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☆ Comedy Is in Their (Identical) DNA
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Anna Grace Lee | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For middle and high school, the twins attended magnet arts schools. “We had no sports teams, but we did have drugs!” Annabel said, with a jazzy emphasis. “But we were theater majors,” Sabina chimed in, walking the story back a bit. They have differing accounts of high school: Sabina says Annabel was “Miss Popular.” Annabel denies this. Sabina was a Tumblr girl who wore creepers and big T-shirts from the men’s section of Urban Outfitters.

☆ Why the producers of 'Queer Eye' and Peacock's 'Swedish Death Cleaning' show believe they're 'in a really good position' to ride out a Hollywood writers' strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

"Queer Eye" creator Scout Productions is betting its time is now, with a Hollywood writers' strike looming. It's working with Kristen Stewart on a "super-gay ghost hunting" reality series, as the star touted it on Instagram. It's also plotting a return to its scripted content roots. "They are very Scout shows in our storytelling process, but they're also shows that fit, that can be international, they can be domestic only. Joel Chiodi, head of documentaries and SVP of strategic development, contended that Scout's content "may not be broad, but we're enough in the mainstream, just pushing a little more."

☆ From 'Queer Eye' to gay ghost hunters, Scout Productions execs reveal how they built a reality TV powerhouse that's well armed for a Hollywood writers' strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Reality TV powerhouse Scout Productions is betting its time is now, with a Hollywood writers' strike looming. It's working with Kristen Stewart on a "super-gay ghost hunting" reality series, as the star touted it on Instagram. The company also revealed to Insider that it's developing an unscripted series with Janelle Monáe and her production company, Wondaland. It's also plotting a return to its scripted content roots. "They are very Scout shows in our storytelling process, but they're also shows that fit, that can be international, they can be domestic only.

☆ Ex-Bon Appétit editor Marissa Ross says the wine world ruined her. Now she's back and ready to give it hell.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Anna Silman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +40 min

Her rise was tied to a period of reinvention for the wine world during which natural wine conquered millennial taste buds and became ubiquitous on menus across the US. Marissa Ross, Bon Appétit's wine editor from 2016 to 2020, often posted pictures of herself chugging straight from the bottle — a technique she called "The Ross test." "Natural wine," a nebulous term that generally refers to wine made with minimal intervention and without additives like sulfites, was tentatively entering the American wine world. Many in the wine world took the idea that you didn't have to be educated to know about wine as a personal insult. When she first told BA that she planned to cover only natural wines, Ross said, Rapoport called to try to change her mind.

☆ CRV partner Anna Khan shares the 5 key elements of a successful startup pitch and the one mistake founders should avoid
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Stephanie Palazzolo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But for CRV general partner Anna Khan, pitches boil down to five key elements and one to avoid. Here's Insider's exclusive chat with the investor about what she looks for in a startup pitch. The CRV general partner recently tweeted about a founder who thanked her for being engaged during his startup pitch, saying, "Most people just stare at me for 30 minutes and then pass a week later." The investor shared with Insider what she considers the five elements of a successful startup pitch — and one popular rule of thumb that founders should avoid. Interestingly enough, having a large legacy competitor isn't necessarily a bad thing for vertical-software startups, Khan said.

☆ I moved to Florida for cheaper housing and lower taxes, plus I'm avoiding downsides like traffic and crowds
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tony Stanol moved to Sarasota, Florida from California and prefers the East Coast oasis. They sold their 3,500-square-foot home in Calabasas for $1.2 million, according to Stanol, and have been renting a 2,400-square-foot home in Sarasota, Florida for nine years. I'm from New Jersey, worked in New York for most of my career, and raised a family in Connecticut. Once my two daughters had graduated and were out of the house, my wife and I were empty nesters in Calabasas. I've been renting in Florida for nine yearsWe sold our house in Calabasas for $1.2 million.

☆ Justice Jackson working on a memoir, titled ‘Lovely One’
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is working on a memoir. Jackson, the first Black woman appointed to the court, is calling the book “Lovely One.”“Mine has been an unlikely journey,” Jackson said in a statement released Thursday by Random House. This memoir marries the public record of my life with what is less known. Jackson joined the court last year after President Joe Biden named her to succeed the retiring Stephen Breyer. Justice Amy Coney Barrett has a deal with the Penguin Random House imprint Sentinel.

☆ I'm a writer for "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." It was an incredibly difficult road to get here — here's my advice for other immigrants who want to break into a creative industry.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Eboni Boykin-Patterson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

He says that while being a comedy writer helps him make light of it, the system could be better. Being an immigrant comedy writer or comedian is so absurd. I recently got married to an American comedy writer, and she writes for "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver." Applying to be a late-night writer is a pretty secretive processMost late-night shows will invite you to submit a sample. That spun up "The Colbert Report," and then all the other late-night shows after that always had an opinion on politics.

