Hubbry Logo
search
logo
Eric Appel avatar
Eric Appel
Eric Appel
current hub
E

Eric Appel

logo
Community Hub0 Subscribers
Read side by side
Eric Appel
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Eric Appel (born August 13, 1980) is an American filmmaker working in television, film, and commercials.

Key Information

Early life and education

[edit]

Originally from Endicott, New York, Appel attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, majoring in computer animation.

Describing his childhood interests, Appel said, "I was always playing around with video cameras, but I was also the kid that drew cartoons. It's weird. I was so obsessed with movies and television, but nobody ever told me that I should go to film school... [W]hen I decided to go to school for animation, it felt like a no-brainer. However, when I actually went away to college, I realized that I had made a mistake (and also that I wasn't that great at drawing). I actually spent more time working on videos with my roommate, who was majoring in video production, than I did working on my own project."[citation needed]

Career

[edit]

While in college, Appel also began performing improv comedy, after his girlfriend brought him to a "show at the University of Pittsburgh called "Friday Nite Improvs", where anyone from the audience could volunteer to go up on stage and perform these improv games." After moving to New York City, Appel started taking classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, "and it wasn't long before I was basically living at the theatre. I became very involved very quickly. [I was] taking improv classes, interning, running the lights for shows and really helping out in any way that I could so I could just be around comedy as much as possible."[1][2]

While still in New York, Appel got a job writing for The Andy Milonakis Show, then moved to Los Angeles for that show's third season when its production was relocated to California. He subsequently wrote for Crank Yankers and Human Giant, then went to work for the comedy website Funny or Die. "Funny or Die was such a young company when they hired me...there were about eight of us all sitting around a large dining room table on laptops. Every day a few people would disappear to go shoot some shit and then the next day they would be sitting next to you editing it. Then it would go up on the site and it would either get a million hits or nobody would watch it and it would disappear and then it was on to the next thing. Everyone there worked at their own pace and you were encouraged to just go pick up a camera and make something...I used this as an opportunity to start directing my own sketches and quickly found out that not only do I like directing more than writing, but also that I'm better at it."[3]

Appel would go on to extensively direct series television, with credits including Eagleheart, NTSF:SD:SUV, The Office, New Girl, Selfie, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Son of Zorn, Die Hart and The Afterparty.[4]

In 2022, Appel made his feature directorial debut with Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, based on a Funny or Die short that he directed twelve years earlier.[5][6] The film won a Critics Choice Award for Best Made for Television Movie.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Eric Appel

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Eric Appel (born August 13, 1980) is an American director, writer, and producer best known for his work in television comedy series and the satirical biopic film Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.[1] Born in Endicott, New York, Appel graduated from Union-Endicott High School in 1998, studied computer animation at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and later took classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York City to hone his skills in comedy and improvisation.[1][2] He began his professional career as a writer on MTV's The Andy Milonakis Show and Comedy Central's Crank Yankers and Human Giant in the mid-2000s, establishing himself in sketch comedy and alternative television formats.[1] Appel transitioned to directing in the 2010s, helming episodes of popular sitcoms such as The Office, New Girl, Happy Endings, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Silicon Valley, Son of Zorn, and The Afterparty, often bringing his background in animation and improv to enhance comedic timing and visual storytelling.[3] His feature directorial debut came in 2022 with Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, a Roku Channel parody biopic co-written with musician "Weird Al" Yankovic, which satirizes music biopics and earned Appel a Directors Guild of America nomination as well as a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie in 2023.[4][5] Appel has continued directing projects like the Amazon Prime Video film Die Hart (2023) and the upcoming comedy The Breadwinner (2026) starring Nate Bargatze and Mandy Moore, further expanding his portfolio in both streaming movies and series.[6][7][8]

Early life and education

Childhood in Endicott

Eric Appel was born on August 13, 1980, in Endicott, New York, a small town in the Southern Tier region of upstate New York.[1] Growing up in the West Corners neighborhood of Endicott, Appel developed an early passion for creative pursuits.[5] His childhood interests centered on filmmaking and animation, sparked by self-taught hobbies such as tinkering with video cameras and drawing cartoons.[1] He often collaborated with friends to create homemade movies in nearby woods, fostering a hands-on approach to storytelling that blended visual arts and narrative experimentation.[5] Appel graduated from Union-Endicott High School in 1998, where his budding creativity continued to evolve through local influences and personal projects.[5] These formative experiences in Endicott provided the groundwork for his transition to formal training in animation.

