Cast

Mike Birbiglia is a comedian and actor who wrote, directed and starred in the film "Sleepwalk with Me" (2012), based on his one-man show of the same name. He has also appeared in the films "The Fault in Our Stars" (2014), "Cedar Rapids" (2011) and "Going the Distance" (2010) and on "Girls" and "Inside Amy Schumer."

Birbiglia's live stand-up specials include the DVD releases "My Girlfriend's Boyfriend" (2013) and "What I Should Have Said Was Nothing" (2008) as well as the albums "Sleepwalk with Me" (2011), "My Secret Public Journal Live" (2007) and "Two Drink Mike" (2006). He is the bestselling author of "Sleepwalk with Me and Other Painfully True Stories" (2010).

Hasan Minhaj is a comedian, actor, and writer who was recently selected by the Sundance Institute to develop his solo show and feature film with the prestigious New Frontier Storytelling Lab. The screenplay for his feature film "Paint the Town" is the adaptation of "Sakoon," his autobiographical solo show based on his experiences as a first generation Indian-American. A featured storyteller for The Moth Mainstage Company, his work has garnered acclaim in film, online and television. Minhaj hosted the documentary special "Stand Up Planet" produced by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which aired on PBS, Pivot, KCET and Link TV, and his digital series "The Truth with Hasan Minhaj" has been featured in countless publications including The Huffington Post, Gawker and The New York Times.

Minhaj has been seen on a variety of television programs including the "Arrested Development" revival on Netflix, HBO's "Getting On" and "@midnight" on Comedy Central and was recently profiled and performed in a segment on NBC's "Last Call with Carson Daly." He continues to tour the country as a stand-up and was featured as a "New Face" at the 2014 Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal. He is represented by Principato Young Entertainment and Hansen Jacobson.

Trevor Noah is the host, executive producer and writer of Comedy Central’s Emmy® and Peabody® Award-winning "The Daily Show." Noah joined "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" in 2014 as a contributor.

Born in South Africa to a black South African mother and a white European father, Noah has hosted numerous television shows, including the South African Comedy Festival and two seasons of his own late-night talk show, "Tonight with Trevor Noah." He made his U.S. television debut in 2012 on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," and he also appeared on "Late Show with David Letterman." Noah was the first South African stand-up comedian to appear on these late-night shows.

Noah's one-man show, "The Racist," had a sold-out run at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe. That same year, he was the subject of David Paul Meyer's award-winning documentary film "You Laugh But It's True," which portrayed Noah's career in post-apartheid South Africa. His Showtime comedy special, "Trevor Noah: African American," premiered in 2013. Recently, Noah performed for the Royal Family at the Royal Variety Performance.

He was featured on the October 2014 cover of GQ South Africa and has been profiled in Rolling Stone, Newsweek and The Wall Street Journal, and by CNN and NPR's "Talk of the Nation." In addition, Noah was nominated for Personality of the Year at the 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards.

Aasif Mandvi began performing at the age of seven as a pixie in a school play wearing tights and a bonnet. He knew from that moment on that discreet but comfortable leggings coupled with a desperate need for attention was the secret of success. Unaware of this at the time, but this type of beginning was perfect for a job as a correspondent on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," where the official uniform ironically happens to be "tights and a bonnet" (worn discreetly under one's suit, of course).

Mandvi is a recipient of an OBIE award for his critically-acclaimed one-man show "Sakina's Restaurant." His stage credits also include the 2002 Broadway revival of "OKLAHOMA!," "Guantanamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom," "Homebody/Kabul," "Suburbia," "Trudy Blue" and "Speak Truth to Power." Film and television credits include the title role in Merchant/Ivory's "The Mystic Masseur," "Music and Lyrics," "Spider-Man 2," "Freedomland," "The Siege," "Analyze This," "ABDC," "American Chai," "The War Within," "Sorry Haters," "Sex and the City," "Sleeper Cell," "The Sopranos," "The Bedford Diaries," "Oz," "CSI," "Law and Order," "Jericho," "ER," "Ed" and "Tanner," directed by Robert Altman. Aasif's journalistic integrity has never been questioned, and for that he is eternally grateful.

Named Best Stand-Up Comedian by the HBO/U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Al Madrigal's comedy has been called "dynamic" by The New York Times. His unique, spontaneous and fast-paced lyrical storytelling style has made him a regular on television with numerous appearances on Comedy Central including his own half-hour Comedy Central Presents Special and appearances on John Oliver's New York Stand-up Show and Pretend Time with Nick Swardson. Al has also appeared with Conan O'Brien (as one of the first 20 guests during his stint as host of "The Tonight Show," and on "Conan" on TBS) as well as multiple appearances on "Lopez Tonight," "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live."

Madrigal's television roles include the CBS show "Welcome to the Captain," and "Gary, Unmarried. Cheech Marin (Cheech and Chong) played his father on a sitcom, "The Ortegas," that was set to debut on Fox in 2003 in the time slot after "The Simpsons" before it was shelved at the last minute. Madrigal can be seen in the new NBC comedy "About A Boy." You can follow @AlMadrigal on Twitter.

