Prank Panel (TruTV Pilot)

In 2012, I was brought on as the lead editor for a new sketch-prank hybrid pilot called Prank Panel, created by Adam Small (MADtv) and Trevor Moore (The Whitest Kids U’ Know), produced by Funny or Die for TruTV. The premise was chaotic, ambitious, and shot with more cameras than most reality finales—10-camera setups capturing hundreds of hours of footage that needed to be shaped into something coherent, compelling, and genuinely funny.

From day one, I worked directly with the showrunners to define and refine the look, tone, structure, and pacing of the pilot. I wasn’t just executing their vision—I was helping build it. I became a trusted creative partner, cutting early proof-of-concept scenes and helping determine which pranks and sketch segments deserved to make the final cut. Many pieces were edited in multiple versions for group feedback, which I facilitated and integrated in collaboration with the directors and producers. I also edited the show’s panel — recorded in front of a studio audience with guests Eric Andre, Pete Holmes, and Erin Gibson – down from a 2+ hour live taping into the half-hour pilot.

We didn’t have the budget for original scoring—and I saw that as an opportunity. To give the show a Looney Tunes–style sensibility, I advocated for using classical music throughout. Not only was it cost-effective, it ended up amplifying the comedy, adding an extra layer of absurdity and timing that helped unify the episode’s tone across segments.

Beyond my core editorial responsibilities, I also:

• Supervised other editors and post-production staff

• Led creative direction for the opening title sequence and theme song

• Made editorial decisions about which sketches should be included, and how best to present them

• Helped shape the tone across segments, ensuring the final episode felt unified, polished, and punchy

Cutting a show like this was more than just stitching together multi-cam setups—it was about imposing rhythm on chaos, finding story arcs in real reactions, and landing hard on every joke. And doing it fast enough to keep up with the prank energy and sketch comedy pacing.

Prank Panel never made it to air, but it remains one of my favorite post-production challenges and one of my most collaborative editorial experiences—working with two comedy legends to bring their vision to life from the ground up.