How much is Michael Showalter worth?
| Net Worth: | $3.5 Million |
|---|---|
| Profession: | Professional Comedian |
| Date of Birth: | June 17, 1970 |
| Country: | United States of America |
| Height: | 1.83 m |
About Michael Showalter
Michael Showalter was born on June 17, 1970 and is an American comedian, actor, director, writer, and producer with an estimated net worth of $3.5 million. Michael Showalter has worked as both a sketch and stand-up comedian. As a former member of both The State and Stella, Showalter has boldly embraced the odd and absurd. His comedy — particularly his stand-up — is frequently experimental, focusing more on long stories and flights of oddness than on regular set-ups and punchlines.
Quick Facts:
- Michael Showalter was born and raised in Princeton, New Jersey.
- He became a member the comedy troupe that would eventually become The State while at New York University.
- He wrote and starred in the film Wet Hot American Summer in 2001.
- In 2005, he wrote and directed the romantic comedy The Baxter.
- Showalter released his first stand-up album, Sandwiches and Cats, in 2007.
- In 2009, he co-starred with fellow State member Michael Ian Black on the Comedy Central series Michael and Michael Have Issues.
Michael Showalter and The State
Michael Showalter attended college at NYU (but graduated from Brown University), where he became a member of the sketch comedy troupe The New Group — who eventually went on to become The State. The group had their own sketch show on MTV for three seasons.
Michael Showalter in Hollywood
Though he remained under the radar, Showalter stayed active in the comedy scene after the dissolution of The State. He had a short run as a correspondent on The Daily Show (still in its Craig Kilborn incarnation) in 1996 and hosted a short-lived NBC series called Late Friday in 2001.
The same year, Showalter co-wrote and starred in Wet Hot American Summer, a camp-movie spoof directed by his State buddy David Wain and starring several members of the late sketch comedy group. The film quickly gained a cult following and opened up the door for Showalter’s film career.
The Baxter and Stella
In 2005, Showalter wrote and directed his own feature film, the independent romantic comedy The Baxter, in which he also played the lead role. Though not really a financial success, the film received very positive reviews from critics.
Also in 2005, Black reunited with State members Michael Showalter and David Wain to form the comedy troupe Stella, who had their own show on Comedy Central. It lasted only one season before being canceled.
Michael Showalter, Comedian
Showalter released his own comedy album in 2007, called Sandwiches and Cats. The album was a mixture of live stand-up comedy and recorded sketches and songs, which Showalter performed with his acoustic band The Doilies (really just him and actor Zak Orth).
He also began hosting his own Web series in 2007, called The Michael Showalter Showalter. His guests included Zach Galifianakis, Michael Ian Black, Mike Birbiglia and David Cross.
Michael and Michael Have Issues
Showalter and Black reunited again to create a new series, Michael and Michael Have Issues, for Comedy Central in 2009. The show combined sketch comedy with a more traditional narrative and received a seven episode run.
Created by and starring Michael Showalter and Michael Ian Black, both former members of sketch comedy groups The State and Stella, Michael and Michael Have Issues follows the two comedians through their lives as hosts of a fictional sketch show. Each episode will feature one main narrative, usually about the daily lives of Showalter and Black competing with one another for the spotlight and attempting to undermine one another. Sketches will be interspersed throughout the narrative, making the show a combination of sitcom and sketch comedy.
Michael and Michael Have Issues began as a show for Comedy Central called Michael Ian Black Doesn’t Understand, but was eventually retooled by Showalter and Black to become Michael and Michael. The pilot was shot in 2008, and Comedy Central gave a seven-episode run the greenlight in early 2009.
Black previously starred on Viva Variety! on Comedy Central and has appeared in several episodes of network staple Reno 911! created by and featuring members of The State.
‘Sandwiches and Cats’ Album Review
Michael Showalter has an impressive comedy resume. He was a member of the now-legendary comedy troupe The State, who had their own sketch show on MTV in the 1990s. He’s written and starred in films (Wet Hot American Summer) and directed films (The Baxter, which he also wrote and starred in). He was a member of Stella, another comedy troupe with their own show (on Comedy Central) alongside fellow State alum Michael Ian Black and David Wain. And now, at last, he’s released his own comedy album: Sandwiches and Cats.
The album is a mix of traditional stand-up (recorded live in Chicago) and produced sketches. Because of Showalter’s background, one would expect that the sketches would work best and might forgive some unpolished stand-up. It’s frustrating, then, that Sandwiches and Cats finds the comedian uneven in both formats.
As a stand-up, Showalter is still finding his way. He hasn’t yet quite figured out how to develop a bit or create momentum with his set (which could explain why it’s broken up with sketches). Too often, his material is a little generic and far too mannered; when he continually repeats the word “bitter” (pronouncing it “bit-ter”), it’s not because it’s particularly funny — it’s because he thinks it’s funny. He alienates the audience with that kind of self-consciousness just when he should be drawing them in.
Some of the album’s sketches, like “Term Warner Cable” (guest starring Janeane Garofalo as the helpful automated voice driving a man crazy), are amusing because they apply logic where it shouldn’t be applied. Unfortunately, there’s no payoff — just the amusing set up. Others, like the musical “We Had to Do the Show,” are self-indulgent and, even worse, unfunny.
