The (New) Kings Of Comedy (Part 1)

This is not a new or an upcoming movie, but a look at the new guys in comedy. These new brand of comedians have also led the emergence of the ‘Bromance’. Their unique talent and style of creating comedies has indeed shaken up the movie world. These guys are responsible for hits like Anchorman, The 40-Year-Old-Virgin, Knocked Up, Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Pineapple Express and more recently Funny People. They are:



Judd Apatow (Director, Producer & Writer)
Apatow, 41, is the head of this new set of comedians; and it isn’t a surprise to note that he was once a stand-up comedian turned writer. Apatow, unable to develop his own unique comedic personality, decided to write for other comedians before he begun producing shows like the short lived Ben Stiller Show on Fox. He earned six Emmy nominations on The Larry Sanders Show (where he worked as both writer & producer) in the mid through late 90’s. Then 2004 he produced the hit movie Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy which starred Will Ferrell, after working on critically acclaimed but less successful shows. 2005, he directed and produced The 40-Year-Old-Virgin, another box office hit. Then 2007 saw the emergence of Knocked Up, Talladega Nights, Superbad; 2008, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, You Don’t Mess With The Zohan, Step Brothers, Pineapple Express which have all been smash hits. This year he has produced Year One (staring Jack Black & Michael Cera), as well as Funny People, where he served as both writer and director.

He also has other movies in the works such as the Forgetting Sarah Marshall spin off “Get Him to the Greek, Five Year Engagement and an untitled comedy about Sherlock Holmes and his partner Wilson, starring Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat) and Will Ferrell; as well as providing the voice of an elephant in The Zookeeper.

Judd Apatow also has knack for using the same staff on his many projects, as he never fires a writer and the frequent faces in his movies, Like Seth Rogen – 11 projects, Paul Rudd & Jonah Hill – 7 Projects each, Will Ferrell & Leslie Mann (his wife) – 5 projects each.

Happy Independence Day Nigeria.

Part 2 follows next week.