Formal education and early training

Appel attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, where he majored in computer animation.[1][2] During his studies, Appel began creating videos with classmates, which sparked his passion for live-action directing and shifted his focus from animation toward narrative filmmaking.[1] He was also introduced to improv comedy at the institute, performing improv games that honed his comedic timing and collaborative skills.[1] Building on these experiences, Appel pursued further training in improv and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York City after graduating, where he performed, wrote, and directed shows.[9][10] This early involvement in student video projects and improv laid the groundwork for his professional career in comedy and directing.[1]

Career

Entry into animation and comedy

After graduating from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh with a degree in computer animation around 2002, Eric Appel relocated to New York City to pursue creative opportunities, though he ultimately did not work professionally in animation.[11] Instead, he immersed himself in the local comedy scene by enrolling in improv classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater (UCB), where he quickly became a regular performer.[2] Appel's training at UCB emphasized spontaneous sketch creation and ensemble performance, fostering his skills in rapid-fire humor and collaborative storytelling.[9] By 2002, Appel had transitioned into writing and directing original sketch comedy shows at UCB, often drawing on his visual arts background to craft visually dynamic, low-budget productions staged in the theater's intimate spaces.[12] These experiences marked his entry into professional comedy, blending improv techniques with scripted elements to produce short-form content that highlighted absurd, character-driven narratives.[9] His work at UCB built a foundation in live-action directing, shifting focus from animated concepts to real-time comedic timing and audience interaction. Appel's first paid television gig came in 2005 as a writer on MTV's The Andy Milonakis Show, a surreal sketch comedy series that aligned with his UCB-honed style of irreverent, youth-oriented humor.[1] He relocated to Los Angeles in 2006 for the show's second season, where he contributed to episodes featuring celebrity cameos and animated segments, further bridging his animation education with live-action production.[1] This opportunity led to additional early writing credits on sketch programs like Human Giant (2007) on MTV and Crank Yankers (2007–2009) on Comedy Central, establishing him in low-budget comedy content creation during the mid-2000s.[12] In 2007, Appel joined the nascent Funny or Die platform as its original head writer and an early director, helming viral short sketches that amplified his reputation for punchy, shareable comedy.[13] These projects, often produced on minimal budgets, exemplified his growing expertise in transitioning from improv-based sketches to polished digital content, solidifying his path in the comedy industry.[12]

Television directing

Eric Appel began directing television episodes in the early 2010s, bringing his background in animation and improv comedy to comedic series on major networks. His work emphasized tight pacing, character interactions, and visual humor tailored to ensemble casts.[3] Appel directed three episodes of the Fox sitcom New Girl starting in 2012, including "Models" (Season 2, Episode 5) and "What About Fred" (Season 5, Episode 2). His approach highlighted quirky, awkward comedy through extended reaction shots and ensemble banter, allowing character dynamics to drive the humor in the show's loft-based ensemble.[14][15][3] From 2013 onward, Appel contributed to Brooklyn Nine-Nine by directing four episodes, such as "Halloween II" (Season 2, Episode 4) and "Kicks" (Season 5, Episode 5). He focused on ensemble dynamics, using precise timing for rapid-fire jokes and group scenes that amplified the precinct's chaotic camaraderie and procedural satire.[16][17][18] Appel's involvement with HBO's Silicon Valley began in 2014, where he directed two episodes in Season 3: "The Empty Chair" (Episode 5) and "Bachmanity Insanity" (Episode 6). His direction underscored the show's tech satire through character-driven scenes, employing close-ups and subtle visual cues to highlight awkward professional rivalries and innovative absurdity in the startup world.[19][20] In 2016, Appel directed six episodes of the Fox hybrid series Son of Zorn, while also serving as an executive producer. The show blended live-action with animated elements featuring the barbarian protagonist Zorn, and Appel navigated challenges like integrating animation into live scenes by using on-set supervisors for precise eye-lines and rehearsals to match movements, drawing from 1980s cartoon aesthetics for Zorn's over-the-top reactions without breaking the world's realism. His early animation training influenced this seamless hybrid style, treating the animated character as a natural extension of the live-action environment.[21][22] Appel directed two episodes of Apple TV+'s The Afterparty in 2023, including "Aniq 2: The Sequel" (Season 2, Episode 1), emphasizing mystery elements through nonlinear storytelling and genre shifts that replayed events from different perspectives to build suspense and comedic reveals.[23][3] For the Quibi/Roku series Die Hart starting in 2020, Appel helmed 18 episodes across its run, incorporating action-comedy tropes with high-energy stunts and meta-humor about Hollywood aspirations, as seen in episodes like "The Great Escape" (Season 1, Episode 7).[24][3]

