TV Writing
During my decade at The Daily Show, I had a hand in 1,579 episodes. But you know what? With all the fun I had, it feels like it was only 1,575.
Since the grind of a daily late night show is so constant, and because everything on such a show is so collaborative, it’s honestly difficult to remember specific bits I wrote, and even those I DO remember, I can’t take sole credit for. However these are a few segments that did stick in my head that I had a strong hand in writing.
Jon was interested in covering a news story about how NYC and Chicago were locked in a battle over which had the tallest skyscraper. When writing my headline, I took a risk and only briefly touched on the building aspect before hijacking the segment for a roast of my home state of Illinois and “Chicago-style“ pizza. Fortunately, Jon loved it, and asked me and fellow writer Daniel Radosh to bulk up the pizza rant even more! If you’ve seen and remember something I’ve written, it’s probably this.
THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART, 11/13/2013
On another occasion, China’s lunar rover was in the news for the oddly poetic “final messages” it was broadcasting home as its power died. I thought it would be funny to have the rover’s messages dramatically read by Sir Patrick Stewart, so I took another chance and wrote him into the script (this was a less nutty swing than it may seem, since I knew that he lived in Brooklyn and liked the show).
I was thrilled to learn that the bosses went for it, as did P-Stew. Seeing that lion of the British stage standing around in cardboard covered in foil really gave me a fuzzy “What have I done? Why am I wasting this poor man’s time?” feeling. I’m truly sorry, Sir Pat.
THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART, 02/04/2014
Towards the end of Jon’s time at TDS, I got assigned a story on the implications of a trade partnership with Pacific Rim countries. Naturally, I used it as an excuse to make Jon say “Pacific Rim jobs” a lot. Then, when he was “confused” by the audience’s giggles, I also wrote in a walk-on for myself, where I explained both the concept of analingus, and the meaning of “double entendre.”
It was always kind of an unspoken rule that — while writers would occasionally appear on the show in various small roles— you shouldn’t write in cameos for yourself. So when Jon approved the script, his first note was, “Love it. Gonna do it… Maybe without the McCoy walk-on.” Then, remembering his own dont-give-a-fuck senioritis, he reconsidered. “Or maybe with it! Who cares?! I got five weeks left, baby!”
The walk-on stayed in.
THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART, 06/17/2015
During my last 4 - 5 years at The Daily Show, I became the go-to writer for Lewis Black’s “Back in Black” segments. What can I say? I guess I’m a good fit for writing grumpy old men. This one (co-written with Zach DiLanzo) was maybe my favorite, really gleefully making fun of Donald Trump’s two-bit inauguration plans.
THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH, 01/17/2017