Andy Cowan
Encyclopedia
Andy Cowan is an American writer and script consultant for television and other media. He hosts the radio comedy talk show, Up & Down Guys, on KPFK
90.7 FM in Los Angeles. He has appeared in several television shows, most recently as host of the hour-long talk show pilot, "Another Talk Show! with Andy Cowan," featuring Jason Alexander
and Sheila Raye Charles
. He has written humor columns for the Los Angeles Times
newspaper, and several songs, one of which won international song contest nods. He sings in jazz clubs throughout Los Angeles.
in Broadcasting from Boston University
and began his broadcasting career in radio and TV news in Pennsylvania
.
, writing scripts for several comedy television shows. He gained greater exposure with The Merv Griffin Show
during the 1980s, where he wrote, assisted in producing segments, and appeared on-air. He interviewed hundreds of guests, including Jerry Seinfeld
and Orson Welles
. On the cable TV channel Showtime, he produced, wrote and hosted the 1990 short 6 Minutes, a spoof of the popular 60 Minutes
. That segment won a CableACE Award in 1991. At the 2009 Southeast New England Film, Music & Arts Festival, Cowan received the Best Comedy Award for the short film, Knocked Down, which he wrote.
Cowan has performed in comedy clubs throughout the country. His voice has been used on audiobooks for the Star Wars
audio book series, and in TV show voiceovers, including as narrator on "Hollywood's Best Film Directors". He has written for MyFM
in Los Angeles, and wrote for the Jack FM
network from 2007 thru 2010. He has written over 150 panels for the award-winning worldwide syndicated newspaper comic strip Bizarro
, in collaboration with Dan Piraro
, one of which was featured on NBC's Meet the Press
, and has written multiple panels for the syndicated newspaper comic strip Rhymes with Orange
in collaboration with Hilary B. Price.
Cowan's songwriting work included Hitchin' on the Highway of Life, a semi-finalist in the 2008 UK Songwriting Contest, top 20 finalist in the 2007 and 2008 Unisong International Songwriting Competitions, 2007 Song of the Year "Suggested Artist" and "Honorable Mention" winner. And 20th Century Man, the theme to "Another Talk Show! with Andy Cowan". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=105RvUh_JZc
Cowan's television writing work included The Opposite
, one of the top ten Seinfeld
episodes.
Partial credits include:
KPFK
KPFK is a listener-sponsored radio station based in North Hollywood, California, United States, which serves the Greater Los Angeles Area, and also streams 24 hours a day via the Internet...
90.7 FM in Los Angeles. He has appeared in several television shows, most recently as host of the hour-long talk show pilot, "Another Talk Show! with Andy Cowan," featuring Jason Alexander
Jason Alexander
Jay Scott Greenspan , better known by his professional name of Jason Alexander, is an American actor, writer, comedian, television director, producer, and singer. He is best known for his role as George Costanza on the television series Seinfeld, appearing in the sitcom from 1989 to 1998...
and Sheila Raye Charles
Sheila Raye Charles
Sheila Raye Charles is an American singer-songwriter. She is the daughter of Ray Charles and Sandra Jean Betts.-Early life:...
. He has written humor columns for the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
newspaper, and several songs, one of which won international song contest nods. He sings in jazz clubs throughout Los Angeles.
Biography
Cowan received a Master's degreeMaster's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Broadcasting from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
and began his broadcasting career in radio and TV news in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Career
After gaining media experience in Pennsylvania newsrooms, Cowan moved to Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, writing scripts for several comedy television shows. He gained greater exposure with The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, September 20, 1965 to September 26, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972 at 11:30 PM ET weeknights on CBS and again in...
during the 1980s, where he wrote, assisted in producing segments, and appeared on-air. He interviewed hundreds of guests, including Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and television and film producer, known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the situation comedy Seinfeld , which he co-created and co-wrote with Larry David, and, in the show's final two seasons,...
and Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
. On the cable TV channel Showtime, he produced, wrote and hosted the 1990 short 6 Minutes, a spoof of the popular 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
. That segment won a CableACE Award in 1991. At the 2009 Southeast New England Film, Music & Arts Festival, Cowan received the Best Comedy Award for the short film, Knocked Down, which he wrote.
Cowan has performed in comedy clubs throughout the country. His voice has been used on audiobooks for the Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
audio book series, and in TV show voiceovers, including as narrator on "Hollywood's Best Film Directors". He has written for MyFM
KBIG-FM
KBIG-FM is an FM radio station in Los Angeles, California, owned by Clear Channel. The station plays a Hot Adult Contemporary format heavy on music from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.-Early years:...
in Los Angeles, and wrote for the Jack FM
Jack FM
JACK FM is the alternative name and on-air brand of 60 radio stations in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia. Jack stations play a mix of 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s hits with some current hot adult contemporary singles. Jack's slogan "playing what we want" can also be...
network from 2007 thru 2010. He has written over 150 panels for the award-winning worldwide syndicated newspaper comic strip Bizarro
Bizarro
Bizarro is a fictional character that appears in publications published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Otto Binder and artist George Papp as a "mirror image" of Superman and first appeared in Superboy #68...
