Robert Carlock

Robert Carlock is an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer best known for his work as showrunner on Tina Fey's acclaimed sitcom, "30 Rock" (NBC, 2006-2013). A graduate of Harvard, Carlock cut his teeth in the cutthroat world of TV comedy during the sitcom heyday of the 1990s. It was during that decade that he landed staff writing gigs on "The Dana Carvey Show" (ABC, 1996), and then "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975- ), where he remained for five years. While writing for "SNL" Carlock had the privilege of developing a strong working relationship with the show's head writer, and later star of "Weekend Update," Tina Fey - a friendship that would prove beneficial later on in his career. Carlock left "SNL" in 2001 and moved to Los Angeles to take a coveted writing/producing job on NBC's hit sitcom, "Friends" (1994-2004), and later worked on its spinoff "Joey" (NBC, 2004-06). After "Joey" was abruptly cancelled in 2006, Carlock's luck changed when he received an unexpected call from his old friend Tina Fey. Fey was working on a new TV show for NBC called "30 Rock," and wanted Carlock to write for it. The show was a major critical hit for the network, earning three Primetime Emmys and numerous accolades for its whip-smart writing. In 2015, Carlock reteamed with Fey as co-creator of the critically acclaimed Netflix comedy, "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" (2015- ), thus proving his comedy writing chops were still white hot nearly twenty years after launching his career.

Born and raised in Waltham, Massachusetts, Carlock always wanted to become a comedy writer. However, it wasn't until he enrolled at Harvard University that he first got his chance to make people laugh through his words. During his tenure at the prestigious university, Carlock wrote, and then later edited, the school's iconic humor rag, the Harvard Lampoon, thus joining the ranks of Conan O'Brien, Ethan Coen, and countless other writers who honed their comedy skills at the publication. After graduating form the university in 1995, Carlock move to New York City with one goal in mind - to write for TV. He soon signed with the upstart talent agency Endeavor, and by the spring of 1996 landed a coveted staff writing position on "The Dana Carvey Show." Although the show lasted for only seven episodes, Carlock had the opportunity to work alongside such up-and-coming talents as Dave Chappelle, Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell - all of whom wrote for the show. Despite the setback of losing his job, Carlock quickly rebounded when in the fall of 1996 he was hired on the writing staff of "Saturday Night Live." Over the next five years Carlock wrote sketches for nearly 100 episodes of the show, his most famous of which, "Delicious Dish," parodied the overly tame programming heard on National Public Radio. After five successful years on the writing staff of "SNL," Carlock left the show and moved to Los Angeles to become a writer on "Friends." He spent four seasons as a writer and producer on the hit NBC sitcom, and then another two years on its ill-received spin-off, "Joey." Then in 2006 Carlock received a phone call from his former colleague at "SNL," Tina Fey, about running a new sitcom she was developing for the network. Carlock liked the idea of returning to New York and took her up on the offer. The show, of course, was "30 Rock," and after 7 seasons, three Emmys, and countless accolades, Carlock rose to become one of the most powerful showrunners on TV. When "30 Rock" ended in 2013, Carlock reteamed with Fey to co-create a new comedy about a former cult member who decides to reset her life New York City. "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" debuted on Netflix in 2015, and was quickly lauded as one of the best comedies of the year. A second season of "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" was already scheduled to premiere in 2016, with Carlock returning as a writer and producer.