This was unexpected! Executive producer and former head writer Allison Silverman is leaving The Colbert Report, according to this press release from Comedy Central:
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ALLISON SILVERMAN
TO LEAVE “THE COLBERT REPORT”NEW YORK, August 24, 2009 — Executive producer Allison Silverman is leaving “The Colbert Report” after four years, announced Stephen Colbert, executive producer, writer and host of the Emmy® and Peabody® Award-winning program.
Silverman has been with “The Colbert Report” since its launch on October 17, 2005, first as co-head writer and co-executive producer before being promoted to executive producer in 2007. During her tenure, the show has received a total of 15 Primetime Emmy® Award nominations, including four consecutive nominations for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series. The series broke through with its first Emmy® win last year when it received the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program. “The Colbert Report” was also honored with a prestigious George Foster Peabody Award in the 67th Annual Peabody Awards competition (2008).
Colbert praised Silverman’s contribution to the show’s success. “It has been a great joy to work with Allison and watch her grow from a devastatingly funny writer to a devastatingly funny leader. I am happy for my dear friend, but I will miss her. And this statement would be much funnier if she would just stay and help me write it.”
Silverman said of her departure: “I will always treasure my time at ‘The Colbert Report.’ Not many people get to work on a kind-hearted show with a brilliant staff and a host who thinks “Watership Down” is non-fiction,” adding “For me, the only thing that could top working with Stephen Colbert would be having Stephen Colbert as a lifelong friend, and I am very excited to start that project.”
Prior to “The Colbert Report,” Silverman was a writer for “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” where she received three Writers Guild Awards and four Emmy® nominations, and, before that, for “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” for which she received an Emmy® and a Peabody® Award. She has also written for numerous publications including The New York Times Magazine.
. . .
“Thank you” doesn’t seem like enough to say to someone who told Stephen, “Sure, why not run for President?” and who’s been such an integral part of running the show over the years. But, since I really don’t have any other words for this, please do accept my heartfelt thanks for all the laughs and incredible shows, Allison. We wish you the best in all your future endeavors.
UPDATED TO ADD: The New York Times‘ ArtsBeat notes Allison’s departure here.
I’d like to add my sincere thanks and gratitude for all the work that Allison did on the show. Every time we had the privilege to peek behind the curtain, and we got to see a little bit of the amazingness that is Allison, I absolutely loved it. She’s smart, she’s humble, she’s amazingly beautiful, and I’m sure she’ll do fantastic wherever she goes.
Best of wishes, Allison, and hopefully we’ll be able to report more on your future endeavors!
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WOW.
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Didn’t see that coming! Thank you for all the hard work you put into the show and best wishes for all your future endeavors.
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The good thing about this is the warm feeling I get from all the sincere mutual admiration expressed in that press release.
I think back to the interview where she talked about her faith in Stephen when she decided to leave Conan’s show to help start up TCR. She said that even if the show didn’t make it, it seemed like a worthy experiment.
So thanks for 4 years of incredible dedication to bringing us so much enjoyment. And best wishes for your future endeavors.
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I just said “oh no” out loud, not exactly out of dismay, but it’s certainly a surprise. I’m sure the show will miss her!
most importantly, I hope whatever she does in the future, she really enjoys it.
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Oh no! I really never would have guessed she would leave the show! This is a sad development but I’m sure they’re all happy for her to move on to bigger, better things! She’ll be missed – from what I’ve heard Allison is smart and funny and she was instrumental in the Iraq show planning. Can’t wait to see what she does next! Best of luck, Allison!
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Wow, I can’t help but feel both sad and happy. She’s been such an integral part of the show that it’ll be sad to see her leave, but I know she’ll also do more awesome things in the future. I wish you well Allison!
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I also said “oh no” out loud. This makes me a very sad, but I wish her all the best in the future, and I hope to hear alot from her again. She is a brilliant producer and writer, and I thank her for all the fun times she have given me. We’ll miss her.
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wow! I return from a weeks worth of camping and there is so much to catch up on! [I am planning on watching my DVR eps from last week this week, so in my mind I am only missing two weeks…but I don’t think I have that much will power…:)
Best wishes to Allison! It is so great to see such an accomplished woman in comedy– I can’t wait to see what she does next!
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Wow. Definitely didn’t see that coming. But reading their quotes sort of warmed my heart. “For me, the only thing that could top working with Stephen Colbert would be having Stephen Colbert as a lifelong friend, and I am very excited to start that project.” Awwww!
Best of luck in all future endeavors, Allison! Thanks for all the hard work you put into this amazing show. You’ve helped bring a lot of laughs and happiness to people’s lives. :)
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I’m definitely uttering a few sad “oh no”s. I agree with MI that I probably couldn’t thank Allison in a way that could really express my gratitude. I hope she gets a big a$$ farewell party and a mention or two on the show, like when Jon bid farewell to Ben Karlin.
