Scott David Aukerman (born July 2, 1970) is an American writer, actor, comedian, television personality, director, producer, and podcast host. He is best known for co‑creating the IFC television series Comedy Bang! Bang!, hosting the eponymous comedy podcast, and co‑founding the Earwolf podcast network. Aukerman was also a writer and performer on the sketch comedy series Mr. Show with Bob and David in the late 1990s and co‑created the web series Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis.
Early life
Scott Aukerman was born in Savannah, Georgia, to Burt and Linda Aukerman. His father served as a pilot in the United States National Guard and fought in the Vietnam War. Shortly after his birth, the family relocated to Orange County, California. Aukerman attended Cypress High School and later the Orange County School of the Arts, where he studied acting, musical theatre, and wrote plays. He was raised in a religiously observant Baptist household, attending church regularly until college. While at the Orange County School of the Arts, he hosted a public‑access television program called Centurion Highlights, named after the school’s mascot.
Career
Comedy Death‑Ray / Comedy Bang! Bang!
In 2005, Aukerman co‑founded the weekly live‑show Comedy Death‑Ray in Los Angeles, which later evolved into the podcast Comedy Bang! Bang!. The podcast, launched in 2009, features a mixture of interview segments, improvisational comedy, and recurring sketches, and has become one of the longest‑running and most influential comedy podcasts in the United States. Aukerman serves as the sole host and executive producer.
Television work
Aukerman wrote for the HBO sketch series Mr. Show during its final two seasons (1996‑1998). He later created, wrote, and hosted the IFC series Comedy Bang! Bang!, a television adaptation of his podcast that aired from 2012 to 2016. In 2012, he co‑created the satirical interview web series Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis, which later aired as a television special on the IFC network.
Earwolf
In 2010, Aukerman co‑founded Earwolf, a podcast network that hosts a wide range of comedy and culture podcasts, including Comedy Bang! Bang!, How Did This Get Made?, and The Andy Daly Podcast Pilot. Earwolf has been credited with helping to professionalize the podcasting industry and expanding the market for comedy audio content.
Film and other projects
Aukerman has acted in, written for, and produced a number of film and television projects, including appearances in Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002), The Sarah Silverman Program (2007‑2010), and the feature film Between Two Ferns (2019). He has also contributed to various comedy specials and live performances.
Artistry
Aukerman’s comedic style blends improvisational absurdity with sharp pop‑culture references. He frequently employs recurring characters and “call‑in” jokes that build a shared mythology across his podcast episodes and live shows. Critics have described his work as “alternative comedy” that pushes the boundaries of traditional talk‑show formats.
Personal life
In 2008, Aukerman married actress and writer Kulap Vilaysack. The couple has one child. Aukerman maintains an active online presence, including a personal Tumblr blog and social‑media accounts where he engages with fans and promotes his projects.
Selected filmography and television credits
- Mr. Show with Bob and David – writer/performer (1996‑1998)
- Austin Powers in Goldmember – actor (2002)
- The Sarah Silverman Program – writer/actor (2007‑2010)
- Comedy Bang! Bang! (IFC) – creator/host (2012‑2016)
- Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis – co‑creator (2012‑present)
Awards and nominations
Aukerman has received multiple nominations for Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on Between Two Ferns and Comedy Bang! Bang!, as well as various podcast industry honors, including the iHeartRadio Podcast Award for Best Comedy Podcast.
All information is drawn from publicly available, verifiable sources such as Wikipedia and reputable media profiles up to the knowledge cutoff date of September 2021.