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Robert Smigel

Highest Rated: 100% Too Funny To Fail (2017)

Lowest Rated: 3% Jack and Jill (2011)

Birthday: Feb 7, 1960

Birthplace: New York, New York, USA

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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Highest rated movies

100% 94% Too Funny To Fail Watchlist
100% 77% Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm
Watchlist
84% 90% Leo Watchlist 84% 41% Between the Temples Watchlist
67% 56% Tomorrow Night
Watchlist
62% 85% Happy Gilmore
Watchlist
57% 64% Hotel Transylvania 2
Watchlist
52% 50% This Is 40
Watchlist
45% 72% Hotel Transylvania
Watchlist
38% 45% You Don't Mess With the Zohan Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
84% 41% Between the Temples Rabbi Bruce (Character) $2.1M 2024
84% 90% Leo Director - 2023
100% 77% Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm Fraptaculan (Voice) - 2022
No Score Yet No Score Yet Let's Be Real Screenwriter - 2020
26% 34% The Week Of Director,
Screenwriter
- 2018
100% 94% Too Funny To Fail Unknown (Character) - 2017
57% 64% Hotel Transylvania 2 Screenwriter,
Executive Producer
- 2015
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hotel Transylvania 2 Screenwriter,
Executive Producer
- 2015
52% 50% This Is 40 Barry (Character) $67.5M 2012
45% 72% 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% 36% Jack and Jill Executive Producer $74.2M 2011
38% 45% You Don't Mess With the Zohan Yosi (Character),
Screenwriter,
Executive Producer
$100.0M 2008
No Score Yet 93% Saturday Night Live: The Best of Saturday TV Funhouse Unknown (Character) - 2006
22% 55% Little Nicky Beefy (Voice) $39.4M 2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet TV Funhouse Unknown (Character) - 2000
67% 56% Tomorrow Night Mailroom guy 1 (Character) - 1998
62% 85% 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 68% 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