Robert Smigel
Robert Smigel | |
---|---|
![]() Smigel in 2008 withTriumph the Insult Comic DogandDoug Daleon the laptop | |
Born | |
Education | Cornell University New York University(BA) |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1985–present |
Notable work | |
Spouse | Michelle Saks |
Children | 3 |
Robert Smigel(born February 7, 1960)[1]is an American actor, comedian, writer, director, producer, andpuppeteer,known for hisSaturday Night Live"TV Funhouse"cartoon shorts and as the puppeteer and voice behindTriumph the Insult Comic Dog.He also co-wrote the first twoHotel Transylvaniafilms,You Don't Mess with the Zohan,andLeo,all starringAdam Sandler.
Early life
[edit]Smigel was born in New York City, to Lucia andIrwin Smigel,an aesthetic dentist, innovator and philanthropist. He isJewishand frequently went toJewish summer camp.[2][3]He attendedCornell University,studying pre-dental,[4]and graduated fromNew York University'sCollege of Arts and Sciencein 1983 with a degree in political science.[5][6]
Smigel began developing his comedic talent atThe Players Workshopin Chicago, where he studied improvisation withJosephine Forsberg.Bob Odenkirkwas a fellow student there. Smigel was also a member of the Chicago comedy troupe "All You Can Eat" in the early 1980s.
Career
[edit]Smigel first established himself as a writer onSaturday Night Liveby joining the writing staff whenLorne Michaelsreturned as executive producer for the 1985–1986 season. Smigel was hired after then-SNLproducersAl Frankenand Tom Davis saw Smigel in a Chicago sketch show.[7]Smigel was among the few writers who survived a purge of writers and cast at the conclusion of the "disappointing" 1985–1986 season. This is when Smigel began to write more memorable sketches, including one where hostWilliam Shatnerurged worshipful attendees at aStar Trekconvention to "get a life." Smigel rarely appeared on screen, though he was credited as a featured player in the early 1990s and played a recurring character in theBill Swerski's Superfanssketches.
While on a writers' strike fromSaturday Night Livefollowing the 1987–88 season, Smigel wrote for animprovisational comedyrevue in Chicago with fellowSNLwritersBob OdenkirkandConan O'BriencalledHappy Happy Good Show.[8]
Smigel co-wroteLookwellwithConan O'Brienfor NBC. The pilot never went to series, but it has become a cult hit and has screened live at "The Other Network", a festival of un-aired TV pilots produced byUn-Cabaret,featuring live and taped intros by Smigel. Smigel later became the first head writer atLate Night with Conan O'Brien,where he created numerous successful comedy bits, including one where Smigel performed only the lips of public figures which were superimposed on photos of the actual people. (This technique was pioneered on theClutch Cargocartoon series as a cost-saving measure, and was known asSyncro-Vox.)
In 1996, Smigel wrote and performed on the short-livedDana Carvey Show,a primetimesketch comedyprogram onABC.Despite its premature end, the show provided Smigel the opportunity to debut his first cartoonThe Ambiguously Gay Duo.[9]Upon the show's cancellation, Smigel continued developing more cartoon ideas the following summer and would begin airing them onSaturday Night Liveunder theTV Funhousebanner. Smigel would later claim "My whole career came out of the impulse to do cartoons onThe Dana Carvey Show."[10]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Triumph_the_Insult_Comic_Dog.jpg/220px-Triumph_the_Insult_Comic_Dog.jpg)
Smigel's most famous creation, however, would be the foul-mouthed puppetTriumph the Insult Comic Dog,who mercilessly mocks celebrities and others in the style of aBorscht Beltcomedian. This character debuted onLate Night with Conan O'Brienin February 1997 and would continue to make appearances on the show, as well as others, for many years to come.
