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Jen Statsky

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jen Statsky
BornNovember 19, 1985 (1985-11-19) (age 38)
OccupationTelevision writer
Years active2009–present

Jen Statsky (born November 19, 1985) is an American television writer and comedian known for her work on Hacks, The Good Place, Parks and Recreation, and Broad City. She is the co-creator and co-showrunner of the critically-acclaimed HBO Max series Hacks, for which she has received multiple awards including 3 Primetime Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and 3 WGA Awards.

Personal life

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Jen Statsky was born November 19, 1985, in Milton, Massachusetts, where she grew up before moving to New York City to study at New York University. She attended Tisch School of the Arts where she studied Film and Television.[1] She is a Los Angeles Clippers fan. She is married to Travis Helwig, the Emmy-winning writer formerly at Crooked Media.

Career

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Early beginnings

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In school, Statsky developed an interest in writing. When she graduated from NYU in 2008, she was working in a coffee shop as well as performing stand-up comedy. Statsky continued her writing career as an intern for Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Onion.[2] She joined Twitter in 2009 and used it to write jokes, ultimately gaining a following over time.[2] In 2011, while Statsky continued keeping her Twitter account active, A. D. Miles, the head writer of NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, messaged her, suggesting Statsky apply to a writing position that was available. She applied for the position and in March 2011 her manager confirmed Statsky was hired as a writer.[2]

Television

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Late Night with Jimmy Fallon was Statsky's first experience as a television writer. She later worked as a staff writer for Hello Ladies and has worked as a writer for Parks and Recreation, Broad City, Lady Dynamite, and The Good Place. In 2019, Statsky joined other WGA writers in firing their agents as part of the WGA's stand against the ATA and the practice of packaging.[3][4] In 2021, she signed an overall deal with Universal Television.[5]

Book

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Statsky has made a written contribution to the book The McSweeney's Book of Politics and Musicals that was published in 2012.[6] Statsky also wrote a contribution for the book Notes From the Bathroom Line: Humor, Art, and Low-Grade Panic From 150 Of The Funniest Women In Comedy.

Filmography

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Year Title Credited as Notes
Writer Producer
2011 Onion SportsDome No Yes Associate producer
2011–13 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Yes No
2013 Hello Ladies Yes No Staff writer
2014–15 Parks and Recreation Yes No Wrote 2 episodes
Also story editor and executive story editor
2015–19 Broad City Yes Yes Wrote 4 episodes, also consultant
Consulting and co-executive producer
2016 The Characters Yes No Consultant writer, episode: "Paul W. Downs"
2016 Obamtourage Yes No Television short, idea by
2016–17 Lady Dynamite Yes No Wrote 2 episodes
Also story editor and executive story editor
2016 Another Period Yes No Wrote: "Tubman"
2018 Forever Yes Yes Supervising producer, story by: "Kase"
2016–2020 The Good Place Yes Yes Wrote 7 episodes
Also co-executive, supervising, and co-producer
2020 A Parks and Recreation Special Yes No Television special
2021–present Hacks Yes Yes Co-creator with Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs
Wrote 3 episodes
2023 Chris Fleming: Hell No Yes Executive Producer

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2012
Writers Guild of America Awards Best Comedy/Variety - (Including Talk) Series - Television Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Nominated
2014
Writers Guild of America Awards Comedy Series Parks and Recreation Nominated
2016
Writers Guild of America Awards Comedy Series Broad City Nominated
2019
Producers Guild of America Awards Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television The Good Place Nominated
Writers Guild of America Awards Comedy Series The Good Place Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series The Good Place (as Supervising Producer) Nominated
2020
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series The Good Place (as Co-Executive Producer) Nominated
2021
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series Hacks (as Executive Producer) Nominated [7]
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Hacks(Episode: "There Is No Line (Pilot)")
(Shared with Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs)
Won [8]
Writers Guild of America Awards Comedy Series Hacks Won [9]
New Series Hacks Won
Golden Globe Awards Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy Hacks (as Executive Producer) Won [10]
AFI Awards Outstanding Television Program of the Year Hacks Won [11]
Peabody Awards Peabody Award, Entertainment Honoree Hacks Won [12]
2022
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series Hacks (as Executive Producer) Nominated [13]
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Hacks(Episode: "The One, The Only")
(Shared with Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs)
Nominated
Writers Guild of America Awards Episodic Comedy Hacks(Episode: "The One, The Only")
(Shared with Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs)
Won [14]
Comedy Series Hacks Nominated
Producers Guild of America Awards Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television Hacks (as Executive Producer) Nominated [15]
AFI Awards Outstanding Television Program of the Year Hacks Won [16]
2024
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series Hacks (as Executive Producer) Won [17]
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Hacks(Episode: "Bulletproof") (Shared with Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs) Won [18]

References

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  1. ^ Peyser, Eve (August 31, 2015). "Jen Statsky on the art of the one-liner, writing for late night, and comedy with 'heart'". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on September 29, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Hollander, Jason (Spring 2012). "The Tweet Life" (PDF). NYU Alumni Magazine. New York University. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 18, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  3. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (13 April 2019). "Writers Share Signed Termination Letters As Mass Firing Of Agents Begins After WGA-ATA Talks Fail". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  4. ^ "I Stand With The WGA". Personal Twitter. Archived from the original on 2019-05-24. Retrieved 2019-04-15.
  5. ^ White, Peter (2021-08-09). "'Hacks' Co-Creator Jen Statsky Extends Overall Deal With Universal Television". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 2021-08-10. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  6. ^ McSweeney's (January 1, 2012). The McSweeney's Book of Politics and Musicals. Vintage Books. ISBN 9780307387349.
  7. ^ "Hacks". Emmys.com. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  8. ^ "Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series - 2021". Emmys.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  9. ^ "2022 Writers Guild Awards Winners Announced". Writers Guild of America. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  10. ^ "Hacks, Golden Globes". Golden Globes. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  11. ^ "AFI Awards 2021". Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  12. ^ "Peabody Awards Announces 30 Winners". June 21, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  13. ^ "Awards Nominees and Winners". Emmys. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  14. ^ "2023 Writers Guild Awards Winners & Nominees". Writers Guild of America. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  15. ^ "Nominations in Motion Picture and Television Program categories announced". January 12, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  16. ^ "AFI Awards 2022". Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  17. ^ "Outstanding Comedy Series - 2024". Emmys.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  18. ^ "Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series - 2024". Emmys. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
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