Rich Dahm

Rich Dahm
Born
Richard Dahm
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
OccupationComedy writer
Years active1990s-present
Known forThe Cultural Idiocy Quiz
AwardsMultiple Emmy Awards for The Colbert Report

Richard Dahm (often credited as Rich Dahm) is an Emmy-winning American comedy writer from Wisconsin, most well-known for his work on The Colbert Report and The Middle.

Career

After graduating from University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1989, Dahm became one of the first writers for the satirical news site The Onion.[1][2]

Dahm was co-executive producer and head writer for The Colbert Report from 2005 to 2013, helping launch the series from its earliest days as a spinoff of The Daily Show.[1] In addition to his work on the show itself, he also worked on many of the series' spinoff productions including Colbert's books I Am America (And So Can You!) and America Again: Re-Becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't,[3] the live Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!, and the 2006 White House Correspondents' Dinner.[4] He has stated that his favorite moment on the show was Colbert's mock feud with indie rock group the Decemberists which culminated in a guitar solo competition on the show's final episode of the year, featuring guest appearances from guitarist Peter Frampton and Dr. Henry Kissinger.[1][5][6]

He was co-executive producer on the sitcom The Middle from 2014 to 2018.

He has written 11 episodes of the animated series The Croods: Family Tree.

He also wrote for Dennis Miller Live, Da Ali G Show, and Space Ghost Coast to Coast.[7][8]

Awards

Dahm stands behind Stephen Colbert at the Peabody Awards in 2008

Dahm has won six Emmy Awards: Four in the category of Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series four times for The Colbert Report in 2008, 2010, 2013, and 2014, and shared the show's awards for Outstanding Variety Series in 2013 and 2014 as co-executive producer. He was nominated 13 further times for writing for Colbert and Da Ali G Show.[9][10]

He also shared in the show's two Peabody Awards,[11][12] four Writers Guild of America Awards, and seven Producers Guild of America Awards.

Works

Podcast appearances

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Scott Dikkers (August 2, 2015). "Episode 9 - Rich Dahm". How To Write Funny (Podcast). Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  2. ^ Huynh, Kayla (October 17, 2018). "12 famous people you didn't know went to UW-Madison". University Communications. University of Wisconsin–Madison. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Colbert, Stephen (2012). America Again: Re-Becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't. Grand Central Publishing. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-446-58398-5. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  4. ^ Powers, Lindsay (May 11, 2011). "'General Hospital' Is No. 1 in Daytime Emmy Award Nominations With 21". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  5. ^ Wu, Annie (October 12, 2006). "Stephen Colbert's green screen challenge has a winner!". Archived from the original on October 28, 2006. Retrieved September 2, 2008.
  6. ^ Maher, Dave (November 30, 2006). "Video: Stephen Colbert Vs. The Decemberists". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on October 24, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2007.
  7. ^ Kurp, Josh (June 2011). "The Greatest TV Writers Rooms Ever". Vulture. New York City. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  8. ^ BroadcastingCable.com, "Wisconsin Wise Guys Plot TV Takeover"
  9. ^ "Richard Dahm". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  10. ^ "Rich Dahm". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  11. ^ 68th Annual Peabody Awards Archived October 23, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, May 2008.
  12. ^ 71st Annual Peabody Awards Archived October 23, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, May 2012.
  13. ^ Stephen Colbert; Rich Dahm; Paul Dinello; Allison Silverman (October 9, 2007). I Am America (And So Can You!). Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 978-0-446-58050-2.
  14. ^ Carol Kolb (2004). The Onion Ad Nauseam: Complete News Archives. Fanfare For the Area Man. Vol. 15. Three Rivers Press. ISBN 978-1-4000-5455-8.
  15. ^ Rich Dahm (1997). The Cultural Idiocy Quiz. Adams Media Corporation. ISBN 978-1-55850-796-8.