Smigel continued to establish himself onSaturday Night Liveby producing short animated segments under the titleTV Funhouse,which usuallysatirizespublic figures and popular culture. It spawned a TV show onComedy Centralfeaturing a mix of puppets, animation, and short sketches, although only eight episodes were aired (during the winter of 2000–2001). Smigel occasionally appears in films (usually alongsideSNLveterans such asAdam Sandler). According to interviews, Smigel helped punch up the scripts forLittle NickyandThe Wedding Singer.Smigel acted alongside fellowSNLwriterBob OdenkirkinWayne's World 2as a nerd backstage at anAerosmithconcert. His contributions were uncredited.
In 2000, he voiced a sage bulldog named Mr. Beefy inLittle Nicky.Smigel, along with Adam Sandler andJudd Apatow,wrote the script for the filmYou Don't Mess with the Zohanin which Smigel played Yosi, an Israeli electronics salesman. Smigel is also one of the executive producers of the film, which is a first for him despite his frequent collaborations with Sandler.
It was reported in 2006 that Smigel and Adam Sandler were working on an animated sitcom forFoxcalledAnimals.Fox has not made any official statement regarding the show.[11]Additionally, Smigel played a gay mailman in the Adam Sandler filmI Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larryand Yari the Mechanic in the "Mister Softee" episode ofCurb Your Enthusiasm.
He voiced Ray and theStar Warscharacter,Emperor Palpatine,in the first episode ofRobot Chicken: Star Wars,as well as the monster 100 in theepisode of the same nameofAqua Teen Hunger Force.
Currently living in New York, he co-wrote and co-executive produced the filmsHotel Transylvania(2012) andHotel Transylvania 2(2015), in which he voiced Marty, a fake version ofDracula,and Harry Three-Eye, respectively. In thefifth seasonof theFXshow,Louie,Smigel received a story credit on the episode "Cop Story", as a similar incident as to what appears in the show actually happened to him, down to the cop crying in his apartment while Smigel went out, found the missing gun and carried it home, terrified that anyone would notice.Michael Rapaport's character wasn't based on the man Smigel knew, however, since all Smigel ever toldLouis C.K.about was the gun itself.[12]
Smigel created, wrote, executive produced, and starred as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog inThe Jack and Triumph Show,alongsideJack McBrayerin 2015. It was announced in January 2016 that Smigel would be starring as Triumph inTriumph's Election Special 2016onHuluthe following February.[13]
In September 2020, after being brought on to develop the project in 2019, Fox announced that Smigel would executive produceLet's Be Real— a one-off adaptation of the French satirical seriesLes Guignols.[14]
On June 16, 2022, Smigel was arrested for unlawful entry of theLongworth House Office Buildingin Washington, D.C, along with eight other individuals associated withThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[15]CBSreleased a statement saying that “Their interviews at the Capitol were authorized and pre-arranged throughCongressional aidesof the members interviewed, "and that" After leaving the members’ offices on their last interview of the day, the production team stayed to film stand-ups and other final comedy elements in the halls when they were detained by Capitol Police.”Fox NewspunditTucker Carlsonaccused Smigel of "insurrection"and that it was" exactly like what happened "in apparent reference to the2021 United States Capitol attack.[16]Stephen Colbertaddressed the incident in his monologue, stating that Smigel had committed "First-DegreePuppetry"and that" Drawing any equivalence between rioters storming our Capitol to prevent the counting of electoral ballots and a cigar-chomping toy dog is a shameful and grotesque insult to the memory of everyone who died.” TheUnited States Capitol Policereleased a statement saying that “This is an active criminal investigation, and may result in additional criminal charges after consultation with theU.S. Attorney.”[17]On July 19, it was announced no charges would be filed.[18]
