Jen Statsky (born November 19, 1985) is an American television writer and comedian known for her work on Hacks, The Good Place, Parks and Recreation, and Broad City. She is the co-creator and co-showrunner of the critically-acclaimed HBO Max series Hacks, for which she has received multiple awards including 3 Primetime Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and 5 WGA Awards.
Personal life Jen Statsky was born November 19, 1985, in Milton, Massachusetts, where she grew up before moving to New York City to study at New York University. She attended Tisch School of the Arts where she studied Film and Television. She is a Los Angeles Clippers fan. She is married to Travis Helwig, the Emmy-winning writer formerly at Crooked Media.
Career Early beginnings In school, Statsky developed an interest in writing. When she graduated from NYU in 2008, she was working in a coffee shop as well as performing stand-up comedy. Statsky continued her writing career as an intern for Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Onion. She joined Twitter in 2009 and used it to write jokes, ultimately gaining a following over time. In 2011, while Statsky continued keeping her Twitter account active, A. D. Miles, the head writer of NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, messaged her, suggesting Statsky apply to a writing position that was available. She applied for the position and in March 2011 her manager confirmed Statsky was hired as a writer.
Television Late Night with Jimmy Fallon was Statsky's first experience as a television writer. She later worked as a staff writer for Hello Ladies and has worked as a writer for Parks and Recreation, Broad City, Lady Dynamite, and The Good Place. In 2019, Statsky joined other WGA writers in firing their agents as part of the WGA's stand against the ATA and the practice of packaging. In 2021, she signed an overall deal with Universal Television.
Books Statsky has made a written contribution to the book The McSweeney's Book of Politics and Musicals that was published in 2012. Statsky also wrote a contribution for the book Notes From the Bathroom Line: Humor, Art, and Low-Grade Panic From 150 Of The Funniest Women In Comedy.
Filmography YearTitleCredited asNotesWriterProducer2011Onion SportsDome Associate producer2011–13Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 2013Hello Ladies Staff writer2014–15Parks and Recreation Wrote 2 episodesAlso story editor and executive story editor2015–19Broad City Wrote 4 episodes, also consultantConsulting and co-executive producer2016The Characters Consultant writer, episode: "Paul W. Downs"2016Obamtourage Television short, idea by2016–17Lady Dynamite Wrote 2 episodesAlso story editor and executive story editor2016Another Period Wrote: "Tubman"2018Forever Supervising producer, story by: "Kase"2016–2020The Good Place Wrote 7 episodesAlso co-executive, supervising, and co-producer2020A Parks and Recreation Special Television special2021–2026Hacks Co-creator with Lucia Aniello and Paul W. DownsWrote 14 episodes; directed "QuikScribbl"2023Chris Fleming: Hell Executive producer
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref. Writers Guild of America AwardsBest Comedy/Variety - (Including Talk) Series - Television Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Writers Guild of America AwardsComedy Series Parks and Recreation Writers Guild of America AwardsComedy Series Broad City Producers Guild of America Awards Outstanding Producer of Episodic TelevisionThe Good Place Writers Guild of America AwardsComedy Series The Good Place Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series The Good Place Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series The Good Place Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series Hacks Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Hacks – Writers Guild of America AwardsComedy Series Hacks New Series Hacks Golden Globe AwardsBest Television Series – Musical or Comedy Hacks AFI Awards Outstanding Television Program of the Year Hacks Peabody Awards Peabody Award, Entertainment Honoree Hacks Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series Hacks Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Hacks – Writers Guild of America AwardsEpisodic ComedyHacks – Comedy SeriesHacks Producers Guild of America Awards Outstanding Producer of Episodic TelevisionHacks AFI Awards Outstanding Television Program of the Year Hacks Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series Hacks Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Hacks –
References
External links
Jen Statsky at McSweeney's Internet Tendency