Kurt Metzger is one of those names that pops up in the credits of basically every "cool" comedy project from the 2010s, yet half the time, you might not even realize it’s him. He’s a bit of a ghost in the machine. A writer’s writer. A guy who won an Emmy and a Peabody for his work on Inside Amy Schumer but is just as likely to be found arguing with strangers on the internet or riffing on a podcast for three hours.
If you’re looking for tv shows with kurt metzger, you’re looking for a specific flavor of abrasive, high-IQ, NYC-style comedy. It’s not always polite. Honestly, it’s rarely polite. But it’s almost always sharp.
The Big Ones: When You Definitely Saw Him
You’ve probably seen his face or heard his voice without connecting the dots. His most visible acting role was in Louis C.K.’s self-funded tragedy-drama Horace and Pete. He played Kurt. Not a huge stretch on the name, but the performance was something else. He was a regular at the bar, an opinionated loudmouth who functioned as a sort of nihilistic Greek chorus for the modern era. He’d sit there with Steven Wright and just... talk. It felt real because it sort of was.
Then there’s the voice work. If you haven't seen Ugly Americans, go fix that. Metzger voiced Randall Skeffington, a lazy, horn-dog zombie who is Mark Lilly’s roommate. It’s one of the weirdest, most underrated animated shows to ever air on Comedy Central. His delivery for Randall—this sort of gravelly, entitled, undead bro—is iconic for anyone who stayed up late enough to catch it.
Behind the Scenes: The Writing Powerhouse
A lot of the search interest around tv shows with kurt metzger comes from people realizing he wrote some of their favorite sketches. He wasn't just a staff writer on Inside Amy Schumer; he was a pillar of that room. Amy herself once described him as her "male id." He was the guy who would argue the opposite side of every feminist point just to see if the joke could survive the friction. It worked. That show was a juggernaut because it had those clashing perspectives.
He also put in time at Chappelle's Show. Think about that for a second. To be in that room, you had to be a killer. He’s written for:
- The Comedy Central Roasts (where he helped craft those brutal lines that make celebrities rethink their life choices)
- The Jim Norton Show
- Important Things with Demetri Martin
- The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore
It’s a massive resume.
The Controversy and the Pivot
You can’t talk about Kurt’s TV career without mentioning the "social media shitstorm," as some outlets called it. Back in 2016, a massive blow-up over his comments regarding a sexual assault scandal in the comedy world basically ended his tenure on Inside Amy Schumer. Or, well, the show ended/went on hiatus around the same time. It was messy. It was loud.
Since then, his presence on traditional TV has been... lighter. He’s moved more into the podcasting world, frequently appearing on The Jimmy Dore Show and his own projects. He still pops up on Roast Battle and This Is Not Happening, but the industry's shift toward a more cautious "HR-approved" vibe doesn't exactly mesh with a guy who once jokingly told a blogger he was "pro-rape" just to spite her.
He’s a polarizing figure. No doubt. But even his detractors usually admit the guy knows how to structure a joke.
Where to Watch Him Now
If you want to binge-watch his work, start with Horace and Pete. It’s a masterclass in ensemble acting. Then hit Ugly Americans for the laughs.
Actually, if you really want to see him in his element, find the old episodes of @midnight or his stand-up special White Precious. It’s raw. It’s uncomfortable at points. But it’s the purest distillation of why people kept hiring him for over a decade.
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Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch Horace and Pete on Hulu or LouisCK.com. It’s the best showcase of his ability to play a character that is simultaneously annoying and deeply human.
- Track down Ugly Americans on Paramount+. It’s the most creative use of his voice and shows off the absurdist writing he excels at.
- Check out his recent appearances on The Jimmy Dore Show via YouTube. This is where he does most of his "TV" style commentary these days, focusing on politics and media critique.