Michael Schur
Encyclopedia
Michael Herbert Schur is an American television producer and writer, best known for his work on the NBC comedy series The Office and Parks and Recreation
, the latter of which he co-created along with Greg Daniels
. Schur is also known for his small role on The Office as Mose Schrute, the cousin of Dwight Schrute
, who is played by Rainn Wilson
.
, a 1975 collection of humorous essays by Woody Allen
. Schur said he found the book on his father's bookshelf and stayed up reading it until 4 a.m.
Schur wrote for six seasons on NBC's Saturday Night Live
until 2004. Soon after, he became producer and writer for The Office on NBC, for which he has written ten episodes so far. He is a graduate of William H. Hall High School in West Hartford, Connecticut
and of Harvard University
(class of 1997) where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and was a member of the Harvard Lampoon
. He is married to Jennifer Philbin
, who was formerly a writer on The O.C.
and is television star Regis Philbin
's daughter. Their first child, son William Xavier Schur, was born on Feb 18, 2008. His middle name, Xavier, is in honor of Regis Philbin's confirmation name. At 7:54 p.m., on July 14, 2010, Jennifer Philbin
gave birth to a daughter, Ivy Elizabeth, in California. Schur appeared on The Office as Dwight
's cousin Mose in the episodes "Initiation," in which Dwight takes Ryan
to his beet
farm, "Money
," in which Jim and Pam spend a night at the farm, "The Deposition
", "Koi Pond
", and "Counseling
." He also co-wrote The Office: The Accountants webisode
s with Paul Lieberstein
.
Schur also wrote for "Fire Joe Morgan
", a sports journalism blog, under the pseudonym "Ken Tremendous." Schur resurrected the pen name on March 31, 2011, when he began writing for SBNation's Baseball Nation site, which debuted the same day.
In April 2008, Schur and Greg Daniels
started working on a pilot for Parks and Recreation
as a proposed spin off of The Office. Over time, Schur realized Parks and Recreation would work better as a show if they made it separate from The Office. While Parks and Recreation received negative reviews in its first season, it received critical acclaim in the second much like The Office.
Schur collaborated with The Decemberists
on their music video for Calamity Song from the album The King Is Dead
.
Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation is an American comedy television series on NBC that focuses on Leslie Knope , a mid-level bureaucrat in the parks department of Pawnee, a fictional town in Indiana. Created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, the series debuted on April 9, 2009; it has run for three seasons and...
, the latter of which he co-created along with Greg Daniels
Greg Daniels
Gregory Martin "Greg" Daniels is an American television comedy writer, producer, and director.-Life and career:...
. Schur is also known for his small role on The Office as Mose Schrute, the cousin of Dwight Schrute
Dwight Schrute
Dwight Kurt Schrute III is a character on NBC's The Office portrayed by Rainn Wilson. He originally exactly resembled Gareth Keenan from the original UK version of The Office. Dwight is the top salesman and former acting manager for the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company and has won numerous awards for...
, who is played by Rainn Wilson
Rainn Wilson
Rainn Dietrich Wilson is an American actor and comedian. He is primarily known for his role as the egomaniacal Dwight Schrute on the American version of the television comedy The Office...
.
Biography
Michael Schur said he first became interested in comedy when he was 11 years old, when he read Without FeathersWithout Feathers
Woody Allen's Without Feathers is one of his best-known literary pieces. The book spent 4 months on the New York Times Bestseller List...
, a 1975 collection of humorous essays by Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
. Schur said he found the book on his father's bookshelf and stayed up reading it until 4 a.m.
Schur wrote for six seasons on NBC's Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
until 2004. Soon after, he became producer and writer for The Office on NBC, for which he has written ten episodes so far. He is a graduate of William H. Hall High School in West Hartford, Connecticut
West Hartford, Connecticut
West Hartford is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town was incorporated in 1854. Prior to that date, the town was a parish of Hartford....
and of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
(class of 1997) where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and was a member of the Harvard Lampoon
Harvard Lampoon
The Harvard Lampoon is an undergraduate humor publication founded in 1876 at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.-Overview:Published since 1876, The Harvard Lampoon is the world's longest continually published humor magazine. It is also the second longest-running English-language humor...
. He is married to Jennifer Philbin
J. J. Philbin
Jennifer Joy "J. J." Philbin is an American television producer and writer best known for her work on the drama series The O.C. and as the daughter of television star Regis Philbin and his wife Joy Philbin.-Career:...
, who was formerly a writer on The O.C.
The O.C.
The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
and is television star Regis Philbin
Regis Philbin
Regis Francis Xavier Philbin is an American media personality, actor and singer, known for hosting talk and game shows since the 1960s. Philbin is often called "the hardest working man in show business" and holds the Guinness World Record for the most time spent in front of a television camera...