Still Showing Promise
That’s not to say the album isn’t without its bright spots. Showalter’s extended riff on the decision for Starbucks to begin carrying DVDs of Akeelah and the Bee (and no other films) is very funny; likewise some throwaway observational stuff about washing hands after going to the bathroom, restless leg syndrome and the phrase ‘athlete’s foot.’ But the funniest moment comes when Showalter realizes that a woman in the front row of the “live” portion has brought a cat with her (inspiring the album’s title). Ever the improvisational master — a skill that served him well during his sketch comedy days, no doubt — Showalter launches into a long bit about the situation. The spontaneity of the moment and Showalter’s genuine surprise and frustration make for the album’s standout bit.
Showalter is a funny, funny guy — no one could have been on The State and written Wet Hot American Summer and not be funny — and there several moments on Sandwiches and Cats that suggest he’s got a really good comedy album in him. It may just be that he put the album out too soon after venturing into stand-up; compared with the stand-up debut of his State-mate Michael Ian Black, I Am a Wonderful Man, Showalter’s album feels a little amateurish and unfinished. I say this, of course, as a fan who was hoping for more and knows that it’s possible. If there’s ever a next album, I’ll pick it up without hesitation and cross my fingers.
Just for Laughs Review
The first-ever Just for Laughs Chicago festival wrapped up with a stand-up show by Michael Showalter, he of the incredible comedic resume: The State, Wet Hot American Summer, Stella and the upcoming Michael and Michael Have Issues. Originally slated to be a joint performance with Showalter and fellow State member Michael Ian Black, but Black had to pull out due to a family obligation. Perhaps the lineup change had Showalter scrambling to fill the bill, as the resulting show seemed a lot more like “Michael Showalter and Friends.”
Showalter kicked off the show by premiering a clip from his new show with Black, Michael and Michael Have Issues. It was a sketch called “Quiet Bob the Weatherman,” and the title pretty much says it all — it was about a weatherman who speaks too quietly. It wasn’t really a home run, but it didn’t need to be for me; I’m going to be watching the show anyway. Having said that, the sketch was still amusing — though I’m sure it helped that I was buzzing from the newness of it (we were the first to see it!) and seeing Black and Showalter performing sketch comedy together again.
Showalter then introduced Owen Benjamin, a tall, goofy comic (who I actually remember from his small role in The House Bunny). He did some stand-up before sitting down at the piano and riffing some musical comedy, playing Journey songs to feel cool and jamming out some 18th century “hook-up” music. His whole set had a very relaxed, silly vibe that made him rather endearing; even when his material wasn’t totally funny, Benjamin still was. You end up laughing because you like him so much.
Next up was Jessi Klein, who delivered the strongest set of the night. I knew Klein from her talking-head pieces on VH1 shows (chiefly Best Week Ever, but hadn’t seen her perform stand-up before; she was really funny and incredibly dirty in just the right amount — she had the ability to shock without making “shock” the point of her act. Better yet, she was original; I never felt her aping other comics of her generation. That would have been easy to do.
Kumail Nanjiani followed Klein with a slightly more uneven set, though still strong enough that I enjoyed it overall. He did extended routines on an outdated Coney Island rollercoaster and a new drug called “Cheese” (really just heroin mixed with Tylenol P.M.), the latter being the funniest of his set. He offered something different than both Benjamin and Klein, which made the show interesting; unlike other shows I’ve attended (even some at the Just for Laughs festival), none of the evening’s performers ran together.
Headliner Showalter came back out to close out the show, and I wasn’t sure what to expect from his stand-up. His album, Sandwiches and Cats (also recorded at The Lakeshore Theater) was uneven for me, but I remained optimistic. Rather than perform any actual stand-up, Showalter merely told a few stories — a long one about adopting a cat, two short and unrelated stories about sexual intercourse and a bit where he read from an old yearbook. There’s never been anything traditional about Showalter’s comedy, and this was anything but traditional. I actually couldn’t tell if he was just underprepared or if this is exactly what he wanted his act to be; either way, while it wasn’t what I expected I won’t say I didn’t enjoy it. Maybe it’s because I’m a Showalter fan or maybe it’s because it was so different than the preceding acts, but even the slow spots (and there were slow spots and some long set-ups) managed to hold my interest.
If I was disappointed at all, it was that Showalter’s set was roughly as long as the three preceding comics’. I had expected more from him, probably because the festival had advertised it as a Michael Showalter show and not just a showcase. I was bummed when the Lakeshore began giving him the light after less than 30 minutes, but maybe it’s for the best; had his set gone on longer, it might have really unraveled. He closed the show by showing another clip from Michael and Michael Have Issues, this one about a store that only sells sweatpants to depressed, dejected men.
No, the Michael Showalter show wasn’t what I expected it to be, but that didn’t make it a waste of time. Each comedian found a different way to be funny — or, at the very least, interesting — and the show offered me something I didn’t find anywhere else at the festival. After taking in as much comedy as I had over the course of five days, it was a welcome change of pace.
Additional Facts:
- In addition to starring in films he wrote, Showalter has also acted in films like Safe Men (1998), Kissing Jessica Stein (2002) and Signs (2002) and appeared on an episode of HBO’s Sex & the City.
- Showalter teaches screenwriting at NYU’s Graduate Film School.
- He was a member of a hip-hop/comedy group in high school called The Disposable Rappers.
Starring Kumail Najiani of The Big Sick, and with Issa Rae, Anna Camp and Paul Sparks, Showalter The Lovebirds (2020). Due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic its initial theatrical release was cancelled, similar to many other films, and it finally premiered on Netflix on May 22, 2020. As of 2023, Michael Showalter’s net worth is estimated to be $3.5 million.
