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Lucia Aniello

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Lucia Aniello
Born1983 (age 40–41)
Italy
NationalityAmerican
Alma materColumbia University
Occupations
  • Film director
  • writer
  • producer
Years active2007–present
SpousePaul W. Downs
Children1[1]

Lucia Aniello (born 1983) is an Italian-born[2] American director, writer, and producer best known for her work on Hacks, for which she won multiple Emmy Awards, and Broad City. She has directed and written episodes of both shows, as well as the miniseries Time Traveling Bong and the 2017 film Rough Night.

Early life

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Aniello was born in Italy and grew up in Hadley, Massachusetts, where her parents owned Italian restaurants, before moving to New York City.[3][2] In 2004, she graduated from Columbia University, where she was a film and media studies major and studied with film critic Andrew Sarris.[4][5] She was in Sigma Delta Tau sorority.[6] She also played varsity tennis for Columbia.[7]

Career

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Aniello is an alumna of the Upright Citizens Brigade, an improvisational and sketch comedy group founded in 1990 by a group of comedians including Amy Poehler who is an executive producer of Broad City.[8]

Aniello and Paul W. Downs met at a Upright Citizens Brigade Level One improvisational comedy class.[8] Aniello and Downs began working together on a series of digital shorts and improv.[8] They started their own website and comedy production company called Paulilu Productions. Together they have been writing, directing and acting in digital shorts since 2007. Some of their most well-known web series include The Diary of Zac Efron and The Real Housewives of South Boston.[3]

Work on Broad City

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Aniello also met Ilana Glazer of Broad City through the same Upright Citizens Brigade class where she met Downs. As Aniello and Downs began to make digital shorts and build the foundations of Paulilu, Glazer and Abbi Jacobson worked on the prototype of Broad City. The two comedic duos occasionally acted in each other's shorts or directed them.[3] When Broad City moved to television Glazer and Jacobson asked Aniello to direct the pilot and cast Downs as Trey, the trainer and boss of Jacobson's character on the show. After the show was picked up by Comedy Central, they asked both Aniello and Downs to join the group of writers for the show.[9]

Current work

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Aniello also co-created Time Traveling Bong. Her interest in the subject began in college when she wrote a thesis on time-travel movies at Columbia University. The movie is a stoner film comedy about two cousins who acquire a bong that acts as a time traveling device.[10]

Aniello directed and, with Downs, co-wrote the comedy Rough Night, which was released in June 2017. It stars Scarlett Johansson, Zoe Kravitz, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, Demi Moore, Ty Burrell and Colton Haynes.[11] During the time of the film's release, Aniello was the first woman to direct an R-rated comedy in nearly 20 years.[12]

In 2020, she directed and executive produced the Comedy Central series Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens as well as Netflix's Baby-Sitters Club.

Aniello is showrunning and directing the HBO Max show Hacks, starring Jean Smart. The first season of Hacks garnered 15 Emmy nominations and 3 wins, including “Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series,” “Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series,” and Jean Smart won “Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.”[13][14] The series won two Writers Guild of America Awards in the categories of “Comedy Series” and “New Series,”[15] and Aniello won a Directors Guild of America Award in the category of “Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series.”[16] The series also took home two Golden Globe Awards for “Best Musical or Comedy TV Series” and “Best Television Actress in a Musical or Comedy”.[17] Hacks was honored as one of the “Outstanding Television Programs of the Year” at the American Film Institute Awards[18] and won a 2022 Peabody Award.[19] Season 1 of Hacks also received various award nominations at the Screen Actors Guild Awards,[20] Critics Choice Awards,[21] Producers Guild of America Awards,[22] and the Gotham Awards,[23] among others.

In its second season, Hacks received 17 Emmy nominations and 3 wins, including “Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series,” “Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series” and “Outstanding Contemporary Costumes.” [24] The series won a Writers Guild of America Award in the "Episodic Comedy" category,[25] and was honored as one of the “Outstanding Television Programs of the Year” at the American Film Institute Awards for its second consecutive year.[26] Jean Smart also won a Critics Choice Award for “Best Actress in a Comedy Series” for her second consecutive year.[27] The series was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards,[28] two Writers Guild of America Awards,[29] two Screen Actors Guild Awards,[30] and a Producers Guild of America Award,[31] among numerous others.

