Tristram Shapeero

Tristram Shapeero
Born	Somerset, England
Occupations	Director producer
Years active	1989–present

Tristram Shapeero is an English television director and producer who has worked on both British and American comedy series.

Early life

Shapeero was born in Somerset and spent his childhood in Bath, where he attended St. Stephen's School and Beechen Cliff School.^[1][2]

Career

Shapeero started his career as a show runner on Channel 4's Norbert Smith: A Life and then worked on Whose Line Is It Anyway?^[2] He went to New York in 1991 to direct a few television comedy episodes.^[2] After moving back to the UK, he continued to direct television comedy, such as all episodes of Pulling, half of the episodes of Green Wing, and two seasons of Peep Show.^[1][2] He also directed episodes of shows such as Brass Eye, I'm Alan Partridge, and Absolutely Fabulous.^[3] He has been nominated for a BAFTA eight times: Gimme Gimme Gimme and Brass Eye Special (two nominations) in 2002,^[4][5][6] Bremner, Bird and Fortune in 2003,^[7] Green Wing in 2005 and 2007,^[8] Peep Show in 2006,^[9] and Pulling in 2007.^[10]

Shapeero relocated to Los Angeles in 2009 to direct American television.^[2] He first directed an episode of Parks and Recreation, and later was a producer of Community for two seasons in addition to directing 24 episodes of the show.^[11] He has also directed episodes of Veep, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, I Feel Bad, Trophy Wife, The Grinder, Benched, and Pivoting.^[12]

Shapeero's first feature film as director, A Merry Friggin' Christmas starring Robin Williams, was released in 2014 to negative reviews.^[13][14][15]

Personal life

Shapeero lives in Los Angeles with his American wife, Erica, whom he met in New York City in 1991.^[2]

Shapeero received an honorary Doctor of Letters from Bath Spa University in 2010.^[1]

In November 2020, Shapeero attracted controversy when he forgot to mute his microphone while hosting an online audition on Zoom, and was heard making disparaging comments about American actor Lukas Gage's apartment; while talking to someone else about Gage, he mentioned that "these poor people live in these tiny apartments".^[16] Gage laughed and jokingly replied, "I know it's a shitty apartment. [...] Give me this job so I can get a better one."^[16] Shapeero began apologising profusely and said he was "mortified".^[16] Gage later posted the video on Twitter, where it went viral and prompted figures such as Judd Apatow and January Jones to defend him.^[16] Shapeero later apologised again, explaining that his use of "poor" was not remarking on Gage's finances but rather indicating that Gage deserved sympathy.^[12][16]

Directing credits

• Los Dos Bros (1999–2001)^[17]
• Smack the Pony (2000)^[17]
• Gimme Gimme Gimme (2001)^[4]
• Brass Eye Special (2001)^[5]
• I'm Alan Partridge (2001)^[3]
• Bremner, Bird And Fortune (2001)^[4]
• Absolutely Fabulous (2002)^[18]
• French & Saunders (2002)^[18]
• Peep Show (2004–2005)^[3]
• Green Wing (2004–2007)^[19]
• Absolute Power (2005)^[17]
• Feel the Force (2006)^[19]
• Ruddy Hell! It's Harry and Paul (2008)^[19]
• Pulling (2006–2009)^[11]
• Sidney Turtlebaum (2008)^[20]
• Reggie Perrin (2009)^[19]
• The Persuasionists (2010)^[21]
• Parks and Recreation (2010–2013, 4 episodes)^[2]
• Community (24 episodes)^[11]
• Bored to Death (2010–2011)^[3]
• Happy Endings (2011–2013)^[3]
• Nurse Jackie (2011)^[3]
• Workaholics (2011–2012)^[3]
• Childrens Hospital (2011–2012)^[3]
• New Girl (2012–2013)^[11]
• Big Bad World (2013)^[17]
• A Merry Friggin' Christmas (2014)^[13]
• Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2014–2016)^[22]
• Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015-2017)^[22]
• Blunt Talk (2015–2016)^[11]
• GLOW (2017)^[3]
• Turn Up Charlie (2019)^[17]
• Four Weddings and a Funeral (2019)^[23]
• Never Have I Ever (2020)^[23]
• Pivoting (2020)^[23]
• Mr. Mayor (2021)
• Acapulco (2021)
• Pivoting (2022)

References

1. "Bath Spa University degree for director Tristram Shapeero". BBC. 20 July 2010.
2. Baber, Andrew (12 October 2017). "Bath TV duo who went to same schools meet randomly on set of Tina Fey comedy in LA". bathchronicle.co.uk. Local World. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
3. "Interview with Tristram Shapeero". Film Feels.
4. "Television: Situation Comedy in 2002". BAFTA.
5. "Television: Innovation in 2002". BAFTA.
6. "Television: Comedy - Programme or Series in 2002". BAFTA.
7. "Television: Comedy - Programme or Series in 2003". BAFTA.
8. "BAFTA Awards Search: Green Wing". BAFTA.
9. "Television: Situation Comedy in 2006". BAFTA.
10. "Television: Situation Comedy in 2007". BAFTA.
11. "Directors Larry Charles, Scot Armstrong & Tristram Shapeero Join Bullitt". Little Black Book. 6 May 2016.
12. Desta, Yohana (24 November 2020). "Director From Lukas Gage Audition: "I'm Mortified About What Happened". Variety.
13. "Hitting the Road to Keep a Holiday Illusion Alive". The New York Times. 7 November 2014.
14. "Robin Williams Leaves Behind Four Movies Including 'Night at the Museum 3'". TheWrap. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
15. "A Merry Friggin' Christmas Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
16. "Director apologizes for unmuted critique of actor's apartment during audition". The Guardian. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
17. "Tristram Shapeero". British Comedy Guide.
18. Moore, Matthew (24 November 2020). "Tristram Shapeero apologises for scoffing at 'poor' actor Lukas Gage on Zoom call". The Times.
19. "Tristram Shapeero: Filmography". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020.
20. "Sidney Turtlebaum". UK Jewish Film.
21. "Cockney Cheese (2010)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021.
22. Harrison, Ellie (24 November 2020). "Tristram Shapeero: Director apologises for mocking size of actor Lukas Gage's apartment". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
23. Andreeva, Nellie (21 April 2020). "Eliza Coupe To Star In Fox Comedy Pilot 'Pivoting'; Tristram Shapeero To Direct". Deadline.

External links

• Tristram Shapeero at IMDb
• Tristram Shapeero in BBC Comedy Guide
• Green Wing "microsite" at Channel4.com