Zachary Kanin is an American writer, producer, and cartoonist. He is a former SNL staff writer and the co-creator, producer, and writer of Detroiters and I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson.

Zach Kanin
Born
Zachary Kanin

Occupation(s)Cartoonist, writer, producer
Years active2002–Present
Notable workDetroiters
I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson

Early life and education

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Kanin was born in Washington, D.C. to Dennis R. Kanin and Carol Kanin, and was raised in Newton, Massachusetts.[1] His maternal grandfather is former Rhode Island governor Frank Licht. Kanin began drawing as early as preschool.[1] He attended The Roxbury Latin School in West Roxbury, MA before matriculating to Harvard University. At Harvard, he received his degree in English. He joined The Harvard Lampoon in 2002 and later became president.[2]

Career

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Kanin worked as an assistant to The New Yorker's cartoons editor, Robert Mankoff for two years after college.[1] Eventually, Kanin began to submit his own work for publication.[3] He has published approximately 300 cartoons in The New Yorker as of 2014.[1] The style of his cartoons was described by Richard Gehr of The Comics Journal as "a slightly surreal place where things have gone sometimes seriously awry."[1]

Kanin was hired to the writing staff of SNL in 2011 and left in 2016.[3] While working there he met fellow writer Tim Robinson and the two became writing partners.[4] They collaborated to create Detroiters (2017–2018) and I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson (2019– ).[5] He was also a writer for Documentary Now!, The Characters, and Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special.[6][7]

Personal life

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Kanin married Christina Angelides, daughter of former California state treasurer Phil Angelides, in 2011.[1][8]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2011 Silver Reuben Award Gag Cartoons N/A Won [9]
2012 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series SNL Nominated [10]
2013 Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday Nominated
2016 Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series SNL Nominated
2013 Writers Guild of America Awards Comedy/Variety Talk Series SNL Nominated [11]
2014 Comedy/Variety Talk Series Nominated
2015 Comedy/Variety Talk Series Nominated
2016 Comedy/Variety Talk Series Nominated
2017 Comedy/Variety Talk Series Won
2018 Comedy/Variety –Music, Awards, Tributes, –Specials Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special Nominated
2020 Comedy/Variety Sketch Series I Think You Should Leave Won
2022 Comedy/Variety Sketch Series Won [12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Gehr, Richard (October 6, 2014). "Neckless: The Short, Sharp World of Zachary Kanin". The Comics Journal. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  2. ^ Sublett, Clay (January 22, 2013). "Talking to Zach Kanin About Writing for 'SNL' and Drawing Cartoons for 'The New Yorker'". Vulture. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Casey, RJ (January 22, 2018). "Checking In with Zach Kanin". The Comics Journal. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  4. ^ "Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin Reflect on 'SNL' Era". Comedy.com. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  5. ^ Kurland, Daniel (March 30, 2017). "Comedy Central's Zach Kanin Is Keeping Detroit Weird". Den of Geek. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  6. ^ Fox, Jesse David (December 16, 2019). "I Think You Should Leave's 'Focus Group' Sketch: An Oral History". Vulture. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  7. ^ "7 Best 'Documentary Now!' Episodes, All Helen Mirren-Approved". Collider. August 17, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  8. ^ Christina Angelides, Zachary Kanin - New York Times, 8 July 2011
  9. ^ "National Cartoonists Society". www.nationalcartoonists.com. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  10. ^ "Zach Kanin". Television Academy. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  11. ^ "Writers Guild Awards Winners & Nominees 2020-2013". awards.wga.org. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  12. ^ "2022 Writers Guild Awards Nominees". awards.wga.org. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
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