Slate’s take on comedy power players behind the scenes

Chris Wade produced this video piece for Slate on four of the people he thinks you should know in comedy who you may not always see in front of the camera.

Who’d he pick out?

  • Jonathan Krisel, writer/producer/director on such projects as IFC’s Portlandia, Comedy Central’s Kroll Show, SNL digital shorts and new FXX series Man Seeking Woman
  • Lance Bangs, director of multiple comedy specials including ones for David Cross, Todd Barry, John Hodgman, Marc Maron, Kyle Kinane and Chelsea Peretti, plus The Meltdown series for Comedy Central
  • Mike Lazzo, head of Adult Swim at Williams Street Studios, and programming original series and one-offs for Cartoon Network since 1993!
  • Shannon O’Neill, improviser and new artistic director for the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City
  • Who didn’t he pick who’s really pulling the strings? You know who you are. And if you’re not one of them, you’re lucky if you do know them.

    In the meantime, roll the clip!

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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