Feature film directing

Appel's feature film directing career began with Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022), a satirical biopic co-written and directed by him in collaboration with subject "Weird Al" Yankovic. The film exaggerates elements of Yankovic's life as a parody songwriter and accordionist into a heightened narrative that mocks musical biopic tropes, blending emotional depth with absurd humor rather than straightforward parody. Daniel Radcliffe was cast as Yankovic for his ability to convey both comedic timing and emotional intelligence, serving as the audience's entry point into the story's satirical world. Production faced challenges including a tight $8 million budget, an accelerated 18-day shoot originally planned for 22 days, COVID-19-related cost increases, and the need for extensive 1980s-era costumes to recreate the retro setting.[25][26] In 2023, Appel directed Die Hart for Amazon Prime Video, a feature-length adaptation of the Quibi series that follows Kevin Hart playing a fictionalized version of himself training to become an action star under the guidance of a demanding director. The film incorporates high-stakes action sequences, meta-commentary on Hollywood, and comedic mishaps, building on the series' premise with a condensed narrative and celebrity cameos.[6][27] In 2024, Appel directed Die Hart 2: Die Harter, an action-comedy sequel expanding on the self-referential series where Kevin Hart plays a fictionalized version of himself aspiring to action stardom. The film amplifies the original's meta-humor with unscripted action sequences, an evil revenge plot targeting Hart's character, and heightened pettiness in his persona, emphasizing collaborative chaos on set. Appel returned to helm the project alongside writer Tripper Clancy, building on prior work with Hart to integrate broader comedic stakes and physical stunts within a larger narrative arc.[28] Appel's approach to feature directing prioritizes a grounded narrative framework to support comedic exaggeration, allowing for logical humor progression distinct from the episodic constraints of television. His television background in pacing quick-witted scenes informed this style, but features enabled greater creative control through expanded budgets and runtime, facilitating intricate blends of satire, drama, and action without rushing resolutions.[25]

Filmography

Television credits

Appel's television credits span directing episodes of multiple comedy series from 2011 onward, with a focus on single-camera sitcoms and sketch-style shows. He also served as executive producer on the series Son of Zorn (2016–2017), overseeing all 13 episodes of its single season, which blended live-action and animation to depict a barbarian warrior's life in suburbia.[29] No major writing credits for television episodes are documented.
Year(s)SeriesRoleNumber of Episodes DirectedRepresentative Episodes
2011Death ValleyDirector2"Pilot" (S1E1), "Help Us Help You" (S1E2) – Episodes involving undead creatures in a supernatural police procedural parody.[30][31]
2011EagleheartDirectorAt least 2"Creeps" (S1E3), "Master of da' Skies" (S1E5) – Absurdist cop show sketches featuring bizarre investigations.[32][33]
2011–2012NTSF:SD:SUV::Director13 (across seasons 1–2)"Up Periscope. Down with San Diego" (S1E6), "Time Angels" (S2E5), "The Risky Business of Being Alone in Your Home" (S1E4) – Rapid-fire parody of police procedurals with escalating absurdity.[34][35][36]
2012The OfficeDirector1"Jury Duty" (S8E13) – Ensemble comedy exploring workplace lies and family tensions.[37]
2012–2013Happy EndingsDirectorAt least 2"Boys II Menorah" (S3E7), "Bros Before Bros" (S3E17) – Interconnected friend group antics in urban settings.[38][39]
2012–2016New GirlDirector3"Models" (S2E5), "Clavado En Un Bar" (S3E11), "What About Fred" (S5E2) – Quirky roommate dynamics and romantic mishaps.[14][15]
2013–2016Brooklyn Nine-NineDirector4"The Vulture" (S1E5), "Lockdown" (S2E7), "The 9-8" (S3E11), "Halloween IV" (S4E5) – Precinct-based humor with heist and holiday-themed episodes.[16]
2014SelfieDirectorAt least 2"Never Block Cookies" (S1E2), "I Woke Up Like This" (S1E13) – Social media satire on self-image and mentorship.[40][41]
2016Silicon ValleyDirector2"The Empty Chair" (S3E5), "Bachmanity Insanity" (S3E6) – Tech startup rivalries and boardroom chaos.[19][20]
2016–2017Son of ZornDirector (select episodes); Executive Producer (all)At least 2 (directed)"Return to Orange County" (S1E2), pilot episode – Hybrid format episodes blending fantasy action with domestic comedy.[29][42]
2020Die HartDirector10 (season 1)All episodes, including "The Great Escape" (S1E10) – Meta action-comedy following an aspiring actor's stunt training.[24][43]
2023The AfterpartyDirector2 (season 2)"Aniq 2: The Sequel" (S2E1) and one additional episode – Murder mystery retellings in nonlinear styles.[23][44]