More recently, Aniello and Paul W. Downs signed a deal with Warner Bros. Television.[32]

Personal life

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Aniello resides in Los Angeles with her husband and comedic partner Paul W. Downs, with whom she co-wrote Rough Night.[33] They have a son, born in 2022.[1]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2021
 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series Hacks (as Executive Producer) Nominated [34]
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Hacks – (Episode: "There Is No Line (Pilot)") Won [35]
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Hacks – (Episode: "There Is No Line (Pilot)")
(Shared with Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky) 		Won [36]
Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series Hacks Won [37]
Writers Guild of America Awards Comedy Series Hacks Won [38]
New Series Hacks Won
Golden Globe Awards Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy Hacks (as Executive Producer) Won [39]
AFI Awards Outstanding Television Program of the Year Hacks Won [40]
Peabody Awards Peabody Award, Entertainment Honoree Hacks Won [41]
2022
 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series Hacks (as Executive Producer) Nominated [42]
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Hacks – (Episode: "There Will Be Blood") Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Hacks – (Episode: "The One, The Only")
(Shared with Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky) 		Nominated
Writers Guild of America Awards Episodic Comedy Hacks – (Episode: "The One, The Only")
(Shared with Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky) 		Won [43]
Comedy Series Hacks Nominated
Producers Guild of America Awards Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television Hacks (as Executive Producer) Nominated [44]
AFI Awards Outstanding Television Program of the Year Hacks Won [45]
Children's and Family Emmy Awards Outstanding Children's or Family Viewing Series The Baby-Sitters Club (as Executive Producer) Won [46]
2024
 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series Hacks (as Executive Producer) Won [47]
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Hacks – (Episode: "Bulletproof") Nominated [48]
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Hacks – (Episode: "Bulletproof")
(Shared with Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky) 		Won [49]

