Lauren Ashley Smith

Lauren Ashley Smith is an American writer, comedian, and producer. She is the head writer of HBO's A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019–), for which she has received three Emmy Award nominations. Smith previously worked for The Rundown with Robin Thede, Best Week Ever, Watch What Happens Live, and Fashion Queens.[1]

Lauren Ashley Smith
Born
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
EducationDickinson College
Occupation(s)Writer, comedian, producer
Notable workA Black Lady Sketch Show

Early life and education

Smith was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri.[2] She has two sisters, Mariah and Rachel.[2] Her parents, Rochelle and Jonathan, are administrators at Saint Louis University and Washington University in St. Louis.[3] Smith received her bachelor's degree from Dickinson College.[3]

Career

Smith's writing career started as a freelancer for Best Week Ever, Watch What Happens Live, and Fashion Queens.[4][1] In 2017, Smith was hired as the head writer for The Rundown with Robin Thede, which ran for one season.[5] Thede later hired Smith again as the head writer and co-executive producer of A Black Lady Sketch Show.[6] Smith is the first Black woman to be a head writer on a TV sketch show.[7] The series debuted in 2019, and Smith received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series (2020, 2021) and Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series (2021).[6]

In 2021, it was announced that Smith will create and produce an American reboot of Timewasters, a British time-travel comedy series.[6] The ABC reboot will center four present-day Black New Yorkers who find themselves in the Harlem Renaissance.[8] In August 2021, she signed an overall deal with CBS Studios to create comedy content for the network's broadcast and streaming platforms.[9]

Personal life

Smith is a lesbian and identifies as she/her.[4][10] She married her wife, Brooke Helburn, in 2015.[3]

Filmography
Year Title Role Executive producer Writer Notes
2016 The Characters Lady on the Bus No No Episode: "Lauren Lapkus"
2016 Billy Eichner and 'Potato the Potato' No No Short film
2016 My Famous Dead Boyfriend Therapist No No
2017 The Rundown with Robin Thede[5] — No Yes Head writer
2019 Between Two Ferns: The Movie The Mysterious Donna No No
2019– present A Black Lady Sketch Show[8] — Yes Yes Head writer
2020 Dicktown Croquet Player No No

Awards and nominations

For A Black Lady Sketch Show:

References
  1. Tang, Estelle (2018-01-12). "How Robin Thede Brought Black Girl Joy to Late Night". ELLE. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  2. Hamdan, Lara (2020-08-06). "St. Louis' Robust Theater Scene Inspired Smith Sisters' Entertainment Aspirations". St. Louis Public Radio. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  3. "Lauren Smith, Brooke Helburn". The New York Times. 2015-09-20. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  4. Littleton, Cynthia (2018-04-10). "A New Day in Late Night: Women Make Their Mark in Competitive Field". Variety. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  5. White, Peter (2021-01-25). "Lauren Ashley Smith Developing U.S. Remake Of British Time-Travel Comedy 'Timewasters' In The Works At ABC". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  6. Genai, Shanelle (2021-01-25). "A Black Lady Sketch Show Head Writer Lauren Ashley Smith to Develop Remake of British Time-Travel Comedy for ABC". The Root. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  7. Holland, Patrick. "How A Black Lady Sketch Show's Lauren Ashley Smith made history". CNET. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  8. Halabian, Layla (26 January 2021). "Lauren Ashley Smith Is Bringing A Black Time Travel Show To ABC". Nylon. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  9. Petski, Denise (August 24, 2021). "Lauren Ashley Smith Inks Overall Deal With CBS Studios". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  10. "The Best TV Shows Of 2019 With LGBT Women Characters". Autostraddle. 2019-12-30. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  11. "2020 Primetime Emmy® Awards Nomination Press Release" (PDF). Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  12. "A Black Lady Sketch Show". Television Academy. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
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