Justin Stangel

Justin Stangel is a radio and television showrunner, writer and producer. In 1998, Stangel and his brother Eric Stangel become the head writers of Late Show with David Letterman, positions they held until 2013.^[1]

Biography

Stangel and his brother Eric Stangel created a stage show in Manhattan, titled Big City Comedy.^[2] The success of the show led to writing work for Norm Macdonald's Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live, the cartoon show The Tick on Fox Television, and the USA Network. The comedy shorts they created to air between shows for the USA Network helped land the Stangel brothers staff writing jobs with Late Show with David Letterman, in 1997.^[2]

In 1998, Stangel and his brother become the head writers of the Late Show, positions they held until 2013.^[1] As co-head writer for The Late Show, Stangel was part of a team that has won two Primetime Emmy Awards (in 2001 and 2002), received twenty-one total Emmy nominations, and was nominated for Writers Guild of America awards four times.^[3] In December 2009 Stangel and his brother Eric were promoted to executive producers for The Late Show.^[4] The Stangel brothers are the longest-serving head writers in the history of Letterman's late night shows.

Eric and Justin in 2012 published their first book Goodnight Husband, Goodnight Wife which won an Independent Publishing Award in the category of Humor.^[5]

In 2012 he wrote additional material for the 84th Academy Awards hosted by Billy Crystal^[6] which was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding Writing for a Variety Special.^[7]

In 2015, Justin and Eric Stangel were added to the staff of Opie with Jim Norton on Sirius XM.^[8] On March 15, 2016, Opie announced that the Stangel Brothers officially left their role with the show to be executive producers on the daytime television show Harry starring Harry Connick Jr.^[9] In two seasons, Harry was honored with 11 Daytime Emmy nominations (2 wins) and a Critics Choice Award nomination.^[10][11][12]

In 2020, Justin and Eric signed one-day contracts with baseball teams starting with the Portland Pickles,^[13] Cleburne Railroaders,^[14] and the Lake Erie Crushers.^[15]

In February 2021 the Stangels signed with the AAA ballclub for Major League Baseball's Minnesota Twins, the St. Paul Saints,^[16]

Then in May 2021, Eric and Justin signed with the Cleveland Indians AA club, the Akron RubberDucks, and were promised items from the extreme menu including a 21 scoop ice cream sundae served in a full-size helmet if they show up to the ballpark.^[17]

Following this signing, they appeared on ESPN+'s SportsNation to detail their story and announce the 6th team they will be signing with, the Carolina Disco Turkeys.^[18][19]

In June 2021, they officially signed with the Disco Turkeys ^[20][21]

On August 17, 2021, the Stangels announced they signed with the New York Yankees High-A club, the Hudson Valley Renegades, and were offered the chance to throw out the first pitch at an upcoming game.^[22]

April 2, 2022, Eric and Justin signed with the Kingsport Axmen of the Appalachian League. Logan Davis, the team General Manager signed the brothers to the back end of the bullpen.^[23]

The brothers signed with team number 9 on May 18, 2022, with the Spearfish Sasquatch of Independence League Baseball. Team Owner and General Manager Eric Schmidt also offered Eric and Justin the opportunity to model merchandise on the team website.^[24]

On May 26, 2022, Eric and Justin hit double digits, signing with their 10th team, the Norwich Sea Unicorns of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. Team General Manager Lee Walter Jr. gave them a contract allowing the brothers to make announcements over the Dodd Stadium PA system during a game.^[25]

In February 2023, the brothers signed with team number 11, the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes of the Prospect League. Team “Emperor of Engagement” Andrew Miller signed them over Zoom and offered them a chance to face 90 per hour pitching.^[26]

In January 2024, the High-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, the Beloit Sky Carp of the Midwest League gave Eric and Justin their 12th one-day contract.^[27]

History may have been made in March 2024, when the AAA affiliate of baseball’s Detroit Tigers, the Toledo Mud Hens and the affiliate of hockey’s Detroit Red Wings, the Toledo Walleye signed the brothers to one-day deals. ^[28]

References

1. Finke, Nikki (January 18, 2013). "David Letterman Shakeup In Late Show Head Writers As Stangel Brothers Snag Multi-Year Development Deal". deadline.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2013. The twosome have had an unusually long and successful 14-year run as Letterman's head writers and now will turn a lot of their attention to coming up with TV shows in any format for Worldwide Pants.
2. Pallassino, Gary (Summer 2001). . Syracuse University Magazine. Syracuse University. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved October 10, 2009.
3. "Eric Stangel-Awards". Internet Movie Database. 2009. Retrieved October 10, 2009.
4. Littleton, Cynthia (December 6, 2009). "'Late Show' ups pair to exec producers". Variety. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
5. "2012 Medalists". ippyawards.com. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
6. The 84th Annual Academy Awards (2012), retrieved May 2, 2018
7. The 84th Annual Academy Awards, retrieved May 2, 2018
8. Stangel Brothers Announce New Gig with SiriusXM and Opie and Jim Norton Radio Show
9. Littleton, Cynthia (October 13, 2015). "Fox Stations Grab Harry Connick Jr. Variety Show as Daytime Dealmaking Heats Up". Variety. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
10. Montgomery, Daniel (March 22, 2017). "2017 Daytime Emmy nominations: Full list of nominees". GoldDerby. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
11. "The National Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences Announces Nominations For The 45th Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards – The Emmys". emmyonline.tv. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
12. Sheehan, Paul (January 11, 2018). "2018 Critics' Choice Awards: All the nominees in the 25 film and 22 TV categories". GoldDerby. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
13. "Pickles Sign Stangel Bros To Pickles International Comedic Knockout Squad". Portland Pickles. September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
14. Stangel, Eric (September 25, 2020). "Cleburne Railroaders Sign Stangel Bros". StangelBros.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
15. Stangel, Eric (October 16, 2020). "Lake Erie Crushers Sign Stangel Bros". StangelBros.com. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
16. Stangel, Eric (February 4, 2021). "Stangel Bros. sign with AAA St. Paul Saints". StangelBros.com. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
17. Stangel, Eric (March 5, 2021). "Akron RubberDucks Sign Stangel Bros". StangelBros.com. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
18. none, none (May 18, 2021). "Disco Turkeys Featured On ESPN's SportsNation". DiscoTurkeys.com. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
19. Stangel, Eric (May 18, 2021). "Stangels' Signing Blitz Gets National Coverage". StangelBros.com. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
20. "Stangels Dance With Disco Turkeys". StangelBros.com. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
21. "Disco Turkeys Put Single Game Tickets On Sale Add To National Acclaim". journalnow.com. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
22. Stangel, Eric (August 17, 2021). "Hudson Valley Renegades- NY Yankees Minor League Affiliate Signs Stangel Bros". StangelBros.com. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
23. Stangel, Eric (August 17, 2021). "Stangels Take Swing With Axmen". StangelBros.com. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
24. Stangel, Eric (May 17, 2022). "Spearfish Sasquatch Sign Stangels". StangelBros.com. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
25. Stangel, Eric (May 26, 2022). "Stangels Sign With 10th Team, Norwich Sea Unicorns Part Of History". StangelBros.com. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
26. Stangel, Eric (February 28, 2023). "Stangels "Lucky" To Sign With Horseshoes". StangelBros.com. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
27. Stangel, Eric (January 29, 2024). "Marlins Affiliate, Beloit Sky Carp Sign Stangels To 12th One-Day Contract". StangelBros.com. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
28. Stangel, Eric (March 27, 2024). "STANGELS (MIGHT HAVE) SET A WORLD RECORD!". StangelBros.com. Retrieved March 27, 2024.