Bess Kalb
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Bess Kalb: A Comprehensive Biography
Overview
Bess Kalb is an American Emmy Award-nominated writer for the Jimmy Kimmel Live! television show and journalist with The New Yorker magazine. She is an Emmy-nominated comedy writer and the bestselling author of "Nobody Will Tell You This But Me," a New York Times Editor's Choice. Born on January 29, 1987, in New York City, Kalb has established herself as one of the most versatile voices in contemporary comedy writing, seamlessly transitioning from journalism to late-night television to bestselling author.
Early Life and Educational Foundation
Bess Kalb was raised in Manhattan and Westchester. Her upbringing in these culturally rich environments would later inform her sharp observational comedy and sophisticated understanding of social dynamics. She graduated from Brown University, Rhode Island in 2009, where she made a witty speech at the ceremony, speaking warmly of her experience at Brown University — an early indication of her natural comedic timing and public speaking abilities.
She started in comedy in 2007 after a 4-month internship in New York, demonstrating her early commitment to the craft even before completing her formal education.
Career Beginnings: From Journalism to Comedy
Early Writing Career
After graduating, she moved to San Francisco, California where she contributed articles to Wired, GQ.com, The New Republic, GOOD, Salon.com and other publications. This diverse portfolio of prestigious publications established her credentials as a serious journalist with the ability to adapt her voice to different editorial contexts.
The Pivotal Move to Los Angeles
In 2012, Kalb moved to Los Angeles to begin a comedy career. This represented a significant career pivot, demonstrating the kind of professional courage that would later characterize her willingness to take creative risks.
Television Writing Career: The Jimmy Kimmel Years
Breaking into Late-Night Television
Kalb's entry into late-night television came through Twitter. Someone reached out to her after following her handle for years. She submitted a writing packet, and it was sent through an agent — notably, a woman got her the job on Kimmel. This origin story illustrates both the changing landscape of comedy hiring in the digital age and the importance of authentic online presence in building a comedy career.
Eight Years at Jimmy Kimmel Live!
She wrote for eight years on Jimmy Kimmel Live, a tenure that speaks to both her consistent quality and her ability to evolve with the show's changing needs. The head writer was a woman, so she set the tone. It also meant men were working for a woman. And Jimmy Kimmel has three female executive producers. Women very much run that show in every aspect.
Creative Contributions and Signature Work
One of Kalb's most famous contributions to television comedy was the "Baby Bachelor" sketch, which she still considers a career highlight. She recalls seeing it on Taxi TV in New York City: "when you've lived in New York, seeing something you wrote on Taxi TV? I mean, to me, that meant I'd really made it."
Another notable example of her perspective bringing unique comedy to the writer's room: the "Spray-On Lululemons" sketch was her idea, and when it aired, it got huge laughs. "That joke happened because women were in the room," she explains.
The Man-on-the-Street Interviews
As part of her job, she did dozens of "man on the street" interviews at Coachella, at Trump rallies, everywhere, and all you see is her arm on TV. They'd edit her face out completely. She was anonymous and a disembodied voice. This experience of creative invisibility would later fuel her decision to write her memoir as a way to establish her own voice.
Awards and Industry Recognition
Emmy Recognition
Kalb is an Emmy Award-nominated writer, specifically earning recognition for her work on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Writers Guild of America Award
She received a WGA Award in 2016 for her contributions to Jimmy Kimmel Live!, marking her as one of the industry's recognized talents.
High-Profile Writing Assignments
She has written for the Emmy Awards, the Oscars, and the 2020 DNC. More specifically, she wrote for Emmy Awards in 2012 and 2016 and for the Academy Awards in 2017 and 2018, showcasing her ability to write for television's most prestigious events.
Political Comedy Writing
She contributed jokes for Hillary Clinton's Al Smith Dinner speech — which she humorously claims cost Clinton the election — demonstrating her involvement in political comedy at the highest levels.
Literary Career: From Late-Night to Bestselling Author
The Decision to Write for Herself
After eight years at her dream job as a Jimmy Kimmel Live! staff writer, the 33-year-old felt a new—and scary—impulse. "I'd been writing for other people for years," she says. "What would it be like to finally write for myself?"
Writing "Nobody Will Tell You This…" was a way to stand up for her own voice and her own writing. "Am I going to take a chance on my own voice where I don't have to hide behind a famous man to say my jokes for me?"
"Nobody Will Tell You This But Me": A Literary Breakthrough
The Genesis
In 2011, Bess Kalb received a rambling voicemail from her beloved grandmother, Bobby Bell, reminiscing about how she would fly between Florida and New York every week to babysit Kalb as a baby while Kalb's mother worked. Kalb saved every voicemail from her grandmother, and used them—along with emails, letters, vividly recalled conversations, and her grandma Bobby's imagined thoughts to construct the memoir.
Critical and Commercial Success
The book became a New York Times Editor's Choice and a National Bestseller. Kirkus Reviews called it a Jewish "matrilineal love story" uniquely narrated by a voice from beyond the grave.
The memoir is a marvelous tribute to her beloved grandmother Barbara Dorothy Otis Bell, known as Bobby. Reviews praised the book as "just what our weary, fearful souls need right now," describing it as "an irresistible tribute to Kalb's funny, opinionated, fiercely loving grandmother."
Film Adaptation
The book was optioned for film adaptation by Sight Unseen Pictures, with Kalb penning the screenplay herself. The movie deal was signed just before California went into pandemic lockdown.
Personal Validation Through Family Response
At her grandmother's funeral, Kalb delivered a eulogy that was basically a series of voicemails Bobby left her. "And my grief-stricken relatives were all laughing, including my grandfather. They were hearing the woman they loved. And that was a sign that this project would work."
