‘Daily Show’ producer to speak at winter commencement

Ben Karlin’s fingerprints are all over Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” evening news satire.

As the program’s executive producer, Karlin, a 1993 UW–Madison graduate, often finds himself putting words in the mouth of “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart. Karlin’s long run with Comedy Central’s two acclaimed fake news programs — “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report” — will end this month, as Karlin announcned plans to pursue writing and other pursuits.

On Sunday, December 17, Karlin will speak for himself at commencement.

After covering the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona for United Press International, Karlin began his professional career as editor of and writer for The Onion in 1993. He joined “The Daily Show” in 1996 as head writer, and became its executive producer in 2002. In 2005 the Wisconsin Alumni Association named Karlin a recipient of its Distinguished Alumni Award.

About 1,600 will be eligible for degrees this December. The registrar’s office compiles that actual number on a day-by-day basis. Two ceremonies at the Kohl Center on Dayton Street will mark the occasion:

All Ph.D., M.F.A., master’s and professional degree candidates, and bachelor’s degree candidates in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences; and the schools of Education, Human Ecology, Medicine and Public Health, Nursing and Pharmacy will participate in the 10 a.m. ceremony.
Bachelor’s degree candidates in the colleges of Engineering and Letters and Science and the School of Business will celebrate their graduation at 2 p.m.

Karlin will speak at both ceremonies.

No tickets are required. Candidates and guests should arrive 20 minutes before the start of their ceremony to ensure they are seated at the appointed time. Parking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis on city streets and in university ramps and lots. Free shuttle service will be available from lots adjacent to Camp Randall. Alcoholic beverages are strictly forbidden.

For more information, call 262-9076.