Episode 18: From The Phillipian to Fallon

Every Quarter

Jonathan Adler, class of 2008, is unnecessarily humble, completely self-depreciating, and while he'd never admit it, a hilarious talent. As a staff writer for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Adler is part of the team that — as he describes it —makes people laugh and feel good every night before they go to bed. On this episode of Every Quarter, Adler traces his comic roots from writing for The Phillpian to the Harvard Lampoon to late-night TV in New York. He talks his first on-air pitch, how he ended up on camera in a recurring bit, and one controversial Features satire that had the PA administration knocking at his door. While he admits Andover initially wasn't where he wanted to be, ten years later, he now credits his burgeoning comedy writing career to his time spent telling jokes and finding his voice in the basement of Morse Hall.