Film credits

Eric Appel's transition from television directing to feature films began with his debut in 2022.[45]
TitleYearRole(s)Release DateRuntimeProduction Notes
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story2022Director, Writer (co-wrote with "Weird Al" Yankovic), Executive ProducerNovember 4, 2022 (streaming premiere on The Roku Channel)108 minutesProduced by Funny or Die; biographical parody film starring Daniel Radcliffe as "Weird Al" Yankovic, featuring cameo appearances including those by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jack Black, and Rainn Wilson.[46][47][10]
Die Hart2023DirectorFebruary 24, 2023 (streaming premiere on Prime Video)85 minutesAction-comedy film re-edited from the first season of the Die Hart TV series; stars Kevin Hart as a fictionalized version of himself, alongside John Travolta and Nathalie Emmanuel.[6][48][49]
Die Hart 2: Die Harter2024DirectorMay 30, 2024 (streaming premiere on Prime Video)92 minutesSequel action-comedy re-edited from the second season of the Die Hart TV series; stars Kevin Hart, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ben Schwartz, and John Cena; written by Tripper Clancy and Derek Kolstad.[50][51][52]
The Breadwinner2026DirectorMarch 13, 2026 (theatrical release)TBDComedy starring Nate Bargatze; produced by TriStar Pictures.[53]

Awards and recognition

Primetime Emmy Award

Eric Appel earned acclaim at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards when Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, which he directed and co-wrote, won for Outstanding Television Movie.[54] The satirical biopic, a Roku Channel production starring Daniel Radcliffe as "Weird Al" Yankovic, beat nominees including Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas and Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie.[55] The award was presented during the Creative Arts ceremonies on January 6–7, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, delayed from its original September 2023 date due to the 2023 Hollywood labor strikes. Appel shared the win as a credited producer alongside executive producers Henry R. Munoz III, Neil Shah, and Zachary Halley, as well as producers Mike Farah, Joe Farrell, Whitney Hodack, Tim Headington, Lia Buman, Max Silva, and Al Yankovic.[54] The production team accepted the Emmy onstage, with Yankovic later describing it as his first-ever Primetime Emmy and expressing gratitude to the cast, crew, and collaborators in public statements.[56] This victory highlighted Appel's skill in blending humor and biography, elevating the film's profile and marking a pivotal recognition in his transition from television directing to feature-length comedic projects.[5]

Other honors

In addition to his Primetime Emmy recognition, Appel received a nomination from the Directors Guild of America for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series for directing Weird: The Al Yankovic Story in 2023.[57] He was also nominated for Best Directing in a Limited Series or Streaming Movie at the 2023 Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards for the same project.[58] The film won Best Streaming Movie and Best Writing in a Limited Series or Streaming Movie (shared with Al Yankovic) at the 3rd Astra TV Awards on January 6, 2024.[59] Weird: The Al Yankovic Story also won Best Movie Made for Television at the 28th Critics' Choice Television Awards on January 15, 2023.[60] Appel's contributions to the Die Hart series earned industry nods, including four Primetime Emmy nominations for the second season in categories such as Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series, highlighting the project's overall acclaim.[61] In November 2025, Appel was honored as a "Having Made a Difference" Alumni Honoree by the Union-Endicott High School District, recognizing his career achievements as a member of the Class of 1998 and his roots in Endicott, New York.[62] This local tribute celebrated his rise in television and film directing, including work on acclaimed comedies like Silicon Valley and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.

