INNOATIVE PROD
Jen Van Ewyk
Producers are the invisible artists who oversee and
manage a production. Producers are essentially allrounders: they initiate, coordinate and supervise all
administrative aspects from beginning to end. Comedy
producers need to have the perfect eye for spotting
and maintaining comedic talent, a characteristic that
to keep up with the changing demands of television
networks and audiences. The list of innovative
producers is endless. The producers listed below
have all created some of the most popular shows and
Michaels launched “SNL” in a time where live variety
shows were scarce and has managed to keep the
show adaptable to changing times. “SNL” was
talent and has taken on an “on with the new” talent
approach, particularly when Michaels was required
to make budget cuts for the show (allowing new cast
members to remain). Michaels has continually pushed
comedy boundaries with “SNL” and has also had to
answer to political joke making and cast diversity
issues. Michaels told Vulture.com “If a culture doesn’t
allow you to laugh at the leaders or at things that
your eyes and ears tell you are actually happening,
that’s not good. I do get into trouble every now and
then, because we’re at that level where we’re being
within the industry.
Steve Vizard
Lorne Michaels
Steve Vizard is an Australian award-winning executive
producer who has written for and produced shows
including “Fast Forward” and “Tonight Live With
Steve Vizard”. “Tonight Live” was inspired by “The
David Letterman Show”. “Fast Forward” became
one of Australia’s highest rating, longest running and
most critically awarded sketch comedy shows.
Described by the Daily News as “the ultimate
kingmaker of comedy”, Lorne Michaels has guided
the longest running, most Emmy-nominated as well
as highest rated (NBC) comedy television program,
“Saturday Night Live” (SNL) since its inception in
1975. Recently, Michaels has taken on the role of
executive producer for “The Tonight Show Starring
Jimmy Fallon”, “Late Night with Seth Meyers”, and
along with Tina Fey has produced “30 Rock”.
What enables Michaels to be unique and longstanding
as a producer is the fact that he has essentially
created a TV comedy universe, challenging comedy
boundaries and successfully launching and nurturing
the careers of countless comedic actors including
Will Ferrell, Jimmy Fallon, Kristen Wiig, Alec Baldwin,
Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Adam Sandler, amongst
many others. Michaels maintains a very hands-on
role in every aspect of the show, from sketch selection
to casting.
With the creation of the production company Artist
Services (along with Andrew Knight), Vizard produced
“Full Frontal”, the successor of “Fast Forward” and
these comedies offered vital opportunities for many
writer-performers including “Kath and Kim’s” Jane
Turner, Gina Riley, Magda Szubanski, as well as
Shaun Micallef.
Actor and writer Adam Zwar has described to smh.
com.au Vizard’s contribution to the Australian
revered in comedy circles and stories about Artist
Services are the stuff of legend. It was a dream factory
that gave so many people their start and together with