HBO Enters Into Exclusive Deal With Emmy®-Winning Daily Show Veteran Ben Karlin

HBO has entered into an exclusive multiplatform development and production deal with Ben Karlin, a multiple Emmy® winner for his work on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report. The agreement covers series, specials, TV movies and new media, as well as a first-look deal for theatrical films, which will tap new writing, directing and performing talent.

“Through his work with Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert, Ben has become one of the most important creative forces in comedy today, known for his smarts, his wit and his great talent relations,” says Colin Callender, president, HBO Films. “We look forward to working with him to bring these same qualities to the theatrical marketplace in nontraditional ways.”

“I’ve been an admirer of Ben’s since his Onion days and we are thrilled to finally be in cahoots with him at HBO Entertainment.” notes Carolyn Strauss, president, HBO Entertainment.

Comments Karlin, “When my reps asked me what I wanted to do next, I said firmly, ’not TV.’ They said, ’HBO.’ I had to admit, they had me there.”

Ben Karlin was head writer, and then producer, for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart from 1999 to 2006, and was also the co-creator and executive producer of The Colbert Report. During his tenure, Karlin won nine Emmys® and two Peabody Awards. Karlin also co-authored and co-edited (with Jon Stewart and David Javerbaum) America (The Book), a New York Times #1 best seller, which has sold more than 1.8 million hardcover copies. He was awarded the Thurber Prize for American humor, and America was named “Book of the Year” by Publishers Weekly. The audiobook won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. Karlin’s book Things I’ve Learned From Women Who’ve Dumped Me, will be published in February 2008 by Grand Central publishing (division of Hachette). It is a collection of essays from some of Hollywood’s most comedic and creative minds about the excruciatingly painful (and, as the book proves) universal experience of losing in love. From 1993 to 1996, Karlin was a writer for, then editor of, the satirical newspaper The Onion. Karlin is represented by UTA, 3 Arts Entertainment and attorney Cliff Gilbert-Lurie.