A five-time Emmy Award winner, Alan Zweibel’s illustrious career began writing and creating characters for legendary comedians: Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Dan Akroyd, Steve Martin. The setting was Saturday Night Live, one of the most successful entertainment programs in television history.
“There were times when I hid under the ‘Weekend Update’ desk passing jokes to the anchor while we were on the air. We were like a bunch of fourth-graders putting on a show every week.”
Indeed, it was a long way from his days working the counter at a Queens, N.Y., deli. And the ride has continued post-Saturday Night Live, with TV credits including It’s the Garry Shandling Show, Monk and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Zweibel has also lent his talents to the stage, collaborating with Billy Crystal on the 2005 Tony Award winning 700 Sundays and co-writing with Martin Short the 2006 smash Broadway hit Fame Becomes Me. The result of Zweibel’s hard work has been multiple Emmy, CableACE, Writer’s Guild and TV Critics awards, appearances on the The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, TODAY and Good Morning America, and a ringing endorsement from The New York Times: “Mr. Zweibel has earned a place in the pantheon of American pop culture.”
Zweibel published a collection of short stories and essays entitled Clothing Optional to rave reviews. Said Steve Martin, “Humor writer, author, playwright. But enough about me. Alan Zweibel’s book made me laugh out loud!” Selected pieces from Clothing Optional are going to be produced for the New York stage and will be directed by Jerry Zaks.
In January 2012 he released Lunatics, co-authored with Dave Barry. The novel takes readers through the hilarious series of events that unfold after a pet store owner and a man having a very bad day collide.
The 2010 Writer’s Guild Lifetime Achievement winner Zweibel has also been awarded the 2006 Thurber Prize for American Humor for his novel The Other Shulman, and his best-selling book Bunny Bunny–Gilda Radner: A Sort of Love Story became an Off-Broadway hit. His humor has appeared in such diverse publications as Esquire, The Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times Op-Ed page, The Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine, The Huffington Post, MAD Magazine and have been reprinted in numerous anthologies around the world.
At the podium, Zweibel takes audiences along on his incredible journey from the days of selling jokes for seven dollars apiece to becoming a member of the original writing staff of Saturday Night Live to working on Broadway. In a kind of Hollywood history lesson, Zweibel takes audiences through his constant fight with censors and makes sure to recount how he got through his not-so-funny moments. With great warmth, Zweibel shares hilarious anecdotes that will leave audiences beyond entertained.
In a separate program, Zweibel recalls being confronted with a disaster that was no laughing matter when close friend and long-time colleague Gilda Radner was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. He discusses how his faith helped him through setbacks in his career as well as cope with Radnor’s death. Sharing the story of his friendship with Radnor, Zweibel delivers a heartfelt message of hope and the healing power of laughter – a theme that pervades even his current works such as his award winning children’s book, Our Tree Named Steve.
“[Making her laugh] was my job in Gilda’s life when she was sick,” remembers Zweibel, “Garry [Shandling] and I would do a show every week and we would send her a tape just like a get-well card.”
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and graduate of the University of Buffalo, Zweibel splits time between residences in New Jersey and Los Angeles, with his wife and three children.
