About the Series

Each year Ithaca College hosts an individual representing one or more of the significant professions associated with the communications industry. Leading figures in print and broadcast journalism are the primary focus. This program is funded through the generosity of the Park Foundation.

2012-2013 Speaker:

Dan O'Shannon
April 4, 2013
8 p.m.
Emerson Suites

Dan O’Shannon is an executive producer and writer of the hit show Modern Family.

He sold his first sitcom script in 1985. As a writer and producer, he has made significant contributions to some of the most acclaimed network comedies of the past 25 years such as Newhart, Cheers, and Frasier.

For the past three years, O’Shannon has won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series for his work on Modern Family. He has received multiple Emmy nominations for Cheers and Frasier, including a win for Cheers.

A Golden Globe winner, O’Shannon has also received numerous Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Producers Guild of America (PGA) awards, as well as one Academy Award nomination.

O’Shannon’s other work includes shows such as Jericho, Back to You, Suddenly Susan, King of Queens, and Better Off Ted.

In addition to his television success, O’Shannon recently published What Are You Laughing At?: A Comprehensive Guide to the Comedic Event. O’Shannon writes about the bigger picture of comedy and why people respond the way they do, using examples from his own experiences.