References

  1. Endicott Native Wins Emmy Award for Work With Weird Al
  2. U-E grad receives an Emmy - Union-Endicott Central School District
  3. 'Weird: Al Yankovich Story' Director Lands Comedy 'Stepdude'
  4. 'Weird: The Al Yankovic Story' Director Eric Appel Boards 'Stepdude'
  5. DGA Awards: Joseph Kosinski, Judd Apatow On Vital Issues Ahead ...
  6. Endicott native takes home Emmy Award for movie with Weird Al
  7. Kevin Hart Makes 'Die Hart The Movie' For Amazon Prime Video
  8. Nate Bargatze Comedy 'The Breadwinner' Finds Its Director - Deadline
  9. Eric Appel - Earwolf
  10. Son of Pittsburgh runs Fox's 'Son of Zorn' - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
  11. Director Eric Appel Joins Furlined - SHOOTonline
  12. Eric Appel - IMDb
  13. "New Girl" Models (TV Episode 2012) - IMDb
  14. "New Girl" What About Fred (TV Episode 2016) - IMDb
  15. Eric Appel | Brooklyn Nine-Nine Wiki - Fandom
  16. "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" Captain Peralta (TV Episode 2015) - IMDb
  17. "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" Kicks (TV Episode 2017) - IMDb
  18. "Silicon Valley" The Empty Chair (TV Episode 2016) - IMDb
  19. "Silicon Valley" Bachmanity Insanity (TV Episode 2016) - IMDb
  20. 'Thundarr' Meets 'Modern Family' in Fox's Brilliant New 'Son of Zorn'
  21. "Son of Zorn" A Tale of Two Zorns (TV Episode 2016) - IMDb
  22. "The Afterparty" Aniq 2: The Sequel (TV Episode 2023) - IMDb
  23. "Die Hart" The Great Escape (TV Episode 2020) - IMDb
  24. Eric Appel on Directing and Casting “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”
  25. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story: How Director Eric Appel Handled ...
  26. Kevin Hart Die Hart 2: John Cena, Ben Schwartz, Paula Pell Join Cast
  27. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4798814/fullcredits
  28. "Death Valley" Pilot (TV Episode 2011) - IMDb
  29. "Death Valley" Help Us Help You (TV Episode 2011) - IMDb
  30. "Eagleheart" Creeps (TV Episode 2011) - IMDb
  31. "Eagleheart" Master of da' Skies (TV Episode 2011) - IMDb
  32. "NTSF:SD:SUV" Up Periscope. Down with San Diego (TV ... - IMDb
  33. "NTSF:SD:SUV" Time Angels (TV Episode 2012) - IMDb
  34. The Risky Business of Being Alone in Your Home - IMDb
  35. "The Office" Jury Duty (TV Episode 2012) - IMDb
  36. "Happy Endings" Boys II Menorah (TV Episode 2012) - IMDb
  37. "Happy Endings" Bros Before Bros (TV Episode 2013) - IMDb
  38. "Selfie" Never Block Cookies (TV Episode 2014) - IMDb
  39. "Selfie" I Woke Up Like This (TV Episode 2014) - IMDb
  40. Eric Appel | Son of Zorn Wiki - Fandom
  41. CS Interview: Director Eric Appel on Quibi's Die Hart
  42. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12614214/fullcredits
  43. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Director on Getting Film's Comedy Right
  44. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022) - IMDb
  45. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story | Rotten Tomatoes
  46. Die Hart (2023) - IMDb
  47. Die Hart the Movie | Rotten Tomatoes
  48. Die Hart streaming: where to watch movie online? - JustWatch
  49. Die Hart 2: Die Harter (2024) - IMDb
  50. Die Hart 2: Die Harter | Rotten Tomatoes
  51. Die Hart 2: Die Harter streaming: where to watch online? - JustWatch
  52. https://www.televisionacademy.com/awards/nominees-winners/2023/outstanding-made-for-television-movie
  53. 'Weird: The Al Yankovic Story' Wins Best TV Movie at Creative Arts ...
  54. AL WINS AN EMMY! - "Weird Al" Yankovic
  55. DGA Announces Nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement ...
  56. 2023 Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards: 'Yellowjackets,' 'The ...
  57. Die Hart 2
  58. Having Made a Difference Alumni Dinner | Union-Endicott High School
User Avatar
No comments yet.