☆ I work as a Christmas elf in Arizona dancing and chatting about Santa to visitors
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-25 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I'm an aspiring dancer and actor, and I auditioned for the Christmas elf role in early October through my school. I'm working as a holiday elf at Enchant, a holiday celebration sponsored by the Hallmark Channel in eight U.S. cities. Enchant Christmas features a 100-foot Christmas tree and a maze where guests can find sculptures of each of the nine reindeer. Enchant Christmas ScottsdaleWe also tell the kids stories about how we got to the Phoenix area from the North Pole. My friends and family have come to see me at work s so it's a great experience all around.

☆ 'Kenan & Kel' actor Kel Mitchell on the upcoming 'Good Burger' sequel, mentoring new child stars as 'Uncle Kel,' and the controversial producer Dan Schneider
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( William Antonelli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

Nickelodeon legend Kel Mitchell spoke to Insider this week about his career and the upcoming sequel to "Good Burger." The two also co-starred in "Good Burger," a 1997 comedy film that's become a cult classic among millennials and Gen Zers. Scholastic/PBS; Titmouse/Disney Television AnimationSpeaking of animated work, last year, Brian Robbins [director of "Good Burger" and Paramount Pictures CEO] said that he wanted to create a "Good Burger" animated series. I met a couple that said that [seeing "Good Burger"] was their first date, and then they got married, and now every anniversary they go and see "Good Burger" because it's part of their life, so it's so deep to me. Ex-Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider (top-left) posing for a photo with Kel Mitchell and the cast of the show "Game Shakers."

☆ I'm the guy behind 'Pizza Rat.' The 7-year-old viral video still makes me money, got me my current job, and may even pay for my future home.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Andrew Ward | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Matt Little is a creative director from New York whose "Pizza Rat" video went viral in 2015. He says going viral didn't change his financial situation completely, but it makes him money today. A clip of "Pizza Rat" on the move, from Little's 2015 YouTube video. If you've seen Pizza Rat on late-night TV, ads, or events, it's likely been legally signed off by a licensing firm and me. Jukin helps find requests I get for the Pizza Rat video and brand, handles unlicensed usage, and helps ensure essential negotiation specifics are in deals.

☆ Druski on staying 'that number one go-to guy for comedy,' and business advice from Drake
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( John Lynch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Like I just can't imagine falling off or having a short career, or just not being that number one go-to guy for comedy, you know? And yeah, he's ... bro, that dude has mastered ... [laugh], like, the art of everything, you know? And yeah, he's just such an inspiration, and it's great to have him as a friend. Oh yeah, definitely. So it's like, y'all can't no longer say it don't equivilate to real money, 'cause, hey, look at us know, you know I'm saying?

☆ An audiobook narrator for authors like Margaret Atwood and Elena Ferrante says any self-starter can break into the field and make a lucrative living — but the work can be draining
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Elizabeth Alterman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Huber shared what goes into cultivating a career as a successful audiobook narrator. "I narrated a book and I read about three-quarters of it, and then I was like: 'You know, I'm good. "There's this idea among newer narrators that seasoned narrators are getting $600 an hour, and that is not the case. It's possible for an experienced audiobook narrator working full time to earn in the low six figures, Huber added. But even before considering that step, Huber suggested reading a book aloud for a long stretch.

☆ Mike Birbiglia's Broadway show explores life's big questions
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Marianne Garvey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —At one point during Mike Birbiglia’s new Broadway show, “The Old Man and The Pool,” he jokingly scolds the audience for laughing over a story about the death of a man in a YMCA pool. One after another, someone’s howl becomes contagious, and the laughter keeps going for several minutes as Birbiglia watches. “The Old Man and the Pool” has been in Birbiglia’s mind in some version for about six years now. I think at the time it was called ‘The YMCA Pool.’ And then we were shut down. “There’s no answer to any of it.”“The Old Man and The Pool” is currently playing at Lincoln Center in New York City.

☆ Mayan Lopez and George Lopez use TV show to heal relationship
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Mayan Lopez’s co-star in her new NBC sitcom “ Lopez vs Lopez ” happens to be her real-life dad, George Lopez. As is the Lopez way, art imitates life: George’s previous TV roles in “The George Lopez Show” and “Lopez” were also based on his real life. After divorcing her mother, Ann, in 2012, Mayan Lopez says she felt resentment toward her dad and the two didn’t have much contact until they reconnected during the pandemic. I get to kind of have that (perspective) now.”The genesis of “Lopez vs Lopez” came about when TV producer Debby Wolfe stumbled upon Mayan’s TikTok account. “She was there for ‘The George Lopez Show’ that was based on (dad’s) life.

☆ Budd Friedman, Founder of The Improv, Has Died at 90
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Budd Friedman , founder of The Improv comedy club franchise that launched some of the biggest careers in Hollywood, died Saturday in Los Angeles. He was 90 years old. Mr. Friedman was a Broadway producer in 1963 when he and his then-fiancee opened a coffee house for entertainers in New York that became The Improv.

