Lucia Aniello

Lucia Aniello
Born (1983-01-10) January 10, 1983
Italy
CitizenshipAmerican
EducationColumbia University
Occupations
  • Film director
  • writer
  • producer
Years active2007–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2021)​
Children1[1]

Lucia Aniello (born January 10, 1983)[2] is an Italian-born[3] American director, writer, and producer best known for her work on Hacks, for which she won multiple Emmy Awards, and Broad City. She has directed and written episodes of both shows, as well as the miniseries Time Traveling Bong and the 2017 film Rough Night.

Early life

Aniello was born in Italy and grew up in Hadley, Massachusetts, where her parents owned Italian restaurants, before moving to New York City.[4][3] In 2004, she graduated from Columbia University, where she was a film and media studies major and studied with film critic Andrew Sarris.[5][6] She was in Sigma Delta Tau sorority.[7] She also played varsity tennis for Columbia.[8]

Career

Aniello is an alumna of the Upright Citizens Brigade, an improvisational and sketch comedy group founded in 1990 by a group of comedians including Amy Poehler who is an executive producer of Broad City.

Aniello and Paul W. Downs met at an Upright Citizens Brigade Level One improvisational comedy class. Aniello and Downs began working together on a series of digital shorts and improv. They started their own website and comedy production company called Paulilu Productions. Together they have been writing, directing and acting in digital shorts since 2007. Some of their most well-known web series include The Diary of Zac Efron and The Real Housewives of South Boston.[4]

Work on Broad City

Aniello also met Ilana Glazer of Broad City through the same Upright Citizens Brigade class where she met Downs. As Aniello and Downs began to make digital shorts and build the foundations of Paulilu, Glazer and Abbi Jacobson worked on the prototype of Broad City. The two comedic duos occasionally acted in each other's shorts or directed them.[4] When Broad City moved to television Glazer and Jacobson asked Aniello to direct the pilot and cast Downs as Trey, the trainer and boss of Jacobson's character on the show. After the show was picked up by Comedy Central, they asked both Aniello and Downs to join the group of writers for the show.[9]

Current work

Aniello also co-created Time Traveling Bong. Her interest in the subject began in college when she wrote a thesis on time-travel movies at Columbia University. The movie is a stoner film comedy about two cousins who acquire a bong that acts as a time traveling device.[10]

Aniello directed and, with Downs, co-wrote the comedy Rough Night, which was released in June 2017. It stars Scarlett Johansson, Zoe Kravitz, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, Demi Moore, Ty Burrell and Colton Haynes.[11] During the time of the film's release, Aniello was the first woman to direct an R-rated comedy in nearly 20 years.[12]

In 2020, she directed and executive produced the Comedy Central series Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens as well as Netflix's Baby-Sitters Club.

In 2023, Aniello directed the Apple holiday commercial “Fuzzy Feelings” which won “Best Commercial” at the 2024 Emmy Awards.[13]

In May 2020, it was announced that Aniello would be showrunning and directing the HBO Max show Hacks, starring Jean Smart.[14] Hacks, co-created with Downs, ran for 5 seasons and concluded in 2026.

As of 2021, Aniello and Paul W. Downs signed a deal with Warner Bros. Television.[15]

Personal life

Aniello resides in Los Angeles with her husband and comedic partner Paul W. Downs, with whom she co-wrote Rough Night.[16] After having their wedding delayed for 16 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Aniello and Downs got married in a September 2021 intimate ceremony in Italy. A week later, they publicly announced their wedding at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards during Aniello's acceptance speech after winning the award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.[17] They have a son, born in 2022.[1]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2021
 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Directing Team for a Preschool, Children's or Family Viewing Program The Baby-Sitters Club: Season 1 Nominated
Outstanding Writing Team for a Preschool, Children's or Family Viewing Program The Baby-Sitters Club: Season 1 Nominated
Outstanding Preschool, Children's or Family Viewing Program The Baby-Sitters Club: Season 1 Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series Hacks (as Executive Producer) Nominated [18]
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Hacks – (Episode: "There Is No Line (Pilot)") Won [19]
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Hacks – (Episode: "There Is No Line (Pilot)")
(Shared with Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky)		 Won [20]
Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series Hacks Won [21]
Writers Guild of America Awards Comedy Series Hacks Won [22]
New Series Hacks Won
Golden Globe Awards Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy Hacks (as Executive Producer) Won [23]
AFI Awards Outstanding Television Program of the Year Hacks Won [24]
Peabody Awards Peabody Award, Entertainment Honoree Hacks Won [25]
2022
 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series Hacks (as Executive Producer) Nominated [26]
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Hacks – (Episode: "There Will Be Blood") Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Hacks – (Episode: "The One, The Only")
(Shared with Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky)		 Nominated
Writers Guild of America Awards Episodic Comedy Hacks – (Episode: "The One, The Only")
(Shared with Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky)		 Won [27]
Comedy Series Hacks Nominated
Producers Guild of America Awards Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television Hacks (as Executive Producer) Nominated [28]
AFI Awards Outstanding Television Program of the Year Hacks Won [29]
Children's and Family Emmy Awards Outstanding Children's or Family Viewing Series The Baby-Sitters Club (as Executive Producer) Won [30]
2024
 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series Hacks (as Executive Producer) Won [31]
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Hacks – (Episode: "Bulletproof") Nominated [32]
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Hacks – (Episode: "Bulletproof")
(Shared with Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky)		 Won [33]
Golden Globe Awards Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy Hacks (as Executive Producer) Won [34]
Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series Hacks – (Episode: "Bulletproof") Won [35]
Writers Guild of America Awards Episodic Comedy Hacks – (Episode: "Bulletproof")
(Shared with Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky)		 Won [36]
Comedy Series Hacks Won [36]
2025
 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series Hacks (as Executive Producer) Nominated
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Hacks – (Episode: "A Slippery Slope") Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Hacks – (Episode: "A Slippery Slope")
(Shared with Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky)		 Nominated
Golden Globe Awards Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy Hacks (as Executive Producer) Nominated [37]
Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series Hacks – (Episode: "A Slippery Slope") Nominated [38]