, in collaboration with Dan Piraro
Dan Piraro
Daniel Charles Piraro is a painter, illustrator and cartoonist best known for his award-winning syndicated cartoon panel Bizarro. Piraro's cartoons have been reprinted in 15 book collections between 1986 and the present....
, one of which was featured on NBC's Meet the Press
Meet the Press
Meet the Press is a weekly American television news/interview program produced by NBC. It is the longest-running television series in American broadcasting history, despite bearing little resemblance to the original format of the program seen in its television debut on November 6, 1947. It has been...
, and has written multiple panels for the syndicated newspaper comic strip Rhymes with Orange
Rhymes With Orange
Rhymes with Orange is an American comic strip written and drawn by Hilary B. Price and distributed by King Features Syndicate. The strip was first syndicated in 1995....
in collaboration with Hilary B. Price.
Cowan's songwriting work included Hitchin' on the Highway of Life, a semi-finalist in the 2008 UK Songwriting Contest, top 20 finalist in the 2007 and 2008 Unisong International Songwriting Competitions, 2007 Song of the Year "Suggested Artist" and "Honorable Mention" winner. And 20th Century Man, the theme to "Another Talk Show! with Andy Cowan". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=105RvUh_JZc
Cowan's television writing work included The Opposite
The Opposite
"The Opposite" is the eighty-sixth episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld, which was also the 21st episode of Season 5. It aired on May 19, 1994. This was the first episode shot for Season 5, but it was intended to be the season finale. This is the last episode Tom Cherones directed...
, one of the top ten Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
episodes.
Partial credits include:
- CheersCheersCheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...
(3 episodes plus an additional story, 1985-1987) - (writer) - ThrobThrobThrob was an American television sitcom broadcast in syndication from 1986 to 1988. It revolved around thirty-something divorcee Sandy Beatty who gets a job at a small New Wave record label, Throb. Beatty's boss is Zach Armstrong , who looks like Michael J. Fox but dresses like Don Johnson...
(1 episode, 1986) - (writer) - Take Five aka The George SegalGeorge SegalGeorge Segal is an American film, stage and television actor.-Early life:George Segal, Jr. was born in 1934 Great Neck, Long Island, New York, the son of Fannie Blanche and George Segal, Sr. He was educated at George School, a private Quaker preparatory boarding school near Newtown, Bucks County,...
Show, 1987 - (writer, story editor) - The Pat Sajak ShowThe Pat Sajak ShowThe Pat Sajak Show is an American late-night television talk show which aired on CBS from January 9, 1989 to April 13, 1990.-Cast:The show was hosted by Pat Sajak, best known as host of the game show Wheel of Fortune...
(1989-1990) - (writer) - Into the NightInto the NightInto The Night is a 1985 American comedy-thriller film directed by John Landis, starring Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Pfeiffer. The film is notable for a large number of cameo appearances made by various filmmakers and directors, including Landis himself. The soundtrack features the songs In the...
(1990-1991) - (writer) - SeinfeldSeinfeldSeinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
(18 episodes, 1994-1995) - (writer, program consultant) - Double RushDouble RushDouble Rush is a CBS television comedy that lasted only one season in 1995. Robert Pastorelli played Johnny Verona, manager of a bicycle delivery service in New York City...
(1 episode, 1994) - (writer, story editor) - 3rd Rock from the Sun3rd Rock from the Sun3rd Rock from the Sun is an American sitcom that aired from 1996 to 2001 on NBC. The show is about four extraterrestrials who are on an expedition to Earth, which they consider to be a very insignificant planet...
(2 episodes, 1995-96) - (writer, executive story consultant) - The Merv Griffin ShowThe Merv Griffin ShowThe Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, September 20, 1965 to September 26, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972 at 11:30 PM ET weeknights on CBS and again in...
- (writer, segment producer, talent coordinator, performer) - 6 Minutes (Showtime, 1990 short segment) - (producer, writer, host)
- My Talk Show (1990, 1991) - (writer)
- The Best Damn Sports Show PeriodThe Best Damn Sports Show PeriodThe Best Damn Sports Show Period is an American sports television show on Fox Sports Net and Comcast SportsNet. The show regularly featured irreverent and opinionated interviews with top athletes, coaches, celebrities, and entertainers. It also aired Top 50 countdown shows and other sports...
(3 episodes, 2002) - (announcer) - Knocked Down (2008 short film) - (writer, actor, vocalist)
- Ellen DeGeneresEllen DeGeneresEllen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season....
- (writer for Emmy hosting) - Phonees (2011 webisode series) - (writer, actor)