☆ How a Disney creator helped edtech startup Paper create an interactive kids' streaming service that's like Peloton — but with math
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Elaine Low | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Paper Live, a interactive, educational live-streaming platform, launched in September 2022. The streamer is part of remote tutoring service Paper, which partners with school districts. This fall, it premiered Paper Live, a live-streaming service that includes an interactive element — and has a Hollywood-seasoned writer/executive producer at the helm. The newly expanded Paper Live launched around the start of the 2022-2023 academic year in the US. "We're seeing an uptick in not just usage of Paper Live but Paper in general because they're more familiar with the platform," said Cutler.

☆ How edtech startup Paper recruited a Disney creator to build a kids' streaming service that's like Peloton — but with math
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Elaine Low | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

☆ I'm one of 11 writers on 'Abbott Elementary.' The job is just as fun as it seems — we argue about whose joke is best and collaborate on every episode.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Eboni Boykin-Patterson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Courtesy of Cerise CastleThe first episode I wrote for season two of "Abbott" was episode four, "Principal's Office," which aired in October. We always have a lot of fun in the writers room. At the same time, other writers get at least a joke or a substantial moment in another writer's episode. Writers are on set during filming to help problem solveThe job of a writer on set is really to problem solve. It's come up in the "Abbott" writers' room occasionally when we're casting and someone will say, "Hey, what about this person?"

☆ Facebook likely has your contact info — even if you never signed up for its services. Here's how to remove it.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Jordan Parker Erb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Speaking of Instagram: We reported that its parent company, Meta, likely has your contact information, even if you never shared it yourself — and even if you never signed up to use any of its services, including Instagram, Facebook, or Messenger. Facebook probably has your phone number, even if you never shared it. Facebook quietly rolled out the service, which lets people check whether the firm holds their contact information (such as their phone number or email address), and delete and block it. How to wipe your phone number from Facebook. In a separate leaked memo, engineers were told to work with "maniacal" urgency and bring their ideas to Musk directly.

☆ This entrepreneur says he found being laid off from Shopify 'empowering' — he now hosts improv workshops for businesses and charges around $2,000 per session
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Madeline Stone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Other Comedy Company uses improv games to help work teams meet their goals. In fact, he said he launched his business, called The Other Comedy Company, exactly one minute after he got the news. The Other Comedy Company facilitates comedy and improv workshops for businesses. Just over two months later, Shopify laid off about 1,000 people across the company. Myers said The Other Comedy Company currently employs four workshop facilitators, all of whom come from stand-up comedy or improv backgrounds.

☆ 'Ted Lasso' star Jason Sudeikis on the two rules that have helped him achieve his dream career
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

On "Ted Lasso" Jason Sudeikis' titular character, an American football coach who manages a British soccer team, leads with optimism, camaraderie and the occasional homemade biscuit to butter up his boss. Off-screen, however, the Emmy-winning actor has relied on different strategies to build a successful career. Sudeikis explained to Indeed CMO Jessica Jensen that while he was growing up in Overland Park, Kansas, the goal was to take improv classes and learn about comedy writing. Then, when he moved to Chicago, that goal became finding work at Second City, a comedy club with famous alumni like Steve Carell and Tina Fey. That experience taught Sudeikis another important career lesson that would stick with him: "Pay attention to the people who have carved a path slightly ahead of you."

☆ I was a writer on 'The Office' but ended up selling shirts at Macy's. Landing another TV writing job after the hit show was shockingly hard — and my race absolutely had something to do with it.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Eboni Boykin-Patterson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

After a successful run on the show, he couldn't land another writers room job for over two years. It was my first TV writing job. A few years later, I got my first job on "The Office" through NBC's diversity program. Ryan Koh started working again fairly quickly as well. It was a race thing, for sureLooking back, I think that part of why I couldn't get another TV writing job after "The Office" was because the writers rooms were smaller.

☆ Alex Jones' billion-dollar judgement: The conspiracy theorist has turned career-ending setbacks into profit windfalls, but this could be too much to overcome
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Ashley Collman | Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

Robbie Parker was later falsely called a crisis actor, and the Parkers are among those who sued Alex Jones for defamation. Longtime informal adviser to Donald Trump, Roger Stone (right), and and Alex Jones (left) speak to reporters in December 2018. Picture showing a computer screen displaying the Twitter account of Far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones taken on August 15, 2018 in Washington DC. "Alex Jones is likely to continue being Alex Jones, which means he's likely to try all kinds of shenanigans to avoid accountability," said Holt. "The money awarded in damages does not repair what Alex Jones has done to those parents' lives, but it could be a step towards dismantling the toxic empire that Alex Jones has built around his brand."

☆ Early internet star turned celebrity Andy Milonakis revolutionized live streaming and virality, but he still has regrets
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-31 | by ( Steven Asarch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

One of those original viewers was Jimmy Kimmel, who had started hosting his Jimmy Kimmel Live show and found an affinity for the comedic actor. An executive had been badgering Kimmel for a television show to pitch, which started as scrounged together clips from the web and Jimmy Kimmel Live. Andy joined Twitch and pioneered the world of IRL streamingIn 2016, Milonakis started to gain renewed attention with his Twitch streams. "I really do love the ability to be my own boss and fly all over the world and stream it live," Milonakis said. And when I do really weird, crazy shit, I feel like people don't expect that of me."

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