Personal life
[edit]Smigel has a wife, who was a lighting technician for the theater in Chicago presenting the comedy troupeAll You Can Eat and the Temple of Dooom[19]that he joined, later a comedy writer[20]Michelle,[21]and three children.[citation needed]
Michelle and Robert serve on the board ofNEXT for AUTISM,formerly New York Collaborates for Autism, a non-profit organization founded in 2003 to address the needs of autistic individuals and their families, as their eldest child hasautism.[22]Smigel created theNight of Too Many Stars,a biannual celebrity fundraiser to benefit autism education.[23]He won a writing Emmy for the 2012 broadcast ofNight of Too Many Stars.[24]
Recurring characters onSNL
[edit]- Carl Wollarski, from "Bill Swerski's Superfans"
- Hank Fielding, with "The Moron's Perspective" on Weekend Update
- One of the Hub's Gyros employees (aka the "You like-ah the Juice?" guys)
- Avi, the "Sabra Price is Right" announcer
- Bighead, in "The Ambiguously Gay Duo"cartoons
Celebrity impressions
[edit]- Alan Dershowitz(onSNL)
- Woody Allen(onSNL)
- Al Sharpton(onSNLTV Funhouse cartoon)
- Al Franken(onSNLTV Funhouse cartoon)
- William Ginsberg(onSNLTV Funhouse cartoon)
- Don McLean(onSNLTV Funhouse cartoon)
- Lorne Michaels(onSNLTV Funhouse cartoon)
- Pat Robertson(onSNLTV Funhouse cartoon)
- Michael Gross(onSNLTV Funhouse cartoon)
- Thomas Mesereau(onSNLTV Funhouse cartoon)
- Sinbad(onSNLTV Funhouse cartoon)
- Bob Dole(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
- Gene Shalit(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
- Joel Siegel(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
- Bob Ross(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
- Rip Torn(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
- Bill Walton(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
- Richard Nixon(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
- Sam Donaldson(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
- Hussein of Jordan(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
- Quentin Tarantino(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
- Ringo Starr(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
Recurring characters onLate Night with Conan O'Brien
[edit]- Triumph the Insult Comic Dog
- "Clutch Cargo" celebrity interviews (Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Don King, Bob Dole, etc.)
- One of the "Nicknames for Conan" guys (aka the "Conan the Barbarian" guys)
- One of the "Ameri-clan" guys (withDoug Dale,Louis C.K.andDino Stamatopoulos)
- Voice of "The Late Night Emergency Guest" mannequin
- Gibberish Speaking Ronald Reagan on the Phone
- Ira, Conan's publicist
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1993 | Wayne's World 2 | Concert Nerd | |
1995 | Billy Madison | Mr. Oblaski | |
1996 | Happy Gilmore | IRS Agent | |
1998 | Tomorrow Night | Mail Room Guy with Glasses | |
The Wedding Singer | Andre | ||
2000 | Little Nicky | Mr. Beefy | Voice only |
2002 | Punch-Drunk Love | Walter the Dentist | |
2007 | I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry | Mailman | |
2008 | You Don't Mess with the Zohan | Yosi | Also writer and producer |
2011 | Jack and Jill | — | Executive producer and writer of "Dunkaccino" |
2012 | Hotel Transylvania | Fake Dracula, Marty | Voice only Also writer and executive producer |
This Is 40 | Barry | ||
2015 | Pixels | White House Reporter #2 | |
Hotel Transylvania 2 | Marty, Harry Three-Eye, Navigator | Voice only Also writer and executive producer | |
2016 | The Do-Over | Doctor | |
2017 | Too Funny to Fail | Himself | Documentary |
2018 | The Week Of | ER Doctor | Also writer and director |
2019 | Marriage Story | Mediator | |
2020 | The King of Staten Island | Male Pharmacy Owner | |
