Rob Schrab

{{short description|Comic book creator, screen writer, producer, director}}

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{{Infobox person

| image = Rob Schrab.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption =

| birth_name = Robby Christopher Schrab

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|11|12}}

| birth_place = Mayville, Wisconsin, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| occupation = {{hlist|Comic book creator|screenwriter|producer|director}}

| years_active = 1997–present

| notable works = Scud: The Disposable Assassin
Monster House
The Sarah Silverman Program
Channel 101

| awards =

| alias =

}}Robby Christopher Schrab (born November 12, 1969) is an American comic book creator, screenwriter, director, and producer. He is the creator of the comic book Scud: The Disposable Assassin, co-writer of the feature film Monster House, co-creator of the competitive film festival Channel 101, and the co-creator of Comedy Central's The Sarah Silverman Program. He has directed three seasons of The Sarah Silverman Program and episodes of Childrens Hospital, Blue Mountain State, Community, Parks and Recreation, The Mindy Project, Workaholics, Creepshow, and the second revival season of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Education and early career

Schrab is a graduate of the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. In the 1990s, he wrote and illustrated the critically acclaimed{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed verifying claim|date=October 2022}} independent comics series Scud: The Disposable Assassin.

Film and television

In 1997, Oliver Stone's company Illusion Entertainment bought the film rights to Scud: The Disposable Assassin. In the hopes of getting a chance to write the script, Schrab and his writing partner Dan Harmon moved to Los Angeles. Despite being turned down the pair decided to try their luck in the entertainment business. They wrote a spec script called Big Ant Movie or BAM. This script found its way to director/producer Robert Zemeckis who signed them to a two-film deal. One of the ideas they pitched was called Monster House. They subsequently wrote a script and the film was eventually released in 2006 after being rewritten in the meantime.

With their reputation growing, Schrab and Harmon were in talks with numerous producers and companies. They signed a blind deal with ABC which they then wanted to get out of. They decided to scare the network by "writ[ing] our favorite TV show ever." ABC was not impressed but the script made its way to Ben Stiller who decided to produce a pilot. Heat Vision and Jack (1999) starred Jack Black and, as the voice of a motorcycle, Owen Wilson. The pilot was not picked up but it eventually gained a reputation as a cult classic.{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed that this work is considered a cult classic else remove the claim|date=October 2022}} {{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Bradford |title=The Lost Projects of Dan Harmon |url=https://www.vulture.com/2012/05/the-lost-projects-of-dan-harmon.html |website=Vulture |access-date=November 24, 2021 |ref=LostProjects |language=en-us |date=May 24, 2012}}

In 2002, Schrab wrote and directed Robot Bastard!,[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0418106/ Robot Bastard IMDB] a 17-minute science fiction action comedy film.

Together with Sarah Silverman, Schrab and Harmon created The Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central. Harmon was eventually fired{{cite web |last1=Buchanan |first1=Kyle |title=The Showrunner Transcript: Community's Dan Harmon on Finale Cameos and Season-Long Lessons |url=https://www.vulture.com/2011/05/dan_harmon_showrunner_transcri.html |website=Vulture |date=May 13, 2011 |access-date=November 24, 2021 |ref=ShowRunner |language=en-us}} from the show but Schrab stayed on for all three seasons. He also played the cross-dressing host of Cookie Party, Miniature "Mini" Coffee.{{cite web|url=https://trainwreckdsociety.com/2012/12/17/rob-schrab-interview/|title=Rob Schrab Interview|date=December 17, 2012|publisher=Trainwreck'd Society}}

Harmon and Schrab later renewed their partnership with the latter working on both Community,{{cite web |last1=Schneider |first1=Michael |title='Community' Behind the Scenes: Director Rob Schrab on What He Loves About His Job (VIDEO) |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/2339/behind-the-scenes-community-director-rob-schrab-on-what-he-loves-about-his-job/ |website=TV Insider |date=April 9, 2015 |access-date=November 24, 2021}} the show Harmon created after leaving The Sarah Silverman Program,{{cite web |last1=Buchanan |first1=Kyle |title=The Showrunner Transcript: Community's Dan Harmon on Finale Cameos and Season-Long Lessons |url=http://www.vulture.com/2011/05/dan_harmon_showrunner_transcri.html |website=Vulture |date=May 13, 2011 |access-date=November 24, 2021 |language=en-us}} and Rick and Morty,{{cite web |last1=Flook |first1=Ray |title=Rick and Morty: Rob Schrab Shares Heartbreaking Morty/Beth Reminder |url=https://bleedingcool.com/tv/rick-and-morty-rob-schrab-shares-heartbreaking-morty-beth-reminder/ |website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors |access-date=November 24, 2021 |language=en |date=July 16, 2021}} the show Harmon created after being fired from Community.{{cite web |last1=Cohen |first1=Ivan |title=Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland on Rick and Morty, How Community Is Like Star Trek, and Puberty |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/01/rick-and-morty-dan-harmon-and-justin-roiland-interview.html |website=Vulture |date=January 24, 2014 |access-date=November 24, 2021 |language=en-us}}

Schrab was slated to direct The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part{{Cite web|url = http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/413513-rob-schrab-to-direct-the-lego-movie-sequel#/slide/1|title = Rob Schrab to Direct The LEGO Movie Sequel!|access-date = February 25, 2015|website = Comingsoon| date=February 24, 2015 }} as his first feature, but left the project in February 2017. He co-directed Mystery Science Theater 3000{{'}}s season 12 along with Joel Hodgson, wrote and directed episodes of the Creepshow reboot for Shudder,{{cite web|url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/creepshow-series-details/|title=Shudder's 'Creepshow' Series Is Already Among Our Most Anticipated of 2019|date=February 10, 2019|publisher=Film School Rejects}} and worked with Harmon as a writer on Rick and Morty for Adult Swim.{{cite web|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/05/25/rick-and-morty-dan-harmon-teases-rob-schrabs-season-5-ideas/|title='Rick and Morty': Dan Harmon Teases Rob Schrab's Season 5 (!!!) Ideas|date=May 25, 2019|publisher=Bleeding Cool}}

Other

Schrab is also a regular guest on the podcast Fear Initiative and appeared regularly on the podcast Harmontown before it ended in late 2019.

Schrab has won two Primetime Emmy Award; one in 2009 for [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1041479/awards?ref_=nm_awd co-writing Hugh Jackman's Opening Number] for the 81st Annual Academy Awards, and one in 2020 as a producer on Rick and Morty.