References

  1. 1 2 Holmes, Marie (March 14, 2022). "Jean Smart Dedicates Critics Choice Award To In-Labor 'Hacks' Director". Scary Mommy. Archived from the original on March 5, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Lucia Aniello". IMDb. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Zoladz, Lindsay (June 16, 2017). "Lucia Aniello's Broad Appeal". The Ringer. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 Futterweit, Alexa (August 11, 2012). "Interview: Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs Talk Paulilu Comedy and the Hilarity of Hilary [sic] Clinton". Complex Magazine. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Take Five with Lucia Aniello '04". Columbia College Today. March 8, 2019. Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Director Lucia Aniello CC'04 Makes Big-Screen Debut With 'Rough Night'". Columbia College. Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Hacks Co-Creator Wins Two Emmys". Archived from the original on October 8, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Strong Play of Mittal and Weintraub Insufficient in Tennis Loss". Columbia Daily Spectator. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  9. ↑ Press, Joy (February 12, 2016). "The Secret Weapons of 'Broad City' Make Fine Art From Crude Humor". New York Times. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Time Traveling Bong's Ilana Glazer, Paul W. Downs, and Lucia Aniello on the first time they got high and kidnapping Michael Jackson". MTV. April 20, 2016. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  11. ↑ Davis, Edward (April 30, 2015). "Female Spin-Off of '21 Jump Street' in the Works". IndieWire (Press release). Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  12. ↑ Keegan, Rebecca. "The Audacity of Rough Night, the First R-rated Studio Comedy Directed by a Woman in Nearly 20 Years". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Apple's "Fuzzy Feelings" Wins Primetime Commercial Emmy Award". Shoot. September 7, 2024.
  14. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (May 5, 2020). "Jean Smart to Star in HBO Max Dark Comedy Series From Mike Schur, 'Broad City' Trio". The Hollywood Reporter. Valence Media. Archived from the original on June 29, 2020. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  15. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 30, 2021). "'Hacks' Co-Creators Lucia Aniello & Paul W. Downs Ink Overall Deal With Warner Bros. Television Group". Deadline. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  16. ↑ Paulilu Productions. "About Paulilu." Paulilu. N.p., 2007. Web. November 11, 2016.
  17. ↑ Wally, Maxine (December 2, 2021). "Paul W. Downs and Lucia Aniello's Holiday Gift Guide: Pillowy Socks and Plenty of Humor". W Magazine. Archived from the original on June 1, 2025. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Hacks". Emmys.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series - 2021". Emmys. Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series - 2021". Emmys.com. Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  21. ↑ "74th Annual DGA Awards Winners". Directors Guild of America. March 12, 2022. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Awards Nominees and Winners". Writers Guild of America. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Hacks, Golden Globes". Golden Globes. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  24. ↑ "AFI Awards 2021". Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Peabody Awards Announces 30 Winners". June 21, 2022. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Awards Nominees and Winners". Emmys. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  27. ↑ "2023 Writers Guild Awards Winners & Nominees". Writers Guild of America. Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Nominations in Motion Picture and Television Program categories announced". January 12, 2023. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  29. ↑ "AFI Awards 2022". Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  30. ↑ Tinoco, Armando (December 11, 2022). "Children's & Family Emmys Complete Winners List: 'Heartstopper' Leads & 'The Baby-Sitters Club' Gets Recognition After Cancellation". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Hacks". Emmys.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series - 2024". Emmys. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series - 2024". Emmys.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  34. ↑ "THE 82ND GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS – WINNERS". January 7, 2025.
  35. ↑ "77th Annual DGA Awards Winners". February 8, 2025. Archived from the original on February 26, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  36. 1 2 "2025 Writers Guild Awards: Winners Announced". Archived from the original on December 11, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy".
  38. ↑ "DGA Announces Nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Commercials and Documentary for 2025".
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