Showrunners Who Started in Alt Rooms
From DIY Comedy Stages to Hollywood's Writers' Rooms
The pipeline from alternative comedy stages to television writer's rooms has become one of the most significant career paths in the entertainment industry. A generation of comedians who cut their teeth in experimental comedy spaces are now creating, writing, and executive producing some of television's most groundbreaking shows.
These creator-showrunners bring with them the sensibilities developed in basement venues and DIY comedy spaces: an emphasis on authenticity, a willingness to experiment with form, and a commitment to perspectives historically excluded from mainstream comedy. The result has been a golden age of comedic television that pushes boundaries in both content and structure.
This article profiles several influential showrunners who started in alternative comedy scenes and examines how that background continues to influence their creative work in television.
HBO's "Hacks" was created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky, all of whom emerged from New York's alt-comedy scene.
From Stage to Screen: Alt-Comedy Showrunner Profiles
Issa Rae
While not following the traditional path through alt-comedy clubs, Issa Rae created her own DIY comedy platform with her web series "The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl," which embodied the spirit of alternative comedy by creating space for perspectives absent from mainstream venues. The series established her voice and became the foundation for her groundbreaking HBO show "Insecure."
Rae's journey exemplifies a digital-era approach to alternative comedy, using online platforms to bypass traditional gatekeepers entirely. Her work consistently maintains the hallmarks of alternative comedy: personal storytelling, cultural specificity, and a willingness to blend comedy with dramatic elements.
Notable Works:
Insecure (HBO, 2016-2021)
This critically acclaimed series translated Rae's web series sensibility to premium television, maintaining its authentic voice while expanding its scope and production values. The show's nuanced portrayal of Black female friendship and experience retained the specificity and honesty that characterized her independent work.
Rap Sh!t (HBO Max, 2022-present)
Rae's follow-up series about two female rappers in Miami continued her exploration of Black women navigating creative industries, bringing her distinct comedic voice to a new setting and incorporating innovative use of social media formats within the narrative structure.
"The internet was my alternative comedy stage. It gave me the freedom to create without permission and connect directly with an audience that traditional media wasn't serving."
— Issa Rae
Abbi Jacobson & Ilana Glazer
Jacobson and Glazer met in the New York alternative comedy scene, specifically in the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) ecosystem. After discovering their comedic chemistry, they created the web series "Broad City" as a DIY project while continuing to perform in alternative venues around the city.
Their transition from web series to Comedy Central show (with Amy Poehler as executive producer) established a clear pathway that many alternative comedians have since followed. What made their journey particularly significant was how they maintained the irreverent, experimental tone of their web series even after moving to a larger platform.
Notable Works:
Broad City (Comedy Central, 2014-2019)
The television adaptation of their web series became known for its uniquely female perspective on stoner comedy, absurdist sequences, and deep friendship at its core. The show maintained the authentic, idiosyncratic voice developed in their UCB and web work.
A League of Their Own (Jacobson, Prime Video, 2022)
Jacobson's adaptation of the 1992 film expanded the original's scope to include explicit LGBTQ+ storylines and racial perspectives absent from the film. Her background in alternative comedy influenced the show's willingness to blend comedy with dramatic and historical elements.
False Positive (Glazer, Hulu, 2021)
While primarily a horror film, Glazer's Hulu project demonstrated how alt-comedy performers often move between genres while maintaining their distinct sensibilities. The film's examination of bodily autonomy and medical gaslighting reflected themes she had explored through a comedic lens in her stage work.
"UCB was this incredible training ground where we could try anything. That experimental spirit stayed with us when we were running a TV show - the willingness to pursue weird ideas and trust our instincts, even when they didn't fit the traditional sitcom format."
— Ilana Glazer
Donald Glover
Before becoming a television writer for "30 Rock" at 21, Glover was a member of Derrick Comedy, an alt-comedy sketch group that gained traction on YouTube in the platform's early days. Their DIY approach to sketch—shooting on shoestring budgets with friends—and their experimental style established Glover's comedic voice long before he became a network TV writer.
After writing for "30 Rock" and starring in "Community," Glover took the leap to creating his own series, "Atlanta," which became known for its surrealist elements, tonal shifts, and willingness to experiment with format—all characteristics of the alternative comedy world he started in.
