Gabe Abelson

Gabe Abelson is a five-time, Emmy-nominated comedy writer whose numerous credits include Head Monologue Writer for "Late Show with David Letterman," and Staff Writer for both "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and "The Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn." He has also written for two sitting presidents and served as head writer on several awards shows. Originally from New York City, Gabe holds a BA in Drama from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, where he studied with acting guru Lee Strasberg. After success in booking a number of stage roles and television commercials after college, he decided to pursue his real love... stand-up comedy. A sought-after headlining comedian, Gabe toured the world for over a decade before being offered the role of Head Monologue Writer for "Late Show with David Letterman" (CBS). Within five years, he received five Emmy Award nominations for 'Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program' and three Writers Guild nominations for 'Outstanding Comedy/Variety Talk Series.' Gabe is a member of the Writers Guild of America and SAG/AFTRA. After his tenure at Letterman, Gabe relocated to Los Angeles to write for several network late-night shows, including "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher" (ABC), "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (NBC) for which he also wrote, produced and directed segments and "The Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn" (CBS). In addition, he was Writer/Producer for "The New Tom Green Show" (MTV), Writer/Producer on the pilot of "Lopez Tonight" (TBS) and Consulting Producer for "Pop-Up Video" (VH1). He was the Head Writer for the "Golden Trailer Awards" in 2000, 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2010, the Head Writer for the "Canada Walk of Fame Awards" in 2004 and writer for the "People's Choice Awards" in 2002 and the "Gracie Awards" in 2012. Gabe has written for George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, as well as notables Robert DeNiro and Nathan Lane. He has also written for and performed with Hollywood film and TV celebrities Ray Romano, Chris Rock, Kevin James, Bill Hicks, Sam Kinison, Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, Brad Garrett, Rita Rudner, Eddie Murphy, Wanda Sykes, George Lopez, Richard Jeni, Ellen DeGeneres, Sarah Silverman, Robert Townsend and Jon Stewart. He has appeared on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" (NBC), "Late Show with David Letterman" (CBS), "MTV's Half-Hour Comedy Hour," "Comedy On The Road" (A&E), the "Today Show" (NBC), "Caroline's Comedy Hour" (A&E) and co-hosted "Short Attention Span Theatre" with Brian Regan on Comedy Central. Gabe has been a mentor of stand-up comedy and an instructor for late-night television writing for over 30 years, affiliated with New York City's Manhattan PunchLine Theater (Broadway's only stage devoted solely to comedy) to Flappers Comedy Club in Los Angeles. Many of Gabe's former students now have successful careers as late night network talk show writers, sitcom writers and stand-up comics. He recently sold an animated feature to Dreamworks in conjunction with producer Jason Koornick ("Next," with Nicholas Cage), Universal Press Syndicate and Andrews McMeel publishing. Gabe produced the pilot for "Night On The Townsend" with Robert Townsend (TBS), "The 13th Anniversary Bar Mitzvah Bash Special" (Comedy Central), "Edgar and Ellen" (Nickelodeon), "Go for the Green" (Planet Green), "Beyond Twisted" (FOX), "Instant Recall" (GSN), "Supreme Court of Comedy" (DTV), "Tom Green Live" (AXS-TV), "Skee-TV" (FUSE), "The Tom Green Flash Mob Talk Show" (Adult Swim) and "Call It a Night with Julie Stewart-Binks" (FUBO-TV).