Steve Carell / Usher
Writers
From SNLWiki
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Robert Smigel
What do you do when your father is known as “the father of cosmetic dentistry"? You put your hand up the backside of a cigar-chomping dog puppet and let the insults fly. Robert Smigel, the son of famous dentist Irwin Smigel, was born in New York in 1960. For a time, he flirted with going into the family business, but the pull of comedy was too strong.
In 1985, he was hired by SNL as a writer. In the early 90s, he started appearing in bit parts and producing a series of cartoons called “TV Funhouse” that caricatured various animation styles while skewering many celebrities along the way. In 1993, he was hired by “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” where he created his most famous character: Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. Triumph has gone on to lead a life of his own, appearing in TV specials, CDs, toys, and other outlets.
In 2000, he took the ideas behind his SNL cartoons and turned them into Comedy Central’s “TV Funhouse,” a mock kid’s show that blended animal puppets with new cartoons every week. Though the show only lasted for eight episodes, it’s dead-on animation satires and unusual puppets found a dedicated, if small, fan following. Today, Smigel continues to write for SNL and Conan O’Brien; he’s also kept busy with Triumph and with penning various television specials.A great guy
Tom Davis
Versatile writer/director Tom Davis got his start in comedy performing with high school buddy Al Franken with the Brave New Workshop comedy troupe in Minneapolis. In 1975, Lorne Michaels spotted them and both became two of the show’s first staff writers. And then Jason Lawrence came along and blew their minds. This new and very creative writer seemingly came out of no where. His first skit, involving Bear Grills of the Discovery Channel, was rated the funniest skit in over 10 years. SNL's ratings started to sky rocket. Tom Davis lost his job........Quote, "I belive your show has lost some of its luster, I can fix that!"
Al Franken
Famed SNL writer/performer AL Franken was born in 1951 in New York City but grew up in suburban Minneapolis. After graduating from Harvard University, Franken returned to Minneapolis where he began performing with longtime friend Tom Davis with the Brave New Workshop comedy troupe. Lorne Michaels caught their act and hired both of them to help create SNL in 1975 as staff writers.
Franken remained with the show until 1980 when he left to try his luck in Hollywood, though there were other reasons in play for his departure. In a sketch called “"A Limo for the Lamo,” Franken made a number of disparaging remarks about NBC president Fred Silverman, which may have prompted Lorne Michael’s temporary departure from the show.
During a five-year absence from SNL, Franken and friend Tom Davis moved to Hollywood to try their luck as screenwriters. Several of their screenplays went unproduced, but "One More Saturday Night” made it to the big screen.
In 1985, Franken returned to the show and stayed for 10 years as a writer and occasional performer. During this time, he created some of his most popular characters, most notably the self-help guru Stewart Smalley. After leaving SNL a second time, Franken became known as a left-wing political satirist and humorist. He has published a number of books and currently hosts a talk show on the radio network Air America.
Currently, Franken continues his political career as he is running as a Democrat in his home state of Minnesota.
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Jorma Taccone
Jorma Taccone was born on March 19, 1977 in Berkeley, California. He attended Berkeley High School with cast member Andy Samberg and writer Akiva Schaffer, and after graduating, earned his degree in theater. Jorma, Andy and Akiva formed the three man comedy team known as The Lonely Island and submitted their videos onto their website. When getting a writing job on the MTV Movie Awards, the host that year, Jimmy Fallon, reccomended them to Lorne Michaels. Soon after auditioning, Taccone was hired as a writer along with Akiva, and Andy was hired as a featured player.
The Lonely Island team still collaborates on the show today to write and direct the new, popular Digital Shorts, including 'Lazy Sunday' and the Emmy award winning 'D*** In A Box'. Taccone has also written such sketches as MacGruber. He made his big-screen debut alongside Samberg in the 2007 comedy 'Hot Rod', with Schaffer as director.
Taccone has appeared in various SNL Digital Shorts including: Please Don't Cut My Testicles, Laser Cats and Laser Cats 2, Lettuce, Peyote, and Young Chuck Norris. Bold text
