Robert Smigel
The creative force behind the animated "TV Funhouse" short films and the foul-mouthed puppet, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Robert Smigel may have been one of the more beloved, yet least publicly recognized comic talents of his day. Smigel's comedic career began as a part of an improvisation group co-created with Bob Odenkirk, prior to being recruited to join the ranks of the writing staff at "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975- ). During his time at "SNL," he was responsible for several memorable recurring sketches, and created lasting friendships with cast member Adam Sandler and fellow series writer Conan O'Brien. When O'Brien was tapped to fill the very large shoes left behind by David Letterman, Smigel followed him as head writer on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (NBC, 1993-2009), later jumping ship to write for the ill-fated "The Dana Carvey Show" (ABC, 1995-96). It was on these programs that Smigel unleashed the inspired madness of creations like the acid-tongued Triumph and "The Ambiguously Gay Duo" segments, respectively. Even as Triumph and "TV Funhouse" became de facto cottage industries for Smigel - "Funhouse" eventually became a recurring installment on "SNL" - he also found time to clown with Sandler in several films, including "Happy Gilmore" (1996) and "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" (2007). Although operating primarily behind the scenes - or at the end of a hand puppet - Smigel's subversive brand of humor was at the forefront of the period's comedic wave whether audiences knew him by name or not.
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Robert Smigel
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
84% |
|
Between the Temples | Rabbi Bruce (Character) | $2.1M | 2024 |
84% |
|
Leo | Director | - | 2023 |
100% |
|
Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm | Fraptaculan (Voice) | - | 2022 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Let's Be Real | Screenwriter | - | 2020 |
26% |
|
The Week Of |
Director, Screenwriter |
- | 2018 |
100% |
|
Too Funny To Fail | Unknown (Character) | - | 2017 |
57% |
|
Hotel Transylvania 2 |
Screenwriter, Executive Producer |
- | 2015 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hotel Transylvania 2 |
Screenwriter, Executive Producer |
- | 2015 |
52% |
|
This Is 40 | Barry (Character) | $67.5M | 2012 |
45% |
|
Hotel Transylvania |
Screenwriter, Executive Producer |
$167.9M | 2012 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hotel Transylvania |
Screenwriter, Executive Producer |
- | 2012 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hotel Transylvania |
Screenwriter, Executive Producer |
- | 2012 |
3% |
|
Jack and Jill | Executive Producer | $74.2M | 2011 |
38% |
|
You Don't Mess With the Zohan |
Yosi (Character), Screenwriter, Executive Producer |
$100.0M | 2008 |
No Score Yet |
|
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Saturday TV Funhouse | Unknown (Character) | - | 2006 |
22% |
|
Little Nicky | Beefy (Voice) | $39.4M | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | TV Funhouse | Unknown (Character) | - | 2000 |
67% |
|
Tomorrow Night | Mailroom guy 1 (Character) | - | 1998 |
62% |
|
Happy Gilmore | I.R.S. Agent (Character) | $38.8M | 1996 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | 61% | Late Night With Seth Meyers | Guest | 2015 2024 |
No Score Yet | 50% | The Late Show With Stephen Colbert | Guest | 2016 2018 2020 2023 |
No Score Yet | 12% | The View | Guest | 2023 |
No Score Yet | 89% | Bob's Burgers | Yuli (Guest Voice) | 2012 2015 2017-2019 2022 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Let's Be Real |
Executive Producer, Writer |
2021 |
No Score Yet | 45% | The Masked Singer | Guest | 2019 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Triumph's Election Watch 2016 | Unknown (Voice) | 2016 |
100% | 29% | The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore | Guest | 2016 |
80% | 88% | The Jim Gaffigan Show | Cory (Guest Star) | 2015 |
70% | 70% | The Jack and Triumph Show |
Triumph (Voice), Executive Producer |
2015 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Daily Show | Guest | 2000 2015 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Conan | Unknown (Voice) | 2015 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Late Night With Jimmy Fallon | Guest | 2012 |
92% | 90% | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Yari (Guest Star) | 2011 |
No Score Yet | 57% | Saturday Night Live |
Unknown (Character), Executive Producer, Writer |
1991-1993 2006-2008 2010 |
No Score Yet | 69% | SpongeBob SquarePants | Unknown (Guest Voice) | 2009 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Late Night With Conan O'Brien | Guest | 2008 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Crank Yankers | Lawer (Guest Voice) | 2003 2007 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | TV Funhouse | Fogey (Character) | 2000-2001 |
80% | No Score Yet | The Dana Carvey Show | Executive Producer | 1996 |