Desi Lydic is a professionally trained improvisational and comedic actress who studied and performed at The Groundlings and Improv Olympic. She had a starring role on MTV's hit comedy series "Awkward," and her other television credits include CBS's "Two and a Half Men," CBS's "The Odd Couple" and FXX's "The League." Lydic's feature film credits include Jay Chandrasekhar's "The Babymakers" (2012) and Cameron Crowe's "We Bought a Zoo" (2011).

In 2017, Dulcé Sloan was named one of Rolling Stone's 10 Comedians You Need to Know and one of TimeOut LA's Comedians to Watch. She was also the 2016 NBC Stand-Up Showcase Winner, a Montreal Just For Laughs New Face and a Comedian to Watch on "The Steve Harvey Show." She was voted runner-up in Atlanta's Laughing Skull Comedy Festival in 2015. In addition to being cast in Fox's "Type A" and NBC's "Dumb Prince," she has been on MTV's "Acting Out," Comedy Central's "@midnight," TBS' Conan, and truTV's "Comedy Knockout."

Jaboukie Young-White is a comedian and filmmaker from Chicago who joined The Daily Show in 2018. He has performed stand-up on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," and he is one of Variety's 2018 10 Comics to Watch; he performed at their showcase at the 2018 Just For Laughs festival in Montreal. Young-White was also selected as a Comic to Watch at the 2017 New York Comedy Festival and as an Up Next comedian at Comedy Central’s inaugural Clusterfest. His other film and TV appearances include "Set It Up" (2018), "Rough Night" (2017) and the HBO series "Crashing."

Jessica Williams is an actress, writer, and all-around funny lady from Los Angeles, California. She credits her ability to be hilarious on her very large funny bone. No really, she has been six feet tall since she was in middle school. At first she was awkward and super weird. Then she became funny and still super weird.

Jessica then became a "comedic animal." She was funny, but intense and domineering. She was only blood- thirsty for the giggles and laughter of others. To fill her insatiable appetite, Jessica threw herself into the intense and cut-throat world of improv and sketch comedy. She frantically performed in shows with "ComedySportz: The College Team" and at the "Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre". A lot of people died laughing.

After practically "killing it" at every single comedic venue in Los Angeles, Jessica decided it was time to conquer New York City. This year, she joined "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" as a new correspondent. Jessica plans to destroy everything that she sees both comedically and physically. As a result, there are a lot of things broken around the studio. She loves it.

Jessica Williams' wardrobe is provided by J. Crew.

Jordan Klepper's wardrobe is provided by J. Crew.

Kristen Schaal is a giant of the alternative comedy scene and gets hungry every time she smells the blood of John Oliver. She was named "Best Alternative Comic" at the 2006 HBO Comedy Arts Festival and won a New York Nightlife Award for "Best Female Stand-Up." Schaal was also the recipient of the second annual Andy Kaufman Award hosted by the New York Comedy Festival. In October 2005, she was included in New York Magazine's "Ten Funniest New Yorkers You've Never Heard Of." Along with her comedy partner Kurt Braunohler, she was recently nominated for the Edinburgh Festival's IF Comedy Award, the most prestigious award in the world named after a website.

Schaal is the Senior Women's Correspondent for "The Daily Show." She was also a writer for South Park, but chose to leave the show after she was fired. She is a series regular on HBO's "Flight of the Conchords" and can also be seen in the Web series "Penelope Princess of Pets," which she co-created with Braunohler. Schaal dreams of some day eating John Oliver.

Lewis Black is one of the most prolific and popular performers working today. He executes a brilliant trifecta as stand-up comedian, actor and author. Receiving critical acclaim, he performs over 200 nights a year to sold-out audiences throughout Europe, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. He is one of few performers to sell out Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York City Center and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. In August 2007, he was the first stand-up comedian ever to perform in concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

Black's live performances provide a cathartic release of anger and disillusionment for his audience. A passionate performer who is more pissed-off optimist than mean-spirited curmudgeon, he's perfected expressing what the rest of us cannot say in polite company. It’s no wonder he’s been compared to Mort Sahl, Lenny Bruce, and Bill Hicks.

Black was born in Washington D.C. and raised in Silver Spring, MD. Colicky as a baby, it seems he was destined to be angry and irritated easily. His mother, a teacher, and his father, a mechanical engineer, instilled in both Black and his younger brother Ron the importance of education and the necessity to question authority, lessons which have influenced Black throughout his private and professional life. When Black was 12, his father took him to his first play and he quickly fell in love with the theatre. This ultimately led Black to pursue a career in drama. Degrees followed from the University of North Carolina and Yale Drama School, with a stint in Colorado owning a theatre with a group of friends in the interim. During his tenure at UNC, Black first ventured into stand-up, performing at Cat’s Cradle in Chapel Hill. Stand-up continued to be a steady presence as he pursued his career in theatre.