's daughter. Their first child, son William Xavier Schur, was born on Feb 18, 2008. His middle name, Xavier, is in honor of Regis Philbin's confirmation name. At 7:54 p.m., on July 14, 2010, Jennifer Philbin
J. J. Philbin
Jennifer Joy "J. J." Philbin is an American television producer and writer best known for her work on the drama series The O.C. and as the daughter of television star Regis Philbin and his wife Joy Philbin.-Career:...
gave birth to a daughter, Ivy Elizabeth, in California. Schur appeared on The Office as Dwight
Dwight Schrute
Dwight Kurt Schrute III is a character on NBC's The Office portrayed by Rainn Wilson. He originally exactly resembled Gareth Keenan from the original UK version of The Office. Dwight is the top salesman and former acting manager for the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company and has won numerous awards for...
's cousin Mose in the episodes "Initiation," in which Dwight takes Ryan
Ryan Howard (The Office)
Ryan Bailey Howard , played by B. J. Novak, is a fictional character on the US television sitcom The Office. He is based upon Ricky Howard from the original version of The Office , but his role is significantly expanded and he is a main character.-Character profile:Little is known about Ryan's...
to his beet
Beet
The beet is a plant in the Chenopodiaceae family which is now included in Amaranthaceae family. It is best known in its numerous cultivated varieties, the most well known of which is the purple root vegetable known as the beetroot or garden beet...
farm, "Money
Money (The Office)
"Money" is the seventh episode of the fourth season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's sixtieth episode overall. It first aired on October 18, 2007, on NBC, and was the last of four consecutive hour long episodes that opened the fourth season...
," in which Jim and Pam spend a night at the farm, "The Deposition
The Deposition (The Office)
"The Deposition" is the twelfth episode of the fourth season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's sixty-fifth episode overall. Written by consulting producer Lester Lewis and directed by Julian Farino, the episode originally aired in the United States on November 15,...
", "Koi Pond
Koi Pond (The Office)
"Koi Pond" is the 8th episode of the sixth season of the U.S. comedy series The Office and the show's 108th episode overall. It was written by Warren Lieberstein and Halsted Sullivan and directed by Reggie Hudlin. It originally aired on NBC on October 29, 2009.In this episode, Michael and Jim head...
", and "Counseling
Counseling (The Office)
"Counseling" is the second episode of the seventh season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's 128th episode overall. Written by B. J...
." He also co-wrote The Office: The Accountants webisode
Webisode
A webisode is a short episode which airs initially as Internet television, either download or stream as opposed to first airing on broadcast or cable television. The format can be used as a preview, a promotion, as part of a collection of shorts, or a commercial.A webisode can be an episode...
s with Paul Lieberstein
Paul Lieberstein
Paul Bevan Lieberstein is an American screenwriter, actor and television producer. An Emmy Award winner, he is most widely known as a writer, producer, and as supporting cast member Toby Flenderson on the U.S...
.
Schur also wrote for "Fire Joe Morgan
Fire Joe Morgan
Fire Joe Morgan was a sports journalism criticism blog which focused primarily on baseball. It was updated regularly from 2005 through 2008. Although sports commentator Joe Morgan was often criticized, the site did not target him exclusively, but rather criticized anything the writers considered...
", a sports journalism blog, under the pseudonym "Ken Tremendous." Schur resurrected the pen name on March 31, 2011, when he began writing for SBNation's Baseball Nation site, which debuted the same day.
In April 2008, Schur and Greg Daniels
Greg Daniels
Gregory Martin "Greg" Daniels is an American television comedy writer, producer, and director.-Life and career:...
started working on a pilot for Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation is an American comedy television series on NBC that focuses on Leslie Knope , a mid-level bureaucrat in the parks department of Pawnee, a fictional town in Indiana. Created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, the series debuted on April 9, 2009; it has run for three seasons and...
as a proposed spin off of The Office. Over time, Schur realized Parks and Recreation would work better as a show if they made it separate from The Office. While Parks and Recreation received negative reviews in its first season, it received critical acclaim in the second much like The Office.
Schur collaborated with The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists are an indie folk rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States, fronted by singer/songwriter Colin Meloy. The other members of the band are Chris Funk , Jenny Conlee , Nate Query , and John Moen .The band's...
on their music video for Calamity Song from the album The King Is Dead
The King Is Dead (album)
The King Is Dead is the sixth studio album by The Decemberists, released on Capitol Records on January 14, 2011. Described as the "most pastoral, rustic record they've ever made," by Douglas Wolk of Rolling Stone, the album reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart for the week ending February...
.
The Office
- "The Alliance" (April 12, 2005) – Season 1
- "Office OlympicsOffice Olympics"Office Olympics" is the third episode of the second season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's ninth episode overall. Written by Michael Schur, and directed by Paul Feig, the episode first aired in the United States on October 4, 2005 on NBC.In the episode, Michael...
" (October 4, 2005) – Season 2 - "Christmas Party" (December 6, 2005) – Season 2
- "Valentine's Day" (February 9, 2006) – Season 2
- "Branch ClosingBranch Closing"Branch Closing" is the seventh episode of the third season of The Office . It was first aired on November 9, 2006 on NBC. It was written by Michael Schur and directed by Tucker Gates. It is the first episode to have a "Producer's Cut" on NBC.com, with deleted scenes edited into the full episode...
