The Rise of Greg Poehler: From Lawyer to Emmy-Nominated Showrunner
Introduction:
Greg Poehler is a self-deprecating comedian, a published author, a talented actor, and has shown immense skill in writing, producing, and directing popular television shows. He started his career as a corporate lawyer and later, serendipitously, turned towards the world of comedy. Today, he has an impressive resume for someone who started in a different field. This blog post will discuss the fascinating journey of Greg Poehler and how he rose to the position of an Emmy-Nominated Showrunner.
1. The Early Life of Greg Poehler:
Born on July 11th, 1974, in Stockholm, Sweden, Greg Poehler is the youngest of his siblings. His father was an American Lawyer and his mother was a Swedish Language Teacher. Poehler narrates that his life growing up was relatively ordinary and mundane. However, he recalls his father’s persistent humor as his primary source of entertainment growing up.
2. From Lawyer to Comedian:
Poehler started his career as a lawyer in the United States of America after completing his education at Boston College. Soon, he realized that he was not passionate about his job and wanted to change his career. One day, he had an epiphany and found inspiration in his sister, Amy Poehler, who is a successful comedian and actress.
3. Moving to Sweden:
Poehler decided to make a drastic change and moved to Sweden without any knowledge of the Swedish language or its culture. He used his humor and wit as a way to communicate with the locals and found new material for his comedy skits. He began performing stand-up comedy shows in Sweden and soon realized that he had found his true calling.
4. Welcome to Sweden:
Poehler’s big break came with the creation of the TV series “Welcome to Sweden” in 2014. It was a semi-autobiographical show that followed Poehler’s character, Bruce, a successful New York City accountant, after he moves to Sweden to be with his Swedish girlfriend, Emma. The show attained a massive following and was critically acclaimed because of its original storyline, relatable characters, and Poehler’s brilliant writing.
5. Emmy-Nominated Showrunner:
Poehler has been nominated for numerous awards, including the prestigious Emmy Awards. In 2015, he was nominated for ‘Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series’ for the first season of “Welcome to Sweden.” He was the first-ever American to receive such a nomination for a Swedish sitcom.
6. Greg Poehler’s Humor:
Poehler’s humor is often self-deprecating, sarcastic and does not adhere to traditional comedy format. He uses his wit, awareness of cultural differences, and his personal experiences to create humor that is relatable to his audiences. This unique type of comedy helped him stand out from the rest and become a successful comedian.
7. FAQs:
Q1. What inspired Greg Poehler to pursue a career in comedy?
A. After realizing he was not passionate about his job as a corporate lawyer, he found inspiration in his sister, Amy Poehler, who is a successful comedian and actress.
Q2. What was the inspiration for the TV show “Welcome to Sweden?”
A. “Welcome to Sweden” was a semi-autobiographical show that followed Poehler’s character, Bruce, a successful New York City accountant, after he moved to Sweden to be with his Swedish girlfriend, Emma.
Q3. What makes Greg Poehler’s humor unique?
A. Greg Poehler’s humor is often self-deprecating, sarcastic, and does not adhere to traditional comedy format. He uses his wit, awareness of cultural differences, and his personal experiences to create relatable humor.
Q4. When was Greg Poehler first nominated for an Emmy Award?
A. In 2015, he was nominated for ‘Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series’ for the first season of “Welcome to Sweden.”
Q5. What was Greg Poehler’s first TV show?
A. “Welcome to Sweden” was Greg Poehler’s first-ever TV show.
Q6. What’s the nationality of Greg Poehler?
A. Greg Poehler is an American-Swedish comedian, he was born and raised in the United States.
Q7. Why did Greg Poehler move to Sweden?
A. Poehler was seeking a drastic change in his career and wanted to move away from his mundane corporate life, so he chose to move to Sweden where he had no knowledge of the language or culture.
Conclusion:
Greg Poehler is a classic example of how someone can change their career and find success in a completely different field. From being a corporate lawyer to becoming an Emmy-Nominated Showrunner, Poehler’s journey has been fascinating. His personal experiences and unique brand of humor have made him a real standout success. We can all learn from his inspiring journey and remind ourselves that it is never too late to pursue your dreams. What do you think of Greg Poehler’s journey? Please share your thoughts below!