Black eventually settled in New York City. He became the playwright-in-residence at the West Bank Café’s Downstairs Theatre Bar. Black oversaw the development of more than 1,000 plays, including works by Aaron Sorkin, Alan Ball as well as his own original works. In addition to overseeing the works on stage, Black emceed every show. As the West Bank grew, so did his skill as a comic. Eventually the fulfillment of performing stand-up outweighed that of working in the theater. Having found his public voice, Black left the West Bank in the late 80’s to pursue stand-up full time.

In 1996, his friend Lizz Winstead tapped him to create a weekly segment for "The Daily Show". Since then, Black has taped four stand-up specials for the Comedy Central Presents series, co-created Last Laugh with Lewis Black. His popular appearances on Comedy Central helped to win him Best Male Stand-Up at the American Comedy Awards in 2001.

Increased exposure from "The Daily Show" eventually generated a record deal with Stand Up! Records. His first CD, The White Album, was released in 2000 to much critical acclaim. Black followed with seven more, five under the Comedy Central Records label. He has been honored with two Grammy nominations and one win for his work. The first nomination came in 2006 for Luther Burbank Performing Arts Center Blues, the second in 2009 for Anticipation. In 2007 he won the Grammy for best comedy album for the Carnegie Hall performance.

Having developed a strong relationship with HBO, he's filmed two specials, "Black on Broadway" and "Red, White and Screwed." The latter was nominated for an Emmy in 2007.

In the midst of a rigorous touring schedule, regular TV appearances and movie roles, Black has written two best selling books, "Nothing's Sacred" and "Me of Little Faith." Both garnered critical praise as well commercial success and spent numerous weeks on The New York Times best seller list.

As a playwright Black has penned over 40 plays, many of which have been produced around the country. "The Deal," a dark comedy about business, was made into a short film in 1998 and picked up by the Sundance Channel. In 2005, Garry Marshall's Falcon Theatre in Los Angeles produced "One Slight Hitch," a play that was later seen in 2006 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center’s Patel Conservatory.

In 2006, Black had a break out year as an actor. He co-starred with Robin Williams in Barry Levinson's "Man of the Year," appeared as “the fake dean of a fake college” in Steve Pink’s "Accepted," as the harried airport manager in Paul Feig’s "Unaccompanied Minors." He also lent his voice to the role of “Jimmy” in Bob Sagat's parody, "Farce of the Penguins."

In addition to his professional pursuits, Black is dedicated to a number of charitable organizations. As a longtime mentor with the 52nd Street Project, Black was roasted in “Charred Black 2007” which drew the largest fundraising numbers in the Project’s history. He’s a member of their Advisory Board, is Co-Chair of their Capital Campaign and in 2000, the Ron Black Memorial Scholarship Fund was created in memory of his late brother. He is also committed to raising funds for the Rusty Magee Clinic for Families and Health. He’s a strong supporter of both the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Autism Speaks and was recently honored by The Brady Center for his commitment to ending gun violence. Black also is a strong supporter of our military personnel and recently became involved with the USO. He has toured in several of the Middle East and European military bases over the last two years and hopes to continue his association with the USO for many years to come.

Today Black maintains residences in both Manhattan and Chapel Hill, NC. Still loyal to his alma mater, he’'s worked with UNC students to create the Carolina Comedy Festival. With his involvement at UNC, he continues a life-long commitment to education and the arts.

In his leisure time, Black likes to play golf, even though golf hates him.

A stand-up veteran who has appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Conan," "Late Night with Seth Meyers" and "@midnight," Michael Kosta has been a fixture on TV since his breakout performance at HBO's U.S. Comedy Arts Festival. Prior to "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah," Kosta co-created, produced and starred in "The Comment Section," guest-hosted "Attack of the Show" and co-hosted "Crowd Goes Wild" with Regis Philbin. He also served as a correspondent on "The Soup" spin-off series "The Soup Investigates." Kosta starred in his own stand-up special for "Comedy Central Presents" and released his comedy album "Comedy for Attractive People" in 2015. He was also recently seen on CC's "This Week at the Comedy Cellar" and "This Is Not Happening."

Born in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, and raised in Manchester, NH, and Singapore, Ronny Chieng was named one of the Top 10 Rising Comedians in Australia by The Age, the Herald Sun and The Sydney Morning Herald in 2012. He also received the Best Newcomer Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for his debut stand-up special, "The Ron Way" (2014). Chieng has performed at the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the New Zealand International Comedy Festival. In 2014, he won the Directors' Choice Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Best Show at the Sydney Comedy Festival. Chieng made his U.S. television debut on "The Late Late Show" in 2015.

In 2006, Roy Wood Jr. appeared in the New Faces Showcase at the Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival and made his network television debut on "The Late Show with David Letterman." Wood most recently starred on TBS's "Sullivan & Son" and regularly appears on "Conan" and ESPN's "SportsNation." Wood's stand-up album, "Things I Think, I Think," was released in 2013. Wood was one of 10 national finalists in Comedy Central's 2002 Laugh Riots competition, has been featured on its "Premium Blend" stand-up series and appeared on "@midnight." He has also performed on "Late Night with Seth Meyers," "The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson" and HBO's "Def Comedy Jam," and he finished third in the 2010 season of NBC's "Last Comic Standing."