{{short description|American actor}} {{Fan POV|date=June 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} right|thumb|200px|Andrew J. Lederer in 2006

'''Andrew J. Lederer''' is a New York-based comedian who has also starred in low-budget movies and worked in writing and production.

==Early life== Growing up in New York City, Andrew appeared as a vocal soloist with the ''Brooklyn Borough-Wide Chorus'', both in live performance and on CBS-TV. He became a comedian as a teenager and acted in movies and television, including ''Family Ties'', ''The Facts of Life'', and ''Fame'' plus starring roles in the movies ''Out of Control'' and ''Body Count'' (which was nominated for an International Fantasy Film Award{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}) plus an excised scene - later restored on DVD - in ''This is Spinal Tap''.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} Later, he became an entertainment journalist, working as a writer and/or editor for ''Film Threat Magazine'', ''Wild Cartoon Kingdom'', ''Sci-Fi Universe'', and ''National Enquirer''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.awn.com/mag/issue2.12/2.12pages/2.12ledererquestel.html |title=Mae Questel:A Reminiscence, History and Perspective |website=www.awn.com |access-date=April 24, 2008}}</ref> (He returned to journalism in 2008 and 2009 with a series of articles for the newspaper ''The Scotsman''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.scotsman.com/opinion/Andrew-J-Lederer-Bureaucracy-and.5270449.jp |title=News &#124; the Scotsman |website=news.scotsman.com |access-date=June 3, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.scotsman.com/opinion/Andrew-J-Lederer-Bring-on.5304356.jp |title=News &#124; the Scotsman |website=news.scotsman.com |access-date=June 3, 2009}}</ref>) At present, he blogs regularly for ''The Huffington Post''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://huffingtonpost.com/andrew-j-lederer/ |title= Andrew J. Lederer|website=huffingtonpost.com |access-date=February 9, 2013}}{{title missing|date=May 2022}}</ref>

==Career== Andrew wrote a substantial portion of the famous ''Disney/McDonald's Trivia Challenge'' (which was so hard it was reported on in the major newsweeklies and caused the overworked library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to suspend its information line for the duration of the contest). His original screenplay, ''Won't Fade Out'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cinelinx.com/editorial/item/3290-classics-that-might-have-been-25-unmade-films-part-two/3290-classics-that-might-have-been-25-unmade-films-part-two.html?start=1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130215203118/http://www.cinelinx.com/editorial/item/3290-classics-that-might-have-been-25-unmade-films-part-two/3290-classics-that-might-have-been-25-unmade-films-part-two.html?start=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 15, 2013 |title= |website=www.cinelinx.com |access-date=January 5, 2013 }}{{title missing|date=May 2022}}</ref> was given its own chapter in the book ''The 50 Greatest Movies Never Made'' (St. Martin’s Press, 1999), alongside unfinished efforts by the likes of Stanley Kubrick, Billy Wilder, and Alfred Hitchcock.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/review/product/031220082X?showViewpoints=1 |title= |website=www.amazon.com |access-date=April 24, 2008}}{{title missing|date=May 2022}}</ref>

With Dave Feinman, Andrew created CWA, a semi-cooperative management company that represented many of the better Los Angeles comedians for acting work during the late 1990s.

Andrew was a prominent "alternative" comedian, as that term was understood in the U.S. at the turn of the millennium. His long-running ''The Second Show'' and Eugene Mirman and Bobby Tisdale's ''Invite Them Up'' were the first comedy shows at Rififi/Cinema Classics, one of alternative or indie comedy's most important New York venues. His one-person shows, ''Petula Clark's Greatest Hits'', ''Bridge-Burner'', and ''Me and Hitler''<ref>http://archives.zinester.com/87118/71039.html {{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} retrieved June 2, 2008</ref> were all presented as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comedycv.co.uk/andrewjlederer/index.htm |title=Comedy cv - the UK's largest collection of comedians biogs and photos |website=www.comedycv.co.uk |access-date=February 6, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/reviews.cfm?id=1236892006&sid=13808 |title= |website=www.edinburgh-festivals.com |access-date=April 24, 2008 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{title missing|date=May 2022}}</ref> In 2003, he made a high-profile return to singing as part of the ''Loser's Lounge Tribute to the Bee Gees'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.loserslounge.com/shows/03/bee_gees.html |title=The Losers Lounge |accessdate=2008-02-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202065240/http://www.loserslounge.com/shows/03/bee_gees.html |archivedate=2008-02-02 }} retrieved February 6, 2008</ref> which was followed by two New York-area solo shows. In 2007, Andrew was a consultant for a new Fringe venue, The Green Room.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thefixonline.com/article.php?issue%3D9%26article%3D571 |title=The Fix Online - Comedy, Magazine, Films and Events |accessdate=2008-02-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206194211/http://www.thefixonline.com/article.php?issue=9&article=571 |archivedate=2008-02-06 }} retrieved February 6, 2008</ref> His 2006-2008 blog was featured on the UK's Chortle comedy website.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://living.scotsman.com/performing-arts/Best-website.3312229.jp?CommentPage=1&CommentPageLength=1000 |title=Latest Lifestyle News &#124; the Scotsman |website=living.scotsman.com |access-date=June 3, 2011}}</ref> Andrew's most famous role was as Frank, the editor of ''ASS'' Magazine in the television series ''The Adventures of Electra Elf'' (2004-2008).