It really sucks to see her go, since the staff loves her and I’m sure they will miss her hilarity, but I’m eager to see what she tackles next. I’m sure it will be fabulous, whatever it may be.
Thank yon Allison for all the laughs, surprises, hard work, and incredible memories!
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Nooooooo! I am sure she’ll continue to be a success wherever she may go next.
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Oh no. I never saw that one coming. Oh well, on behalf of the Colbert Nation, I hope she accomplishes in her next things ahead of her.
We’ll miss you, Allison!
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I guess we just expect the things we love will never change ;)
It’s so clear that Allison has been central to the vision of the show from the very beginning, and its tremendous success is as much due to her talents and efforts as anyone’s.
So best wishes, Allison, and sincerest thanks for all the laughter and joy!
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:(
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Yeah, this was definitely a surprise.
Good luck to her!
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Wow, this is a bit of a shock. She’s been so important to the direction of the show over the four years of its existence.
Allison, thanks for all the hard work and dedication and laughter, and I wish you all the best for the future!
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Another “Oh, no!” from me, too. I’m sure that whatever Allison does will be wonderful, and she’s brought all of us an amazing show. Oh, boo hoo, why does she have to leave? Those will be some big shoes to fill.
Well, she probably has terrific plans, and I wish her well no matter what direction life takes her. Didn’t she get married not all that long ago? Maybe she’s going to be a Mom? Totally guessing here. But you know we have those clocks ticking…
I love this quote from her, “Not many people get to work on a kind-hearted show with a brilliant staff and a host who thinks “Watership Down” is non-fiction”.
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Noooooooo!
Best wishes, Allison.
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OMG that IS shocking and unexpected. Rock on Ms. Silverman and best of luck to you, we can never repay you for all the joy your brought the Nation.
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I am surprised and sad to hear of this news, but I wish you the best of luck Allison! I’m sure you need a good rest after the Iraq shows anyhow. I look forward to seeing your future work…wherever that may be!
Everyone person in the entertainment industry should take note of how Allison and Stephen operate this show. The better you treat your staff, the better the product:)
“For me, the only thing that could top working with Stephen Colbert would be having Stephen Colbert as a lifelong friend, and I am very excited to start that project.” I know it was quoted before, but how sweet!
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I’m sure Allison will be missed on the show, but I hope this means she’s returning to her original rightful career as a plant physiologist/molecular biologist. ‘Cuz speaking from experience, that’s every bit as cool as being in show business.
Also, a boss who believes Watership Down is non-fiction. Aww. That’s such a great description is so few words.
ReCAPTCHA: gyrated half
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Fight It, Colbert, Fight It! Also, Comedy That Goes Somewhere http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/08/24/fight-it-colbert-fight-it/
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Thanks for the link! I love reading intelligent commentary on comedy. That was a neat discussion of the whole status shift thing (esp. w/ regard to the bullet points in The Word).
I agree that it’s one of the aspects that makes TCR’s comedy so engaging – it’s unpredictable, you never know when there’s going to be a shift or wrinkle thrown in there that changes everything.
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It also pins down the exact reason why I get bored half way through SNL sketches. I always figured they just didn’t know when to stop, but the author’s right, it’s that they pick one set of relations b/w the characters and never stray from it.
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Thanks for the article link! It was truly insightful. Now I’m sure I’ll laugh even harder during the show now that I know to look for status shifts.
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Wow. I’m terribly sadden to hear the news, but considering how hard Allison and the rest of the writers and crew work to make the show as amazing as it is, I can understand why she bid farewell. Happy trails, Allison, you will be sorely missed. Best of luck to you in all your future endeavors.
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I wish Allison all the best of luck in whatever she does next. I would love to see that. And I always love reading about how close the staff is to eachother.
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Happy trails, Ms Silverman. May your next undertaking produce as much joy, and be as successful, as this one was.
But inside, I’m feeling a bit…waaah! We’re slowly losing all the girls from the team… :(
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I really thought these 3 weeks would be a break with no news! Silly me. But I am so sorry that Ms. Silverman is going – obviously she is a brilliant and funny woman and she and Stephen have such a great friendship. I wish the best for her! and I wonder who will take over – will they promote from within?
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In his interview with Pete Dominick, Stephen Colbert said he could walk through his whole studio building (in which he has been for 11 years, also with the Daily Show) in his mind and see each room with people working for The Report who were so very competent, no weak link. It must be difficult now to be aware of that vacated position that used to belong to Allison Silverman and wonder how the next person will do. However, the best to her in her personal and professional endeavors in the future as a devoted staff member of The Report since its inception and friend to Stephen.
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