Lauren Ashley Smith facts for kids

Lauren Ashley Smith is an American writer, comedian, and producer. She is well-known for being the head writer of HBO's comedy show A Black Lady Sketch Show, which started in 2019. For her work on this show, she has been nominated for three Emmy Awards. Before this, Smith worked on other TV shows like The Rundown with Robin Thede, Best Week Ever, Watch What Happens Live, and Fashion Queens.

Early Life and School

Lauren Ashley Smith was born and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. She has two sisters named Mariah and Rachel. Her parents, Rochelle and Jonathan, work as administrators at universities in St. Louis. Lauren went to Dickinson College and earned her bachelor's degree there.

Her Career in TV

Lauren Ashley Smith began her writing career by working as a freelancer. This means she wrote for different shows without being a full-time employee. Some of the shows she wrote for included Best Week Ever, Watch What Happens Live, and Fashion Queens.

In 2017, Smith got a big job as the head writer for The Rundown with Robin Thede. This show ran for one season. Later, Robin Thede hired Smith again for a new project. Smith became the head writer and a co-executive producer for A Black Lady Sketch Show. This was a very important step because Smith was the first Black woman to be a head writer on a TV sketch show.

The series A Black Lady Sketch Show first aired in 2019. Since then, Smith has received several nominations for the prestigious Emmy Awards. She was nominated for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series in 2020 and 2021. She also received a nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series in 2021.

In 2021, it was announced that Smith would create and produce a new American TV show. This show is a remake of a British comedy called Timewasters. The new show, for ABC, is about four Black New Yorkers from today's world. They somehow travel back in time to the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance was a famous time in the 1920s when Black art and culture thrived in Harlem, New York. Also in August 2021, Smith signed a special agreement with CBS Studios. This deal means she will create comedy content for CBS's TV channels and streaming services.

Personal Life

Lauren Ashley Smith is married to Brooke Helburn. They got married in 2015.

Awards and Nominations

Lauren Ashley Smith has been recognized for her excellent work on A Black Lady Sketch Show.

For A Black Lady Sketch Show

• 2020 – Nominee, Primetime Emmy Awards, Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
• 2021 – Nominee, Primetime Emmy Awards, Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series
• 2021 – Nominee, Primetime Emmy Awards, Outstanding Variety Sketch Series