== Style == Lederer's performance style has increasingly tended toward storytelling rather than a recitation of jokes or more standard comic observations. His one-time roommate, Marc Price, has called him the "father of alternative comedy" (as that term was understood in the United States) but, as Lederer points out, this could only be true if any of the major practitioners had actually been influenced by him, which they probably have not.

== Influence == Lederer has often worked in the background, privately providing material for other performers and writers. He advised and contributed to animation and film histories by Jerry Beck and others. He wrote sequences performed by comedian Jackie Diamond (Michael Rosenberg) on Fox TV's ''Comic Strip Live'', and consulted for Marc Price on CBS TV's ''The Midnight Hour''.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} As a consultant to Will Ryan, he was a key player in some of the more recent attempts to popularize the animated character Elmo Aardvark.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laughinghorse.co.uk/af.htm |title=Free Edinburgh Fringe Show 2005 - Anthology - Free! |accessdate=2008-04-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516081817/http://www.laughinghorse.co.uk/af.htm |archivedate=2008-05-16 }} retrieved April 24, 2008</ref>

He suggested comedian Harris Peet for the role of Muddy Mudskipper on ''The Ren and Stimpy Show'' and directed his audition tape.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} And though Lederer generally "works clean", edgy, underground comic Rick Shapiro (who very much does not) has credited seeing Andrew with making him realize he could talk about what he wanted to on stage and not be limited by convention.

Lederer was briefly mentored by comedian Jeff Garlin at around the time Garlin was co-creating ''Curb Your Enthusiasm''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://talesaretold.blogspot.com/2006/10/i-am-they-said.html |title=Tales: I Am, They Said |website=talesaretold.blogspot.com |access-date=June 3, 2011}}</ref> He was the only regular performer, aside from Garlin himself, on Garlin's live, weekly comedy show in the spring of 1998 and hosted when Garlin could not. Lederer consulted on the rewriting of an abortive sitcom pilot by Garlin and the two glancingly considered a writing collaboration on a possible HBO bio of Milton Berle. Later, Lederer assisted Garlin during the making of a short Jackie Gleason documentary and was one of those asked to offer opinions on the feature, ''I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With'' before the completion of its edit.

The burgeoning comedic storytelling scene in the UK was largely inspired by Lederer's ''Anthology'' series at the 2005 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.<ref name="dotdwyer.blogspot.com">{{cite web |url=http://dotdwyer.blogspot.com/2005_08_01_archive.html |title=Dot Dwyer Updates: August 2005 |website=dotdwyer.blogspot.com |access-date=April 24, 2008}}</ref><ref>http://threeweeks.co.uk/edinburgh/3wks2008_week1.pdf{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} retrieved August 12, 2008</ref> Both Sarah Bennetto's ''Storytellers' Club'' and an earlier Amused Moose effort were started by veterans of the ''Anthology'' shows.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fringereport.com/0508anthologyfree.shtml |title= |website=www.fringereport.com |access-date=May 6, 2008}}{{title missing|date=May 2022}}</ref> Lederer's 2007 and 2008 London ''Anthology'' presentations have been Critic's Choices in both ''Time Out'' and the ''Evening Standard''.<ref>[[https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/theatre/critics-choice-top-five-comedy-shows-7172360.html] thisislondon.co.uk] . retrieved April 24, 2008</ref>

== Work as producer == Andrew has been producer or co-producer (often with Parker Entertainment) of a number of live productions <ref>http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm?int_news_id=4420 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051114110440/http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm?int_news_id=4420 |date=2005-11-14 }} retrieved April 21, 2007</ref> including many of Scott Blakeman's political comedy shows and the play ''Lysistrata 100''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.untitledtheater.com/Lysistrata.htm |title=Lysistrata Script |website=www.untitledtheater.com |access-date=February 28, 2008 |archive-date=May 10, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510234957/http://www.untitledtheater.com/Lysistrata.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He co-produced comedian Ahmed Ahmed's Richard Pryor Award-winning 2004 Edinburgh Festival Fringe show and the Edinburgh run of Rain Pryor's ''Fried Chicken and Latkes'' in 2005.

