Michael Showalter
Michael Showalter
Michael Showalteris an American comedian, actor, producer, writer, and director. He is a member of the sketch comedy trio Stella. Showalter first came to recognition as a cast member on MTV's The State, which aired from 1993 to 1995. He co-wroteand starred in Wet Hot American Summerand he wrote, directed, and starred in The Baxter, with Michelle Williams, Justin Theroux and Elizabeth Banks. Both of these movies featured many of his co-stars from The State, and so do several of...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionTV Actor
Date of Birth17 June 1970
CityPrinceton, NJ
CountryUnited States of America
I tend to a lot of improvisational ranting, and that's fun. For me, stand-up has been, performance-wise, a really good outlet.
There are a million subsets. There's a-- hole Boyfriend Baxter - like Drew Barrymore 's old boyfriend in 'The Wedding Singer,'
Every character is likeable and jarring at the same time,
Cats aren't cooperative in the same way that other animals are. You can train a dog to act, but you can't train a cat in the same way.
Baxters overdo it. The Baxter is the guy who's going to take a girl to the best restaurant in town, having no clue if it's appropriate for her. All that matters is, it's the best. Anything recommended as the most romantic place, that's where you'll find the Baxter.
I have a theory. You were supposed to ask her to dance. She was content, not happy. Ultimately the problem is that you're not willing to take risks. You've got to be willing to take risks. Are you going to act or are you just going to sit there and let possibly the biggest decision of your life pass you by?
She's sweet and she's nice, she's just not Andie MacDowell. God forbid, you're not Andie MacDowell. You're just a person, ... I'm playing with that whole idea that the characters have these quirks about their personalities that we've been conditioned to believe equal wrongness.
I think comedians see themselves as people among people.
John Roberts is a Baxter. Have you seen his hair? It's parted with a snow shovel!
I went to college thinking of maybe pursuing a career in film criticism.
Jeff Van Gundy is a Baxter. Derek Jeter? So not a Baxter. Howard Stern is not a Baxter. And Bernie Kerik is not a Baxter.
Many fans don't have the leisure time to track my every word. They're too busy brainstorming solutions to the economic crisis and winning Pulitzers.
Given the current state of publishing, I think it helps to have a brand name on the cover of your book. Comedians are proven commodities with built-in audiences. They may not have the writing chops of a Dave Eggers, but they're salacious and funny and self-reflective.
He'll cook too complicated a dinner, and it backfires. Or, he'll plan the whole night out minute by minute.