2022 | Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm | Fraptaculan Robert | Voice only |
2023 | Leo | Miniature Horse, Drone, Old Lizard #1, Old Lizard #3 | Voice only Also writer and director[25] |
2024 | Between the Temples | Rabbi Bruce |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1985–2013 | Saturday Night Live | Bighead (The Ambiguously Gay Duosegment),Lorne Michaels(The Anatominals Showsegment),Elephant Man Bones(TheMichael JacksonShowsegment), Various | Also writer, producer |
1988 | Superman50th Anniversary Special | Brainwave | |
1991 | Lookwell | — | Television pilot; co-writer |
1993–2009 | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Triumph the Insult Comic Dog | Voice; also writer and producer |
1995 | Howie Mandel's Sunny Skies | Phillip | 1 episode |
1996 | The Dana Carvey Show | Various | Also writer |
1999 | LateLine | Pearce Dummy | Episode: "Pearce on Conan" |
2000 | ShortCuts | Clive Barnes | Episode: "Food" |
2000–2001 | TV Funhouse | Fogey, Xabu, Rocky, Terance, Wonderman / Henry Moore (Wondermansegment), Narrator (WondermanandMnemonics: Your Dear, Dear Friendsegments), Various | Voice; also creator, writer, and producer |
2002 | It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie | Triumph the Insult Comic Dog | Voice; Television film |
2003–2007 | Crank Yankers | Lawyer, Samir, John Tierney | Voice; 3 episodes |
2003–2017 | Night of Too Many Stars | Himself / Triumph the Insult Comic Dog | Television specials; also writer and executive producer |
2004 | Space Ghost Coast to Coast | Triumph the Insult Comic Dog | Voice, episode: "Dreams" |
2005 | Arrested Development | Motherboy Member | Episode: "Motherboy XXX" |
2007 | Robot Chicken: Star Wars | Palpatine,Ray | Voice |
2008 | Lewis Black's Root of All Evil | Triumph the Insult Comic Dog | Voice, episode: "NRA vs PETA" |
2009–2010 | The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien | Triumph the Insult Comic Dog | Voice, 3 episodes |
2009 | SpongeBob SquarePants | Triumph the Insult Comic Dog | Voice, episode: "SpongeBob's Truth or Square" |
2010 | Aqua Teen Hunger Force | One Hundred | Voice, episode: "One Hundred" |
2011 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Yari | Episode: "Mister Softee" |
2011–2016 | Conan | Various | 11 episodes |
2012–2022 | Bob's Burgers | Yuli the Security Guard | Voice; recurring role |
2013 | The Aquabats! Super Show! | Krampus | Voice, episode: "Christmas with the Aquabats!" |
2015 | The Jack and Triumph Show | Triumph the Insult Comic Dog | Voice; also creator, writer, and executive producer |
Louie | — | Episode: "Cop Story"; story | |
The Jim Gaffigan Show | Cory | Episode: "Red Velvet If You Please" | |
2016 | Triumph's Election Special 2016 | Triumph the Insult Comic Dog | Voice, television special; also writer and executive producer |
Portlandia | Jarvis | Episode: "Lance Is Smart" | |
Triumph's Summer Election Special 2016 | Triumph the Insult Comic Dog | Voice, television special; also writer and executive producer | |
Triumph's Election Watch 2016 | Triumph the Insult Comic Dog | Voice, miniseries; also writer and executive producer | |
2018 | New Girl | Chaplain | Episode: "The Curse of the Pirate Bride" |
2019 | The Masked Singer | Triumph the Insult Comic Dog | Voice, episode: "Triumph Over Masks"; guest panelist |
2021 | Let's Be Real | — | Writer/executive producer |
2023 | White House Plumbers | Inmate Friedman | Episode: "True Believers" |
What We Do in the Shadows | Alexander | Episode: "The Campaign" |
Music videos
[edit]Year | Song Title | Role | Artist |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | "Ass Like That" | Triumph the Insult Comic Dog | Eminem |
Further reading
[edit]- DiGiacomo, Frank. "Triumph Sniffs a Hit".The New York Observer(October 20, 2003).
References
[edit]- ^"Smigel, Robert 1960-".Encyclopedia.Cengage.
- ^Rabin, Nathan (June 2, 2008)."Robert Smigel".The A.V. Club.RetrievedSeptember 2,2012.
- ^Bloom, Nate (July 18, 2008)."Jewish Stars".Cleveland Jewish News.