Andrew, with Parker, also produced the musical variety series, ''The Savage Breast''.

== Notable shows and venues == Lederer has at various times been a regular performer at New York's fabled Comic Strip, Improvisation, Catch a Rising Star and Caroline's comedy clubs and at Los Angeles' The Comedy Store.

Alternative venues have included New York's Surf Reality, Collective: Unconscious and the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and L.A's Creativity Bookstore.

Recent live credits include ''Heeb'' Magazine's storytelling show <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hellohilarious.com/2006/07/07/62/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080105043744/http://www.hellohilarious.com/2006/07/07/62/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-01-05 |title=Hello Hilarious » Streit's presents: Heeb Storytelling (It's about ti… |website=archive.today |access-date=April 24, 2008}}</ref> and ''The Onion''{{'s}} comedy series,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.chortle.co.uk/everyone/2006/11/ |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2008-04-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070306130033/http://blogs.chortle.co.uk/everyone/2006/11/ |archivedate=2007-03-06 }} retrieved April 24, 2008</ref> both at Joe's Pub.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joespub.com/component/option,com_shows/task,view/Itemid,40/id,2197 |title=Joe's Pub |website=www.joespub.com |access-date=August 12, 2008}}</ref> Also ''The Rejection Show''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rejectionshow.com/index.php/main/info/8 |title=The Rejection Show |accessdate=2008-04-24 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331045156/http://www.rejectionshow.com/index.php/main/info/8 |archivedate=2008-03-31 }} retrieved April 24, 2008</ref> at Mo Pitkin's, Nick Kroll and John Mulaney's ''Oh, Hello'' and Sherry Weaver's ''Speakeasy Stories'' .<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.speakeasystories.com/ |title=Speakeasy Stories |accessdate=2008-04-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513200847/http://www.speakeasystories.com/ |archivedate=2008-05-13 }} retrieved April 24, 2008</ref>

In the UK, he has appeared on such progressive, live stand-up and variety shows as Robin Ince's ''Book Club'' and ''Spank!''.

Andrew has also been active in new media. In 2007, he was the last writer under City Lights Television's auspices of ''Heavy News''<ref>http://blogs.chortle.co.uk/everyone?s=city+lights&sentence=sentence&submit=Search{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} retrieved October 14, 2008</ref> and his more or less daily blog has a following in both the U.S. and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.richardherring.com/warmingup/warmingup.php?id=2109 |title= |website=www.richardherring.com |access-date=October 14, 2008}}{{title missing|date=May 2022}}</ref>

== List of one-person shows == * ''AJL: Work in Progress'' (1996) * ''Adventures in Clothing'' (1997) * ''Petula Clark's Greatest Hits'' (2003) * ''Bridge-Burner'' (2004) * ''Me and Hitler'' (2005) * ''Anthology (Free!)'' (2006) * ''Every Day I Write the Book'' (2007) * ''I Need Your Love'' (2008) * ''9/11'' (2010) <ref>"http://freefringeforum.org/event.php?event=3833&sid=e6364265dbc2a93639522c12a62fe392"</ref> * ''Cold Chicken'' (2011) <ref>"http://coldchickenshow.wordpress.com"</ref> * ''Cold Comfort'' (2012) <ref>"http://one4review.wordpress.com/2012/08/26/andrew-j-lederer-cold-comfort/"</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links ==

=== Reviews === * [http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/edinburgh_fringe_festival_2004/a/1361/andrew_j_lederer:_bridge_burner Chortle review of 2004 Edinburgh Festival show, "Bridge-Burner"] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927191636/http://www.thestage.co.uk/edinburgh/reviews/review.php/9111/andrew-j-lederer-me-and-hitler The Stage review of 2005 Edinburgh Festival show, "Me and Hitler"] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110715001738/http://one4review.com/Comedy_/comedy2008/i_need_u_love_.htm One4Review.com review of 2008 Edinburgh Festival show, "I Need Your Love"]

=== Interviews === * [https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/edinburgh2004/questionnaire/andrew_lederer.shtml BBC] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20081202153147/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/features/the-standup-comics-who-dont-tell-jokes-975407.html ''The Independent'']

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lederer}} Category:American stand-up comedians Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:Jewish American comedians Category:Jewish American male actors Category:Living people Category:Male actors from Brooklyn Category:Comedians from Brooklyn Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Jewish male comedians Category:21st-century American Jews Category:American male comedians