" (November 9, 2006) – Season 3 - "Traveling Salesmen" co-written with Lee EisenbergLee EisenbergLee Eisenberg is a film and television writer. He usually works with Gene Stupnitsky.-Life and career:In television, he wrote for the NBC comedy series The Office from seasons 2 to 6, and served as a co-executive producer and directed two episodes with Stupnitsky, "Michael Scott Paper Company" and...
and Gene StupnitskyGene StupnitskyGene Stupnitsky is a film and television writer. He usually works with Lee Eisenberg.In television, he wrote for the NBC comedy series The Office from seasons 2 to 6, and served as a co-executive producer and directed two episodes with Eisenberg, "Michael Scott Paper Company" and "The Lover"...
(January 11, 2007) – Season 3 - "The ReturnThe Return (The Office)"The Return" is the fourteenth episode of the third season of the US version of The Office. It aired on January 18, 2007 on NBC and marked the return to work of Oscar Martinez, who had been on vacation since the first episode of the season....
" co-written with Lee EisenbergLee EisenbergLee Eisenberg is a film and television writer. He usually works with Gene Stupnitsky.-Life and career:In television, he wrote for the NBC comedy series The Office from seasons 2 to 6, and served as a co-executive producer and directed two episodes with Stupnitsky, "Michael Scott Paper Company" and...
and Gene StupnitskyGene StupnitskyGene Stupnitsky is a film and television writer. He usually works with Lee Eisenberg.In television, he wrote for the NBC comedy series The Office from seasons 2 to 6, and served as a co-executive producer and directed two episodes with Eisenberg, "Michael Scott Paper Company" and "The Lover"...
(January 18, 2007) – Season 3 - "The NegotiationThe Negotiation"The Negotiation" is the nineteenth episode of the third season of the U.S. version of The Office, aired on April 5, 2007 on NBC...
" (April 5, 2007) – Season 3 - "The JobThe Job (The Office)"The Job" is the third season finale of the U.S. version of The Office, and the show's 52nd and 53rd episode overall. It aired in the United States on April 19, 2007 on NBC. It is the season's second hour-long episode...
" co-written with Paul LiebersteinPaul LiebersteinPaul Bevan Lieberstein is an American screenwriter, actor and television producer. An Emmy Award winner, he is most widely known as a writer, producer, and as supporting cast member Toby Flenderson on the U.S...
(May 17, 2007) – Season 3 - "Dunder Mifflin InfinityDunder Mifflin Infinity"Dunder Mifflin Infinity" is the third episode of the fourth season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's fifty-sixth episode overall. The episode was written by Michael Schur, who also acts in the show, and directed by Craig Zisk...
" (October 4, 2007) – Season 4
Parks and Recreation
- "PilotPilot (Parks and Recreation)"Pilot" is the first episode of the first season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on April 9, 2009. The episode was written by series co-creators Michael Schur and Greg Daniels, and directed by Daniels...
" – Season 1 - "Greg PikitisGreg Pikitis"Greg Pikitis" is the seventh episode of the second season of Parks and Recreation, and the thirteenth overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on October 29, 2009. In the episode, Leslie attempts to catch a suspected teenage vandal in the act of defacing a...
" – Season 2 - "Christmas ScandalChristmas Scandal"Christmas Scandal" is the twelfth episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the eighteenth overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on December 10, 2009...
" – Season 2 - "Galentine's DayGalentine's Day"Galentine's Day" is the sixteenth episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 22nd overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on February 11, 2010. In the episode, Leslie and her boyfriend Justin seek to...
" – Season 2 - "The Master PlanThe Master Plan (Parks and Recreation)The Master Plan is the 23rd and penultimate episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 29th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 13, 2010...
" – Season 2 - "Time CapsuleTime Capsule (Parks and Recreation)"Time Capsule" is the third episode of the third season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 33rd overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on February 3, 2011. In the episode, Leslie tries to encourage civic pride through a...
" – Season 3 - "End of the WorldEnd of the World (Parks and Recreation)"End of the World" is the sixth episode of the fourth season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 52nd overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on November 3, 2011...
" – Season 4
Parks and Recreation
- "Rock ShowRock Show (Parks and Recreation)"Rock Show" is the sixth episode and season finale of the first season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 14, 2009. It was written by Norm Hiscock and directed by Michael Schur...
" – Season 1 - "Sister CitySister City (Parks and Recreation)"Sister City" is the fifth episode of the second season of Parks and Recreation, and the eleventh overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on October 15, 2009...
" – Season 2 - "Time CapsuleTime Capsule (Parks and Recreation)"Time Capsule" is the third episode of the third season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 33rd overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on February 3, 2011. In the episode, Leslie tries to encourage civic pride through a...
" – Season 3
External links
- Fire Joe Morgan
- Interview with Michael Schur
- Where are they now? Interview About His Public Schooling