showalter shared an apartment with his friend, comedian and actress Andrea Rosen.[4]
Career
Showalter began his undergraduate studies at New York University, where he joined the sketch comedy group The New Group. He transferred to and graduated from Brown University. After he completed college, The New Group changed its name to The State and began creating video shorts for an MTV show called You Wrote It, You Watch It, hosted by Jon Stewart. The comedy troupe then got its own sketch comedy TV series, The State , which aired for two years on MTV.
Showalter has also had several smaller roles in movies and TV shows. He played Ron Parker, the arrogant host of Cheap Seats, on ESPN Classic in the pilot episode. However, after a bookcase fell on Showalter's character, tape librarians (and brothers) Randy and Jason Sklar took over the hosting duties. Showalter spent a brief time as a correspondent on The Daily Show (1996). He is also one half of The Doilies, an acoustic comedy band, in which he sings lead vocals opposite guitarist Zak Orth. In 2005 he wrote, directed and starred in the film The Baxter.
![](../I/Michael_Showalter.jpg.webp)
Showalter is the host of The Michael Showalter Showalter, an original Internet series on Collegehumor.com which premiered January 16, 2007. His first guest was comedian Zach Galifianakis. Other guests have included David Cross, Michael Ian Black, Paul Rudd, David Wain, Andy Samberg, Michael Cera, and Mike Birbiglia. In the fall and winter of 2006, Showalter toured the US with frequent collaborator Michael Ian Black. In March 2007 Showalter briefly toured as the opening act for Janeane Garofalo. The Ten reunites him with frequent collaborators from The State.
Showalter signed with JDub Records, a non-profit record label, in June 2007. He released his first stand-up CD titled Sandwiches & Cats in November 2007. He teaches screenwriting at New York University's Graduate Film School.
Showalter teamed up once more with Michael Ian Black in the Comedy Central series Michael and Michael Have Issues,[5] which premiered in July 2009.[6] The show detailed the two Michaels' trials and tribulations as they create a television series. They confirmed the series' cancellation in early 2010.
In an interview with The Rumpus in February 2009, Showalter talked about a memoir he is working on. "I am writing an 'important' memoir about not being able to write an important memoir. It winds up being kind of a novel-length comedic essay on insecurity and procrastination."[7] The book, Mr. Funny Pants, was published in February 2011.[8]
He appeared twice on the NBC drama Law & Order: in the episode "Endurance", which aired on October 18, 2000, and in the episode "Reality Bites", which aired on October 16, 2009.[9]
Showalter also appeared in a series of commercials advertising the Toyota Yaris, starting in late 2011.[10]
In 2013 Showalter and Michael Ian Black launched a podcast called "Topics" in which the duo discuss evergreen topics in a serious manner, although if something funny comes up, it's okay.[11]
Showalter was a writer on the ABC sitcom Super Fun Night.
In 2014, Showalter co-wrote with David Wain They Came Together. Wain and Showalter then co-wrote the eight-episode Netflix prequel Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp based on the 2001 film with almost the entire cast of the original film returning. Showalter himself appeared as Gerald "Coop" Cooperberg and President Ronald Reagan in the series. The series premiered on July 31, 2015, and was more well received by critics. He also co-wrote and starred in the Netflix sequel Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later which premiered in 2017.[12]
In 2015 his film Hello, My Name Is Doris debuted at SXSW, where it was acquired by Roadside Attractions. It was released in the United States in March 2016, and received critical acclaim.
His 2017 film The Big Sick starred Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter and Ray Romano. It saw a wide theatrical release and had an overwhelmingly positive 98% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Showalter next directed the 2020 film The Lovebirds, starring Kumail Najiani of The Big Sick, along with Issa Rae, Anna Camp and Paul Sparks. The film was scheduled for theatrical release in the United States on April 3, 2020, however due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic its theatrical release was cancelled, similar to many other films, and it premiered on Netflix on May 22, 2020.
