Michael Clayton McCarthy worked professionally as an actor, writer, director, producer for many years. His professional writing career began at the age of 24 when he became a staff writer for “Saturday Night Live,” followed by two seasons at “Sesame Street” (the antidote for SNL). After becoming frustrated with actors messing up his brilliant sketches (that damn Bert and Ernie), he began working as an actor/improvisor at The Second City in Chicago, including three shows on that venerable institution’s mainstage.

While at Second City, McCarthy started their writing program, and while in Los Angeles, he continued to write for the likes of “The Drew Carey Show,” for Chuck Lorre, and many, many Comedy Central projects. He also continued to act in everything from “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” to “According to Jim,” to “The Gilmore Girls”—always playing a priest.

At The iO West Theater in Hollywood, McCarthy created a second writing program he called The Comedy Lab, with four separate classes teaching students how to compile exactly what literary agents want to read, thus increasing their chances of working professionally.

Former students include: Jon Favreau, Tina Fey, Brian Stack, Peter Murietta, Vanessa Bayer, Matt Walsh, Kay Cannon, Travis Bowe, and Matt Kuhn (and many, many more).

Michael passed away in April 2020, leaving behind wife Susan Messing, stepdaughter Sofia Mia, stepson Liam, and thousands of grateful students.

What do I wish somebody had told me?

Here’s the thing—I’ve actually done everything I teach and I’ve been teaching this stuff since 1992 (when I was on the mainstage of the Second City); and as I’ve continued to work, I’ve continued to update my curriculum. So, it’s not hypothetical! It’s practical, based on my own personal experience and analysis. And if it works, it works because I’m constantly asking myself, “What do I wish someone had told me back when I was starting out?”

Michael McCarthy 2020

Kim Howard Johnson is a founding member of the Baron’s Barracudas (the first house team of the ImprovOlympic–later the iO), co-wrote Truth in Comedy with Charna Halpern and Del Close, and wrote The Funniest One in the Room: the Lives and Legends of Del Close, the biography of his longtime friend. He began to teach writing when his good friend Michael McCarthy invited him to join the Comedy Lab writing classes at the iO Chicago. He is a longtime friend and associate of Monty Python, working on Monty Python’s Life of Brian in Tunisia, writing numerous books on Python, and serving as personal assistant to John Cleese. He is the only person to perform with the Baron’s Barracudas, his Monty Python friends at the Hollywood Bowl, legendary improvisational troupe The Committee, and written with comedy legend Jonathan Winters. He is excited to pass along what he has learned over the years to his students.

“When you spend years sitting across a desk from comedy icon John Cleese, if you’re paying attention, you tend to learn a lot about comedy writing. And when you spent years studying with Del Close, you learn even more. But, I didn’t know how to best utilize my knowledge until my dear friend Michael McCarthy offered me the opportunity to start teaching everything I have learned over the years.”