The Coaches
Coach
Lewis Black
Acclaimed stand-up comedian, actor, author and playwright, Lewis Black performs over 200 nights a year to sell-out audiences at some of the most renowned theaters throughout Europe, New Zealand, Canada and The United States. He was the first stand-up comedian to ever perform in concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Lewis launched his career in stand-up with a weekly segment that he created for The Daily Show on Comedy Central. Since then, Lewis taped four specials for the Comedy Central Presents series and two HBO specials. His feature length concert film, Stark Raving Black and accompanying documentary Basic Black are still aired on EpixHD on demand. He’s won numerous awards for his work including: Best Male Stand-Up at the American Comedy Awards, earned a Sports Emmy for two seasons on Inside the NFL, 5 Grammy nominations and two wins for his comedy CDs, and was nominated for an Emmy for his HBO special Red, White and Screwed. In 2006, Lewis had a break out year as an actor. He co-starred with Robin Williams in Barry Levinson’s Man of the Year (Universal Pictures), appeared in Steve Pink’s Accepted (Universal Pictures) and Paul Feig’s Unaccompanied Minors (Warner Brothers). He also lent his voice to the role of “Jimmy” in Bob Saget’s parody, Farce of the Penguins (Thinkfilm). In addition to his professional pursuits, Lewis is dedicated to a number of charitable organizations and has performed in 3 tours with the USO where he visited several Middle East and European military bases. Today Lewis maintains residences in both Manhattan and Chapel Hill, NC. Still loyal to his alma mater, he’s worked with UNC students to create the Carolina Comedy Festival.
Coach
Zach Galifianakis
After failing his last college course by one point at North Carolina State University, Zach Galifianakis moved to New York City. He got his start performing his brand of humor in the back of a hamburger joint in Times Square, graduating to doing stand-up at night clubs and coffee houses in the city. While working as a bus boy, he got his first acting job on the sitcom BOSTON COMMON for NBC. An eclectic career has followed. Zach Galifianakis was most recently seen in the Jay Roach directed comedy for Warner Brothers, THE CAMPAIGN, starring along Will Ferrell. His breakout moment came in the blockbuster hit THE HANGOVER. Directed by Todd Phillips, the Warner Bros. feature became the highest grossing R-rated comedy of all time. He reprised his role as the hapless member of the wolf pack in THE HANGOVER 2. Galifianakis was next seen in the Jerry Bruckheimer produced live-action Disney feature G-FORCE, which debuted at #1 and grossed over $290 million worldwide. Galifianakis also starred in DUE DATE, in which he reteamed with director Todd Phillips and Warner Bros. to star opposite Robert Downey Jr. In a departure from comedy, Galifianakis starred in the Focus Feature film, IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY, where he played a patient in a mental hospital, bringing his warmth and humor to the character of ‘Bobby.’ Galifianakis will next be seen opposite Owen Wilson in the Independent feature, YOU ARE HERE, directed by Matt Wiener. His other credits include DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS opposite Steve Carell and Paul Rudd, the independent feature YOUTH IN REVOLT opposite Michael Cera, Steve Busemi, and Ray Liotta, as well as a cameo role for Jason Reitman’s Academy Award nominated film UP IN THE AIR. He also appeared in the Fox feature WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS opposite Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher, and the critically acclaimed INTO THE WILD from Paramount Vantage and director Sean Penn. On the small screen, Zach previously starred in the HBO comedy BORED TO DEATH with Jason Schwartzman and Ted Danson. He previously hosted the critically acclaimed talk show for VH1, LATE WORLD WITH ZACH, as well as writing and starring in DOG BITES MAN for Comedy Central. Galifianakis also hosts an internet talk show titled “Between Two Ferns” on which he has interviewed such guests as Steve Carell, Natalie Portman, Conan O’Brien, and Charlize Theron.
Coach
B.J. Novak
B.J. Novak is an actor, writer, and comedian best known for his work on NBC’s long-running hit comedy, “The Office.” In addition to starring as Ryan, Novak also served as an executive producer of the series, as well as one of its most frequent writers and directors. Some of Novak’s memorable on-screen performances include a role as PFC Smithson Utivich in Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds,” and appearances in “Knocked Up,” “Unaccompanied Minors,” and “Reign Over Me.” He will next be seen in the upcoming motion pictures “The Internship ” for 20th Century Fox, and the Walt Disney Studios drama “Saving Mr. Banks.” Novak’s first on-screen work in television was in a variety of improvised roles on the MTV prank show, “Punk’d.” Novak recently served as executive producer for the pilot of “The Mindy Project” on Fox, and will continue to work as a writer, director, and consulting producer on the program’s first season.
Coach
Bob Saget
Bob Saget has starred in many successful television shows, including two of the most family-friendly shows network TV has ever produced (“Full House” and “Americas Funniest Home videos”) but he’s also an out of his mind, standup comedian for over thirty years. From his HBO special “That Ain’t Right” to his scene-stealing cameos in “Entourage,” and “The Aristocrats,” it’s always effective as Saget embraces his dark side. Bob starred on Broadway in the Tony Award winning “The Drowsy Chaperone,” was seen reprising the role of “Himself” on HBO’s hit series “Entourage” and starred in his own documentary comedy series for A&E titled, “Strange Days with Bob Saget,” an exploration of unusual subcultures in America. He just completed filming his new one hour stand-up special at The Moore Theatre in Seattle. In the coming months, Bob is enjoying his standup touring and writing a book for It Books, an imprint of HarperCollins for early 2014. It may be dirty.
Coach
Mark Brazill
Mark Brazill is a standup comic turned TV writer who co-created the hit series “That 70’s Show,” which he loosely based on his hometown of Fredonia, New York. He has been nominated for two Primetime Emmy awards and was a writer on the classic TV series “In Living Color” and “The Dennis Miller Show.” He also served as a producer/writer on the NBC series “3rd Rock From The Sun.” Mark is happily married to his beautiful wife Shelley and is the proud father of two amazing kids, Jack and Eden.
Coach
Bob Nickman
Bob Nickman was a stand-up comedian for 14 years until he got tired of telling his problems to drunk strangers and decided to take a nap. When he woke up, he spent a couple of months passing on what he knew to an injured veteran. Now that veteran is inflicting HIS inner demons on audiences. Carry on soldier — and take no prisoners!
Coach
Kevin Rooney
Kevin Rooney is an Emmy Award-winning television writer. He was also a stand-up comedian, appearing five times on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Kevin has written for many variety shows, including Dennis Miller’s syndicated talk show and his HBO show, and Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. He co-wrote and guest-starred in Jay Leno’s Showtime special, “Jay Leno and The American Dream.” Kevin also wrote for a number of sitcoms, including three seasons as co-executive producer on “My Wife And Kids,” starring Damon Wayans. Kevin lives with his wife, the actress, singer and author Carole Raphaelle Davis; and their four rescued dogs, Lamby, Finley, Buggy and Jinky.
Coach
Bernadette Luckett
Coach / Co-Producer Bernadette segued from a career as a standup comic into TV writing, and has worked as a writer/producer on several sitcoms including: Living Single; Sister, Sister; The Tracy Morgan Show; Girlfriends; and Romeo!