- Michael Showalter
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Michael Showalter 
Michael Showalter in March 2007Born June 17, 1970
Princeton, New JerseyOccupation Comedian Michael English Showalter (born June 17, 1970) is an American comedian, actor, writer, and director. He is a member of the sketch comedy trio Stella. Showalter first came to recognition as a cast member on MTV's The State, which aired from 1993 to 1995. He co-wrote (with David Wain) and starred in Wet Hot American Summer (2001) and he wrote, directed, and starred in The Baxter (2005), with Michelle Williams, Justin Theroux and Elizabeth Banks. Both of these movies featured many of his co-stars from The State, and so do several of his other projects.
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Personal life
Showalter was born in Princeton, New Jersey, the son of Elaine Showalter (née Cottler), an author, literary critic, and professor, and English Showalter, a Yale-educated professor of 18th century French literature.[1] His father is Episcopalian and his mother is Jewish.[2] 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 Andrea Rosen.[3] Michael was married on 16 January, 2011 in New York.[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 State was then picked up as its own show, 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.
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. The two stars confirmed 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]
He appeared in an episode of Law & Order, which aired on October 16, 2009.[8]
Showalter also appeared in a series of commercials advertising the Toyota Yaris, starting in late 2011.[9]
References
- ^ Michael Showalter Biography (1970-)
- ^ "Romantic Comedy Loser Finds Love", Jewish Journal, September 2, 2005.
- ^ Eliot Glazer (2007-10-11). "Inside With: Andrea Rosen". The Apiary. http://www.theapiary.org/archives/2007/10/inside_with_and_1.html.
- ^ http://cnettv.cnet.com/2001-1_53-50090984.html
- ^ http://michaelianblack.typepad.com/blog/2008/07/come-see-michae.html
- ^ Martin, Denise (18 February 2009). "Comedy Central commits to 'Michael and Michael Have Issues'". LA Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/02/comedy-central.html. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
- ^ http://therumpus.net/2009/02/the-rumpus-interview-with-michael-showalter/
- ^ http://thecomicscomic.typepad.com/thecomicscomic/2009/09/law-order-sets-new-record-for-comedians-in-an-episode-thats-not-about-comedy.html
- ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/21/michael-showalter-toyota_n_974246.html
External links
- Official website
- Michael Showalter at the Internet Movie Database
- 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, 15 July 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
- Michael Showalter performs and is interviewed on Radio Happy Hour
Members TV Series The State (1993-1995) · Viva Variety (1997-1999) · Stella (2005) · Michael & Michael Have Issues (2009)Related articles Categories:- 1970 births
- American comedians
- American Jews
- American film actors
- American screenwriters
- American television actors
- American television writers
- Brown University alumni
- Jewish actors
- Jewish comedians
- Living people
- Actors from New Jersey
- New York University alumni
- People from Princeton, New Jersey
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