Children's Literature: "Buffalo Fluffalo"
Beyond memoir, Kalb also ventured into children's literature with her charming book Buffalo Fluffalo, celebrated for its joyful rhymes, grumpy—and cuddly—buffalo character, and themes of empathy and self-acceptance. She is described as the "New York Times bestselling author of Buffalo Fluffalo."
Current Writing and Digital Presence
The New Yorker Contributions
She writes for The New Yorker's "Daily Shouts," one of the magazine's most competitive comedy sections, demonstrating her ability to write sophisticated humor for literary audiences.
The Grudge Report Newsletter
Kalb maintains a robust Substack newsletter, The Grudge Report, which blends cultural critique, Jewish humor, and personal commentary. One recent high-profile reflection addressed fears sparked by antisemitism and resonated deeply in online communities.
Television Production Work
Recent credits include "Yearly Departed" (2020), expanding her role from writer to producer in comedy television.
Personal Life and Perspective
Family Life
Bess Kalb is married to Charlie Harding. The couple has been in a married relationship for a long time and shares two children together, one son and one daughter. She had a baby boy and jokes about "raising an ally." The duo is private about their married life and keeps their children's information secret, not wanting them to be in the media limelight.
Jewish Identity
She is Jewish, and this identity significantly informs both her comedy writing and her memoir, which explores Jewish family dynamics and cultural traditions through the lens of her relationship with her grandmother.
Political Engagement
Bess Kalb was notably blocked by Donald Trump on Twitter, indicating her active engagement in political commentary through social media — a badge of honor in comedy circles during the Trump era.
Creative Philosophy and Industry Impact
On Diversity in Comedy Writing
"I believe funny is funny and I believe if you're only coming from one experience, you'll never know how funny something can actually be," Kalb explains. She advocates for diverse perspectives in writers' rooms, noting that her female perspective contributed unique comedy that wouldn't have existed otherwise.
On Creative Risk-Taking
Reflecting on her transition from television writing to authorship: "Even if it doesn't work out, even if everything fizzles, at least I'll have done something brave. I can say to my kid, 'Mom tried. Mom was brave.' That means everything."
Professional Evolution
Kalb describes her writing evolution: "It was more a question of, 'Am I going to take a chance on my own voice where I don't have to hide behind a famous man to say my jokes for me?'" This quote encapsulates both her personal growth and a broader commentary on women's roles in comedy.
Current Projects and Future Directions
Kalb is currently writing the proposal for her next book and trying to develop a TV show (which she confirms is not a Baby Bachelor spinoff). Her trajectory suggests continued expansion across multiple media platforms while maintaining her distinctive voice.
Social Media and Public Presence
She boasts over 77K Instagram followers on her handle @bessbellkalb, describing her roles as "NYT bestselling author, Emmy-nominated TV writer, and children's party clown." This self-description captures her ability to balance professional accomplishment with self-deprecating humor.
Professional Links and Resources
Primary Websites and Official Presence
Official Website: www.besskalb.com
Bohiney Author Page: bohiney.com/author/bess-kalb/
Contributors Profile: sites.google.com/view/contributorsatbohineycom/bess-kalb
Publishing and Media Representation
Penguin Random House Author Page: penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2175611/bess-kalb/
Shore Fire Media Press Page: shorefire.com/roster/bess-kalb
Shore Fire Media Bio: shorefire.com/roster/bess-kalb/bio
IMDb Profile: imdb.com/name/nm5402867/
Earwolf Profile: earwolf.com/person/bess-kalb/
Newsletter and Digital Writing
The Grudge Report (Substack): besskalb.substack.com
About The Grudge Report: besskalb.substack.com/about
Social Media and Online Presence
Instagram: @bessbellkalb (77K+ followers)
Twitter/X: @bessbell
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bess_Kalb
Book-Specific Resources
"Nobody Will Tell You This But Me" on Goodreads: goodreads.com/book/show/51231889
Amazon Author Page: Multiple book listings available
BookPage Review: bookpage.com/reviews/24879-bess-kalb-nobody-will-tell-you-this-but-me-biography-memoir/
Media Coverage and Interviews
The Newsette Feature: thenewsette.com/2020/07/08/what-she-does-bess-kalb-emmy-nominated-writer/
Kveller Interview: kveller.com/jewish-author-bess-kalb-wants-to-make-your-kids-laugh/
Podcast Appearance: shows.acast.com/moms-dont-have-time-to-read-books/episodes/besskalb-nobodywilltellyouthisbutme
Jewish Book Council: jewishbookcouncil.org/book/nobody-will-tell-you-this-but-me-a-true-as-told-to-me-story
Cultural Impact and Legacy
Bess Kalb represents a new generation of comedy writers who have successfully navigated the transition from traditional media to multi-platform content creation. Her work demonstrates how contemporary writers can maintain authenticity while working across television, literature, digital platforms, and live performance.
Her memoir's success, in particular, showcases how comedy writers can leverage their storytelling skills to create deeply personal, emotionally resonant literature that reaches beyond traditional comedy audiences. The book's critical acclaim and commercial success opened doors for other comedy writers to explore memoir as a legitimate literary form.
Through her advocacy for diverse voices in writers' rooms and her willingness to discuss the challenges of being a woman in comedy, Kalb has contributed to important industry conversations about representation and equity in entertainment.
Summary of Achievements
Emmy Award nomination for outstanding writing
Writers Guild of America Award (2016)
New York Times bestselling author (multiple works)
New York Times Editor's Choice selection
Film adaptation rights sold for memoir
Eight-year tenure on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
High-profile writing credits: Emmy Awards, Academy Awards, political events
Successful multi-platform presence: Television, literature, digital media, children's books
Industry recognition for contributions to comedy writing and advocacy for diverse voices