Allison Silverman Quotes

United States, Writer
February 17, 1972

Allison Silverman is an American comedy writer from Gainesville, Florida. She was the head writer and executive producer for The Colbert Report until 2009. In 2011, she was an executive producer and writer of Portlandia.

In high school, I was performing "forensics." You take a section of a play and portray all the characters. I even went to camp for forensics.

Allison Silverman
- School
- Forensics
I did improv at Yale, with the Exit Players. It was great, but they played a little rough.

Allison Silverman
- Players
- Improv
- Yale

Women are often pushed into the idea that they write softer, more character-driven jokes.

Allison Silverman
- Women
- Jokes
- Softer
Writing is just my first love. And I still have some issues with telling people what to do.

Allison Silverman
- People
- Writing
- Issues
I actually write some pretty tough jokes. I don't want to push the "soft" angle too much.

Allison Silverman
- Write
- Tough
- Jokes
I remember one guy saying, "You're the only human out of all of them," and feeling a little concerned that somehow that meant I wasn't as funny.

Allison Silverman
- Guy
- Feeling
- Funny
The morning, when I need to have opinions and answers across the board very quickly, is a constant fight between ease and inspiration, what will make our lives easier versus what will make us excited because we were ambitious.

Allison Silverman
- Morning
- Inspiration
- Ease
I've met a surprising number of comedy writers whose parents are scientists. Both have an antiauthoritarian slant - they're both skeptics.

Allison Silverman
- Comedy
- Parent
- Writers

I do love science. My father is a scientist.

Allison Silverman
- Father
- Scientist
I looked back at some high school journals and discovered that I definitely wanted to be a writer, but not necessarily comedy.

Allison Silverman
- Comedy
- Wanted
- Writer