- ^Castoro, Rocco (October 1, 2010)."Robert Smigel".Vice.RetrievedNovember 6,2018.
- ^"Rolling Stone Magazine: Robert Smigel's Dog Days".Rollingstone. Archived fromthe originalon February 16, 2010.RetrievedSeptember 2,2012.
- ^Hollander, Jason."Live From New York, It's…".NYU Alumni Magazine.
- ^Rabin, Nathan (August 4, 2004)."Robert Smigel | Interview".The A.V. Club.Archivedfrom the original on December 9, 2008.RetrievedSeptember 2,2012.
- ^"Happy? Good? Conan's big Chicago show".RetrievedJanuary 22,2016.
- ^"Animation: TV & Broadcast – The Dana Carvey Show".J.J. Sedelmaier Productions. 2008.RetrievedJanuary 22,2016.
- ^Heisler, SteveInterview – Dana Carvey and Robert SmigelThe A.V. Club(June 15, 2009). Retrieved on 5-09-10.
- ^West, Kelly (October 2, 2006)."Smigel And Sandler Team Up For A New Fox Animated Series".Cinemablend.RetrievedJanuary 22,2016.
- ^Sepinwall, Alan (May 28, 2015)."How 'Louie' got a shorter season because Louis C.K. got high".Archived fromthe originalon May 29, 2015.
- ^Blistein, Jon (January 21, 2016)."Triumph the Insult Comic Dog to Host Hulu Election Special".Rolling Stone.RetrievedJanuary 22,2016.
- ^Andreeva, Nellie (September 15, 2020)."Fox Sets Election-Themed Puppet Special 'Let's Be Real' From Robert Smigel Based On French Format".Deadline.RetrievedSeptember 15,2020.
- ^Haring, Bruce (June 17, 2022)."'Late Show' Staffers Detained By U.S. Capitol Police, Including Robert Smigel, Voice Of Triumph, The Insult Comic Dog ".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedJune 17,2022.
- ^Zitser, Joshua (June 18, 2022)."Tucker Carlson accuses Stephen Colbert crew of 'insurrection' after they were arrested while filming a comedy segment at the Capitol".INSIDER.RetrievedJune 21,2022.
- ^Weprin, Alex (June 20, 2022)."Stephen Colbert Addresses Arrest of Triumph and Crew at U.S. Capitol:" This Was First-Degree Puppetry "".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedJune 21,2022.
- ^Balsamo, Michael (July 19, 2022)."No charges for 'Late Show' crew arrested on Capitol Hill".Associated Press.
- ^"Maynard Keenan, Sarah Silverman on Favorite 'Mr. Show' Bits".Rolling Stone.November 3, 2015.
- ^"Triumph the Insult Comic Dog Can't Stop Photo-Bombing Live TV".January 19, 2024.
- ^
- ^"Board of Directors".NYCA.Archived fromthe originalon November 11, 2013.
- ^"At autism fund-raiser, too many funny 'Stars'".USA TODAY.RetrievedMarch 13,2017.
- ^"Big Wins and Brief Moments at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards - Los Angeles Magazine".Los Angeles Magazine.September 16, 2013.RetrievedMarch 13,2017.
- ^"Everything You Need to Know AboutLeo".Tudum.August 23, 2023.RetrievedOctober 12,2023.
External links
[edit]- 1960 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American comedians
- 20th-century American Jews
- 20th-century American male actors
- 20th-century American male writers
- 20th-century American screenwriters
- 21st-century American comedians
- 21st-century American Jews
- 21st-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male writers
- 21st-century American screenwriters
- American comedy writers
- American male comedians
- American male film actors
- American male screenwriters
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- American male television writers
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- Autism activists
- Comedians from Chicago
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- Cornell University alumni
- Jewish American comedy writers
- Jewish American male actors
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- Male actors from Chicago
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- New York University alumni
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- Television producers from Illinois
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