Notable Works:
Atlanta (FX, 2016-2022)
Glover's magnum opus as a showrunner frequently broke from conventional narrative structure, incorporating surrealist elements, bottle episodes, and anthology installments that had more in common with experimental theater than traditional television comedy. The show's willingness to alienate audiences with challenging episodes reflects alt-comedy's prioritization of artistic vision over broad appeal.
Mystery Team (2009)
This feature film from Derrick Comedy demonstrated how Glover and his collaborators translated their sketch sensibilities to long-form storytelling, blending absurdist premises with character development in ways that would later inform "Atlanta."
"I never thought about whether something was too weird. That's the benefit of coming up outside the system—you don't know what rules you're breaking because no one told you the rules in the first place."
— Donald Glover
Michaela Coel
While developing her voice in London's alternative performance spaces rather than traditional comedy clubs, Coel created the one-woman show "Chewing Gum Dreams" that would eventually become her breakthrough TV series "Chewing Gum." Her path from experimental theater to television writing and showrunning demonstrates the increasingly blurred lines between alternative comedy and other performance disciplines.
Coel's career exemplifies how alternative comedy spaces foster voices that might not fit neatly into traditional comedy categories but bring fresh perspectives to television. Her willingness to blend comedy with intense drama, particularly in "I May Destroy You," reflects the freedom from genre constraints that alternative comedy encourages.
Notable Works:
Chewing Gum (E4/Netflix, 2015-2017)
Adapted from her one-woman show, this comedy series established Coel's distinct voice, characterized by its unflinching approach to sexuality, religion, and race. The show maintained the personal, specific perspective of her stage work while expanding its world.
I May Destroy You (HBO/BBC, 2020)
While primarily dramatic, this acclaimed series incorporated darkly comic elements that reflected Coel's background in alternative comedy spaces. The show's formal experimentation and tonal complexity demonstrated how alternative comedy principles can inform even the most serious subject matter.
"In those early performances, I learned that the most powerful comedy comes from the most honest place. When you're willing to be vulnerable about your own experiences—even the painful ones—that's when you connect with people in a way that feels revolutionary."
— Michaela Coel
Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs & Jen Statsky
This creative trio met in New York's alternative comedy scene, with all three performing at UCB and other alternative venues before transitioning to television writing. Aniello and Downs created web content together, including shorts for the comedy website College Humor, while Statsky wrote for alt-comedy standouts like "Parks and Recreation" and "Broad City."
Their collaboration on "Hacks" demonstrates how relationships formed in the alternative comedy world often translate to successful creative partnerships in television. The show itself explores themes of comedy evolution and generational perspectives that directly reflect debates within the alt-comedy world.
Notable Works:
Hacks (HBO Max, 2021-present)
This Emmy-winning series about the relationship between a legendary stand-up comedian and a young comedy writer explores the tension between traditional and alternative approaches to comedy. The show's nuanced portrayal of different comedic sensibilities reflects the creators' understanding of comedy's evolution through their own experiences in alt-comedy spaces.
Broad City (Aniello as director/producer, Comedy Central, 2014-2019)
Before creating "Hacks," Aniello was a key creative force behind "Broad City," directing many of its most memorable episodes. Her visual style, characterized by surreal sequences and bold aesthetic choices, translated the energy of live alternative comedy to the screen.
The Good Place (Statsky as writer/producer, NBC, 2016-2020)
Statsky's work on Mike Schur's philosophically minded sitcom demonstrated how alternative comedy writers can bring depth and complexity to network television formats. The show's willingness to engage with moral philosophy while maintaining its comedic core reflects alt-comedy's interest in blending intellectual content with humor.
"In alt-comedy rooms, you learn to trust the audience's intelligence. You don't have to explain the joke or water down your point of view. We've tried to bring that same respect for viewers to our television work."
— Jen Statsky
Alt-Comedy Influence: Common Threads in Their TV Work
Despite working across different networks, genres, and formats, showrunners with alternative comedy backgrounds tend to bring certain sensibilities to their television projects:
Form Experimentation
Shows like "Atlanta" and "I May Destroy You" regularly break from conventional episode structures, incorporating bottle episodes, surrealist departures, and format shifts that reflect alt-comedy's rejection of formulas and rules.
Authorial Voice
These creators maintain distinct personal perspectives even in larger productions, prioritizing authentic voices over broad appeal—a direct inheritance from alternative comedy's emphasis on personal point of view.
