Michael Showalter

Michael Showalter (born June 17, 1970) is an American comedian, actor, director, writer, and producer.

He first came to recognition as a cast member on MTV's The State, which aired from 1993 to 1995.

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.

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.

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.

In 2005 he wrote, directed and starred in the film The Baxter.

In the fall and winter of 2006, Showalter toured the US with frequent collaborator Michael Ian Black.

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 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, which premiered in July 2009.

The show detailed the two Michaels' trials and tribulations as they create a television series.

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."

They confirmed the series' cancellation in early 2010.

The book, Mr. Funny Pants, was published in February 2011.

Showalter also appeared in a series of commercials advertising the Toyota Yaris, starting in late 2011.

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.

He directed the 2017 critically acclaimed feature film The Big Sick.

Showalter was born in Princeton, New Jersey, the son of Elaine Showalter (née Cottler), an author, feminist literary critic, and professor of English, and English Showalter, a Yale-educated professor of 18th century French literature.

His father is Episcopalian and his mother is Jewish.

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.

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.