References

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  1. ^ a b Holmes, Marie (14 March 2022). "Jean Smart Dedicates Critics Choice Award To In-Labor 'Hacks' Director". Scary Mommy. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b Zoladz, Lindsay (June 16, 2017). "Lucia Aniello's Broad Appeal". The Ringer. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Futterweit, Alexa. "Interview: Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs Talk Paulilu Comedy and the Hilarity of Hilary [sic] Clinton." Complex Magazine. Complex, 11 Aug. 2012. Web. 11 November 2016
  4. ^ "Take Five with Lucia Aniello '04". Columbia College Today. 8 March 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  5. ^ "DIRECTOR LUCIA ANIELLO CC'04 MAKES BIG-SCREEN DEBUT WITH "ROUGH NIGHT"". Columbia College. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  6. ^ Hacks Co-Creator Wins Two Emmys
  7. ^ "Strong Play of Mittal and Weintraub Insufficient in Tennis Loss". Columbia Daily Spectator. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  8. ^ a b c UBC. "UCB Theatre." UCB Theatre. UBC, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2016.
  9. ^ Press, Joy. "The Secret Weapons of ‘Broad City’ Make Fine Art From Crude Humor." New York Times. New York Times, 12 Feb. 2016. Web. 11 Nov. 2016.
  10. ^ Handler, Rachel. "Time Traveling Bong's Ilana Glazer, Paul W. Downs, and Lucia Aniello on The First Time They Got High and Kidnapping Michael Jackson." MTV News. MTV, 19 Apr. 2016. Web. 11 Nov. 2016.
  11. ^ Berger, Laura. "Female Spin-Off of ’21 Jump Street’ in the Works." IndieWire. Penske Business Media, 30 Apr. 2015. Web. 11 Nov. 2016.
  12. ^ Keegan, Rebecca. "The Audacity of Rough Night, the First R-rated Studio Comedy Directed by a Woman in Nearly 20 Years". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  13. ^ "Hacks: Awards & Nominations". Television Academy. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  14. ^ THR Staff (September 19, 2021). "Emmys: 'The Crown' Reigns; Full Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  15. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (March 20, 2022). "'CODA,' 'Don't Look Up,' 'Hacks' and 'Succession' Win Top Prizes at 2022 Writers Guild Awards". Variety. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  16. ^ Chuba, Kirsten (March 12, 2022). "DGA Awards: Jane Campion and 'The Power of the Dog' Take Top Honor". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  17. ^ Hill, Libby (January 10, 2022). "Golden Globes 2022: 'Succession' and 'Hacks' Triumph — Does It Matter". IndieWire. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  18. ^ "HACKS – AFI Movie Club". AFI. April 1, 2022. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  19. ^ Schneider, Michael (June 7, 2022). "'Hacks,' 'Philly D.A.' Among Second Round of Peabody Awards 2022 Winners (FULL LIST)". Variety. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  20. ^ Hipes, Patrick (January 12, 2022). "SAG Awards Nominations: 'House Of Gucci', 'Power Of The Dog', 'Succession', 'Ted Lasso' Top Lists". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  21. ^ Pedersen, Erik (December 6, 2021). "Critics Choice TV Nominations: 'Succession' Leads Field As HBO Edges Netflix". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  22. ^ Pedersen, Erik (January 27, 2022). "PGA Awards Nominations: 'Licorice Pizza', 'Don't Look Up', 'Dune', 'King Richard' & 'CODA' Among Pics Vying For Marquee Prize". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  23. ^ Lang, Brent (January 27, 2022). "'Passing,' 'The Lost Daughter' Lead 2021 Gotham Awards Nominations (Full List)". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  24. ^ "Hacks: Awards and Nominations". Television Academy. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  25. ^ "2023 Writers Guild Awards Winners & Nominees". WGA.org. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  26. ^ Pedersen, Erik (December 9, 2022). "AFI Awards TV: First- & Second-Year Shows Dominate As 'Better Call Saul' Bucks Trend". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  27. ^ Pedersen, Erik (January 15, 2023). "'Everything Everywhere All At Once' Takes Best Picture At Critics Choice Awards – Complete Winners List". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  28. ^ Rich, Katey (January 10, 2023). "Golden Globes 2023: See All the Nominations Here". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  29. ^ "2023 Writers Guild Awards Winners & Nominees". WGA.org. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  30. ^ Davis, Clayton (January 11, 2023). "SAG Awards 2023 Nominations: 'Banshees' and 'Everything Everywhere' Tie for Most Nods in History". Variety. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  31. ^ Davis, Clayton (January 12, 2023). "PGA Awards Nominations: 'The Whale' and Four Blockbuster Sequels Recognized, Films Directed by Women Shut Out". Variety. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  32. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2021-08-30). "'Hacks' Co-Creators Lucia Aniello & Paul W. Downs Ink Overall Deal With Warner Bros. Television Group". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  33. ^ Paulilu Productions. "About Paulilu." Paulilu. N.p., 2007. Web. 11 Nov. 2016.
  34. ^ "Hacks". Emmys.com. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  35. ^ "Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series - 2021". Emmys. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  36. ^ "Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series - 2021". Emmys.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  37. ^ "74th Annual DGA Awards Winners". Directors Guild of America. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  38. ^ "Awards Nominees and Winners". Writers Guild of America. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  39. ^ "Hacks, Golden Globes". Golden Globes. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  40. ^ "AFI Awards 2021". Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  41. ^ "Peabody Awards Announces 30 Winners". 21 June 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  42. ^ "Awards Nominees and Winners". Emmys. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  43. ^ "2023 Writers Guild Awards Winners & Nominees". Writers Guild of America. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  44. ^ "Nominations in Motion Picture and Television Program categories announced". 12 January 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  45. ^ "AFI Awards 2022". Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  46. ^ Tinoco, Armando (December 11, 2022). "Children's & Family Emmys Complete Winners List: 'Heartstopper' Leads & 'The Baby-Sitters Club' Gets Recognition After Cancellation". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  47. ^ "Hacks". Emmys.com. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  48. ^ "Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series - 2024". Emmys. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  49. ^ "Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series - 2024". Emmys.com. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
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