Tonal Complexity
Their shows regularly blend comedy with dramatic, horrific, or painful elements, reflecting alt-comedy's comfort with emotional complexity and rejection of strict genre boundaries.
Representation Focus
Many alternative comedy veterans create shows centered on perspectives historically marginalized in mainstream comedy, bringing the inclusive ethos of modern alt-comedy spaces to television.
Meta Commentary
Self-referential humor and commentary on the medium itself appear frequently in these shows, reflecting alternative comedy's interest in deconstructing and examining comedic forms.
Collaborative Creation
Many showrunners from alt-comedy backgrounds build writers' rooms with fellow alternative comedy veterans, creating supportive environments similar to the community-oriented spaces where they developed their voices.
Essential Viewing: TV From Alt-Comedy Creators
Beyond the shows mentioned in the profiles above, here are other notable television series created or run by alternative comedy veterans:
Los Espookys
This Spanish-language comedy about a group of friends who provide staged horror experiences brings surrealist alt-comedy sensibilities to an international context. Torres and Fabrega, both alumni of New York's alternative comedy scene, created a show that defies genre categorization and conventional narrative structure.
Pen15
Erskine and Konkle's experience in alternative comedy venues informed this formally innovative series where they play versions of their 13-year-old selves alongside actual teenage actors. The show's willingness to embrace discomfort and emotional complexity reflects alternative comedy's rejection of easy punchlines.
Barry
While Hader is known for his SNL work, his partnership with Berg on "Barry" produced a show that embraces the tonal complexity and formal experimentation more common to alternative comedy. The show's portrayal of acting classes also serves as a meta-commentary on performance itself.
Reservation Dogs
Waititi's background in alternative comedy informs this groundbreaking series about Indigenous teenagers in Oklahoma. The show's surrealist elements, cultural specificity, and blend of comedy with serious themes exemplify how alternative comedy sensibilities can create revolutionary television.
Detroiters
Before creating the surrealist sketch show "I Think You Should Leave," Tim Robinson co-created this cult comedy that brought absurdist sensibilities to a traditional sitcom format. The show's commitment to specific, regional comedy and character-driven weirdness reflected the creators' alt-comedy backgrounds.
From Alt Stages to TV Writers' Rooms: Career Pathways
For comedians currently performing in alternative venues who aspire to television careers, several pathways have emerged as common routes:
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Digital Content Creation
Following in the footsteps of Issa Rae and Abbi Jacobson & Ilana Glazer, creating web series or digital content that showcases your unique voice can attract industry attention and potentially lead to adaptation opportunities.
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Festival Circuit
Alternative comedy festivals like SF Sketchfest, Edinburgh Fringe, and various indie comedy festivals have become important scouting grounds for industry executives looking for new voices.
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Writers' Program Entry
Networks and studios increasingly offer diversity programs and fellowship opportunities that specifically seek writers from non-traditional backgrounds, including alternative comedy spaces.
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Support Staff Positions
Many alternative comedians begin their television careers in support positions (writers' assistants, script coordinators) before advancing to staff writing positions.
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Mentorship Connections
As more alternative comedy veterans reach showrunner positions, they often create opportunities for performers from their community, establishing a pipeline for like-minded voices.
"The biggest advantage of coming from alternative comedy is that you've already learned to create without permission or resources. That DIY spirit becomes invaluable when you're trying to pitch original ideas in an industry that often prefers safe bets."
— Abbi Jacobson
The Future of Alt-Comedy on TV
As more showrunners with alternative comedy backgrounds gain creative control and industry influence, television comedy continues to evolve in exciting ways. These creators are redefining what comedy can look like on screen, bringing the experimental spirit, diverse perspectives, and formal innovation of alternative comedy stages to global audiences.
What began as a countercultural comedy movement in small venues has now become a dominant creative force in premium television. The impact of this shift extends beyond the shows themselves—it's changing industry hiring practices, audience expectations, and creating new pathways for emerging voices.
As streaming platforms continue to seek distinctive content to stand out in a crowded marketplace, the value of alternative comedy's emphasis on unique voices and innovative approaches only grows. For viewers, this means increasingly bold, personal, and boundary-pushing comedy that reflects the full spectrum of human experience—exactly what alternative comedy has always aimed to provide.