Paul Scheer

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Lore & Background

Stevie is the producer of the CBS Morning News Show, a role that places him at the intersection of media and politics. He is responsible for wrangling guests, managing segments, and keeping the show running smoothly, a task that becomes increasingly complicated when political figures like Selina Meyer enter the studio. Scheer plays Stevie with a professional's weariness, a man who has seen enough morning-show disasters to know that the next one is always just around the corner. His interactions with the *Veep* cast highlight the friction between the political world and the media machine that covers it, each side convinced the other is the source of all problems. Scheer's casting in season six came after the show had already established its rhythm and tone, and his character provided a fresh perspective on the series' central themes of ambition, incompetence, and the theater of public life. Stevie is not a politician; he is a producer, a behind-the-scenes operator who must navigate the egos and demands of the political figures who appear on his show. This dynamic allows Scheer to play a character who is both part of the system and frustrated by it, a man who knows the rules of television but is constantly surprised by the rules of Washington. The live table read in 2020 was a notable event, as Scheer and the rest of the cast reunited to perform the show's sharp dialogue in support of a political cause. Scheer played multiple roles during the reading, demonstrating his versatility and his deep familiarity with the show's rhythms. The event was a testament to the cast's commitment to using their platform for civic engagement, and it highlighted the enduring relevance of *Veep*'s satire.

In Their Own Story

The control room smells like old coffee and desperation. Stevie is staring at a monitor showing a split screen: Selina Meyer on one side, a senator on the other, and a third box that is supposed to be a live feed from a satellite truck that has not yet connected. The countdown clock reads forty-five seconds. The producer's headset crackles with three different voices giving him three different updates, none of them good. He takes a breath. He presses the talk button. He says, 'We're going to need a minute.' No one listens. The segment starts anyway. Stevie watches the trainwreck unfold in real time, knowing that his job is not to stop the disaster but to make sure the next segment starts on time.

Reader's Guide

*Veep* was created by British screenwriter Armando Iannucci, who previously wrote the political satire *In the Loop*. The series ran on HBO for seven seasons from 2012 to 2019, with Julia Louis-Dreyfus earning multiple Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Selina Meyer. The show's signature style—rapid, overlapping, almost breathless dialogue—was a deliberate creative choice to mimic the chaotic tempo of real political environments, where ten people are talking at once and no one is listening. Production was based in New York City, with many scenes shot on location in and around the actual White House complex and other government buildings, lending the show a grounded, documentary-like texture even in its most absurd moments. The writing room operated with a fast, iterative process, and Iannucci encouraged a degree of improvisation in performances, particularly in ensemble scenes, allowing actors to find their own rhythms within the scripted structure. The show's reception was largely positive, with critics praising its sharp writing and Louis-Dreyfus's performance. It accumulated numerous Emmy and Golden Globe nominations and wins over its run. The series frequently engaged with the political climate of its era, weaving contemporary issues into its satirical framework. While the show was scripted in advance, Iannucci and his writing team remained attentive to the news cycle, allowing the show's themes—accountability, ego, the machinery of power—to resonate with whatever political moment was unfolding when each season aired.

Did You Know?

• Paul Scheer did not win a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast or Ensemble in a Comedy Series for his work on *Veep*, as he joined the show after the winning season.
• In 2020, Scheer returned to the cast of *Veep* for a live table read playing multiple roles to support turnout for the Georgia runoff elections.
• Scheer's character Stevie is the producer of the CBS Morning News Show, a role that places him at the intersection of media and politics.
• The live table read included special guests Don Cheadle, Mark Hamill, Beanie Feldstein, and Bryan Cranston.

Television Career & Defining Roles

Paul Scheer's television career spans more than two decades, marked by a remarkable range of comedic roles and behind-the-camera work. His breakout came in 2009 when he joined FX's The League as Dr. Andre Nowzick, a wealthy plastic surgeon whose endearing naivety made him a favorite target of the fantasy football group. Over seven seasons that ran through December 2015, Scheer not only performed but also co-scripted several episodes alongside Nick Kroll and Stephen Rannazzisi. That same year, he launched NTSF:SD:SUV:: on Adult Swim, a fifteen-minute spoof commercial that was quickly expanded into a full series spanning three seasons and over forty episodes. Scheer wore every hat on that production—executive producer, writer, director, and star as Trent Hauser. More recently, his portrayal of Keith, a closeted stockbroker navigating the 1987 Wall Street crash, on Showtime's Black Monday earned him a spot in the Hollywood Reporter's top thirty best supporting characters on television. His work on Veep's sixth season also brought him a SAG Award for ensemble performance, and he appeared in twenty-six episodes of ABC's Fresh Off the Boat.

Improv Roots & Live Performance

Scheer's comedic foundation was built in the world of live improvisation, beginning in his high school years when he started performing with Chicago City Limits, a New York-based short-form improv group. After graduating from St. Anthony's High School and attending New York University to study communication and education, he deepened his involvement with City Limits in 1995, becoming part of their touring company that crisscrossed the United States and traveled overseas. In 1998, still a student at NYU, he began performing at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York City, joining the house team Respecto Montalban alongside future stars Rob Riggle, Rob Huebel, and Jack McBrayer. For over five years, the group delivered long-form improvisation to sold-out Saturday night audiences and even starred in a political sketch show. In 2002, Scheer created and headlined Automatic Vaudeville at the Ars Nova theater, a production that The Hollywood Reporter ranked among the top five shows in the country. After relocating to Los Angeles in 2006, he continued his improv work at UCB Los Angeles, where his show FACEBOOK—built entirely around audience members' social media profiles—was named Best Improv Show by Los Angeles magazine and featured on Good Morning America.

Podcasting & Creative Collaborations

Beyond the stage and screen, Scheer has built a significant presence in the podcasting world through two film discussion shows. How Did This Get Made? pairs him with his wife, June Diane Raphael, and longtime collaborator Jason Mantzoukas, offering a comedic dissection of poorly made films. On that same show, Scheer frequently revisits his early life and formative experiences. His second podcast, Unspooled, is a more in-depth conversation series co-hosted with film critic Amy Nicholson. These audio projects complement a broader pattern of creative partnership that runs through Scheer's career. He co-created MTV's Human Giant with Rob Huebel, Aziz Ansari, and Jason Woliner, a sketch series that ran for two seasons beginning in 2007. He also co-created NTSF:SD:SUV::, serving as executive producer, writer, and director in addition to starring. His early television work included writing and performing for Oxygen's Meow TV in 2003, a project produced by Meow Mix that aired programming aimed at cats and their owners. Scheer has also voiced Chip Whistler in Disney's Big City Greens, extending his comedic range into animation.

Memoir & Personal Life

Paul Christian Scheer was born on January 31, 1976, in Huntington, New York, the son of Gail Ann Decarlo and William Paul Scheer. He grew up attending Catholic schools and graduated from St. Anthony's High School before pursuing a degree in communication and education at New York University. His personal life is closely intertwined with his professional one: his wife, June Diane Raphael, is both a creative partner and a public collaborator, appearing alongside him on How Did This Get Made? and starring in NTSF:SD:SUV::. In May 2024, Scheer published his memoir, Joyful Recollections of Trauma, through HarperCollins. The book, which draws on the same self-deprecating humor that defines his on-screen work, quickly climbed to the New York Times bestseller list, giving a wider audience access to the stories he has long shared with podcast listeners. The memoir's title captures the tonal blend that characterizes much of his comedy—finding genuine warmth and laughter within difficult or absurd experiences. His early years in Huntington and his Catholic school education remain recurring themes in his public storytelling, grounding his Los Angeles-based career in a distinctly New York upbringing.

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