Kent Alterman

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Kent Alterman
Occupation(s)Director, producer
Years active1996–present

Kent Alterman is an American television executive, film director and producer. He is known for his work at Comedy Central, where he served as president from 2016 to 2019, and for directing the 2008 sports comedy film Semi-Pro . [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Early life and career

Kent Alterman graduated from the University of Oregon in 1981 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in photography and design. [6] [7]

Alterman began his television career at Comedy Central in the mid-1990s, serving as head of the network's New York development office and working on series such as Strangers with Candy , Upright Citizens Brigade and Viva Variety .

He later moved into feature film production at New Line Cinema, where he rose to executive vice president of production and was involved in films including Elf , Little Children and A History of Violence . [8] [9]

In 2010, Alterman returned to Comedy Central as head of original programming and production, overseeing development and day-to-day operations of the network's original series. Under his leadership in that role, Comedy Central more than doubled its slate of original series and launched shows such as Key & Peele , Inside Amy Schumer , Broad City and Drunk History .

He became president of Comedy Central in 2016 and continued to oversee the brand across platforms until departing the network in 2019. [10]

Recognition

In a 2014 profile on Comedy Central's programming strategy, Rolling Stone described Alterman as "the man who saved Comedy Central" in reference to his role in developing new shows following the departure of several of the network's flagship hosts. [11] In 2016 he served as the commencement speaker at the University of Oregon, where he spoke about creative risk-taking and resiliency to the graduating class. [12]

Selected film credits

YearTitleCredit
2003 Elf Executive producer
2004 After the Sunset Executive producer
2005 A History of Violence Executive producer
2006 Little Children Executive producer
2008 Semi-Pro Director; executive producer

References

  1. ↑ Goff, Leslie Jaye (May 10, 2016). "Michele Ganeless Leaving Comedy Central". Next TV. Future plc. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Alterman Upped to Comedy Central President". Next TV. Future plc. May 10, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Comedy Central Head Kent Alterman Out Amid ViacomCBS Restructuring". The Wrap. November 11, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Kent Alterman". KCRW. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  5. ↑ Rubino, Lindsay (February 25, 2013). "Sabbatical of SortsServes Comedy Chief". Broadcasting+Cable. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Comedy Central president to address the UO's Class of 2016". Oregon News. University of Oregon. June 7, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Student speaker to focus on resiliency, a topic she knows well". Around the O. June 6, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Kent Alterman". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  9. ↑ "A History of Violence". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  10. ↑ McCarthy, Sean L. (November 11, 2019). "Kent Alterman out as head of Comedy Central in ViacomCBS executive restructuring". The Comic's Comic. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  11. ↑ "The Man Who Saved Comedy Central". Rolling Stone. 2014. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  12. ↑ "UO celebrates Class of 2016". KMTR. Sinclair Broadcast Group. June 13, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2025.


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