Personal life
Showalter married Anne Kalin Ellis on January 16, 2011, in New York.[13] They welcomed twins in 2014.[14]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Tick | Clifford | Short film |
2001 | Wet Hot American Summer | Gerald "Coop" Cooperberg/Alan Shemper | Also writer and co-producer |
2001 | Kissing Jessica Stein | Stephen | |
2002 | Signs | Lionel Prichard | |
2002 | Stella shorts | Michael | Also writer and director |
2002 | Operation Midnight Climax | Chip | |
2004 | Hair High | Wally (voice) | |
2005 | The Baxter | Elliot Sherman | Also writer and director |
2006 | Griffin & Phoenix | Terry's Fiancé | |
2007 | The Ten | Police Lt. Flarn Bleern | |
2007 | Reno 911!: Miami | Paul | |
2008 | Birthday | Michael | Short film |
2013 | Bum Future | Fred | Short film |
2014 | They Came Together | Writer and producer | |
2014 | Two Night Stand | Rick Raines | |
2015 | Hello, My Name Is Doris | Writer, director, and executive producer | |
2017 | The Big Sick | Director | |
2020 | The Lovebirds | Director | |
2021 | The Eyes of Tammy Faye | Director, Post-production |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1992–1993 | You Wrote It, You Watch It | Various characters | Also writer |
1993–1995 | The State | Various characters | Also creator and writer |
1995 | The State's 43rd Annual All-Star Halloween Special | Various characters | Television special; also writer |
1996 | The Daily Show | Correspondent | |
1997 | Apartment 2F | Phil | 4 episodes |
1999 | 1999 MTV Movie Awards | Writer | |
1999 | Random Play | Various characters | Also additional writer |
2000 | Buzz Lightyear of Star Command | Plasma Boy (voice) | Episode: "The Plasma Monster" |
2000, 2009 | Law & Order | Artie Kramer / Allen Gee | 2 episodes |
2003 | Sex and the City | Billy | Episode: "The Post-It Always Sticks Twice" |
2003–2005 | The Wrong Coast | Writer | |
2004–2006 | Cheap Seats | Ron Parker | |
2005 | Stella | Michael | Also creator, writer, and executive producer |
2008 | Wainy Days | Landon | Episode: "Molly" |
2008 | The Michael Showalter Showalter | Host | Also creator and executive producer |
2009 | Michael & Michael Have Issues | Michael Showalter | Also creator writer, director, and executive producer |
2012 | Late Night with Jimmy Fallon | Gordon Scheer | Uncredited |
2013 | You're Whole | Dr. Robert Wexler | Also series director |
2013 | Inside Amy Schumer | Steve | Episode: "Bad Decisions" |
2013–2014 | Super Fun Night | Wrote 2 episodes | |
2013–2014 | Newsreaders | Wrote 2 episodes | |
2014 | Bob's Burgers | Ethan (voice) | Episode: "The Kids Rob a Train" |
2014 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Clyde Bryllis | Episode: "Nick Offerman Wears a Green Flannel Shirt & Brown Boots" |
2015 | Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp | Coop / President Reagan | 8 episodes; also creator, writer, and executive producer |
2015 | Jammers | Jeremy / Cool Guy / Ol' Drippy (voice) | Pilot |
2015 | The Grinder | Sandy Malmuth | Episode: "Dedicating This One to the Crew" |
2015–2016 | Childrens Hospital | Nils Vildervaan | Also wrote 4 episodes |
2016-2018 | Love | Directed 3 episodes | |
2016 | Giles Vanderhoot | Giles Vanderhoot | Also writer, director, and executive producer |
2016 | American Dad! | Mark (voice) | Episode: "Bahama Mama" |
2016-2019 | Grace and Frankie | Directed 2 episodes | |
2016–present | Search Party | Max | 5 episodes; also creator, writer, and executive producer |
2017 | Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later | Coop / President Reagan | 8 episodes; also creator, writer, and executive producer |
2017 | 9JKL | Walter Michaelson | Episode: "Set Visit" |
2018 | Sugar Rush | Himself (Guest judge) | Episode: "Camp Sugar Rush"[15] |
2019 | In the Dark | Directed episode: "Pilot" | |
2019 | Ray Romano Right Here, Around the Corner | Director | |
TBA | The Shrink Next Door | Director, upcoming miniseries |
References
- "Michael Showalter Biography (1970–)". Filmreference.com. June 17, 1970. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
- "Romantic Comedy Loser Finds Love", Jewish Journal, September 2, 2005.
- The Jewish Chronicle: "'I’ve always been seen by other people as Jewish'" by Stephen Applebaum November 14, 2017
- Eliot Glazer (October 11, 2007). "Inside With: Andrea Rosen". The Apiary. Archived from the original on February 10, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2009.
- "Michael Ian Black: Come See Michael & Michael Have Issues". Michaelianblack.typepad.com. July 31, 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
- Martin, Denise (February 18, 2009). "Comedy Central commits to 'Michael and Michael Have Issues'". LA Times. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
- "The Rumpus Interview With Michael Showalter". The Rumpus.net. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
- Amazon.com: Mr. Funny Pants. ISBN 0446542105.
- "the comic's comic: Law & Order sets new record for comedians in an episode that's not about comedy". Thecomicscomic.typepad.com. September 18, 2009. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
- Friar, Christine (September 21, 2011). "Michael Showalter's Toyota Commercials Make Us Want To Buy A Yaris (VIDEOS)". Huffington Post.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 29, 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Fleming Jr, Mike (October 19, 2016). "Alyssa Milano Joins Season 2 Of 'Wet Hot American Summer'". Deadline. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
- "Ep. 634: Where Michael Showalter | CNET TV | Video Product Reviews, CNET Podcasts, Tech Shows, Live CNET Video". Cnettv.cnet.com. July 15, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
- "Michael Showalter Welcomes Twins With Wife Anne Kalin Ellis". June 24, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
- Camp Sugar Rush, retrieved June 28, 2019
External links
- Official website
- Michael Showalter at IMDb
- April 2008 interview with Paradigm
- Michael Showalter Interviews Human Giant
- Michael Showalter: The state of comedy That Other Paper
- "A Love for Silliness", Newsweek interview, July 15, 2005
- "Michael Showalter, comedian & filmmaker",
- The Michael Showalter Showalter Premiere Episode with Zach Galifianakis
- Michael Showalter Interview at Heavy In The Streets
- News Feature at Impose Magazine
- Onion A.V. Club interview