CBS ANNOUNCES THE CREATIVE TEAM AND THE WRITERS’ ROOM FOR THE 2020 “SHOWCASE”

LOS ANGELES — Dec. 17, 2019 — CBS today announced the director, associate director, head writer and the writers’ room for the 2020 SHOWCASE. Previously, the annual show was named the CBS DIVERSITY SKETCH COMEDY SHOWCASE.

Stephen Guarino (“I’m Dying Up Here”) returns to direct, Tess Paras (“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”) serves as associate director and Tien Tran (“Easy”) serves as head writer. All three, including the writers’ room of 11, are previous participants of the CBS showcase.

“SHOWCASE is one of my favorite events and one I look forward to year after year,” said Tiffany Smith-Anoa’i, CBS EVP Entertainment Diversity, Inclusion and Communications. “I’m excited for the entertainment community to see another group of talented actors perform original sketches under the direction of Stephen, Tess and Tien, who are all tremendous actors and immensely creative. For a second year, we are pleased to also bring back the writers room staffed with former alumni allowing them to share their experiences and guide the new participants through the showcase process.”

Recognized by many as the industry leader in actor showcases designed to highlight diverse talent, SHOWCASE has developed into a hybrid comedy show with Broadway-worthy live performances and original, creative writing. The show is attended by senior-level CBS Entertainment executives, showrunners and casting directors from series on CBS, as well as other networks and talent agents/managers from across the entertainment industry.

The 2020 SHOWCASE will be held in Los Angeles at the El Portal Theatre. The schedule is as follows: Tuesday, Jan. 14, Wednesday, Jan. 15, Thursday, Jan. 16 and Friday, Jan. 17 at 7:30 PM, PT, with afternoon shows on Wednesday, Jan. 15 and Thursday, Jan. 16 at 1:00 PM, PT.

Stephen Guarino (“I’m Dying Up Here”) is an Emmy Award-nominated actor, writer and director. He was a performer and writer in the 2011 SHOWCASE. His credits include “2 Broke Girls” and “Superior Donuts,” on the Network, “Happy Endings” (ABC), “The Goldbergs” (ABC), “Dr. Ken” (ABC), “The Big Gay Sketch Show” (LOGO) and his Daytime Emmy-nominated performance in “EastSiders” (Netflix). He has been nominated three times for an Indie Series Award, with one win, and won the Outfest Best Actor award for his role in the international gay festival hit “BearCity.” As a comedian, he has toured the nation doing improv, sketch and stand-up, performing at Upright Citizens Brigade, the Groundlings, Second City and RSVP/Atlantis cruises. Also, he has written and produced for Funny or Die, including a hit musical drag parody of “Downton Abbey” starring the cast of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” He has directed at the Groundlings, Funny or Die, Upright Citizens Brigade and the 2019 and 2018 CBS SHOWCASE. Guarino is repped by APA and 3 Arts.

Tess Paras (“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”) is a comedian, actress and writer. Paras was a performer and writer in the 2014 SHOWCASE and was the assistant director for the 2019 SHOWCASE. Her television credits include a series regular role on “Just Add Magic: New Protectors” (Amazon) and recurring roles on “Just Add Magic” (Amazon), “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” (The CW) “The Good Wife,” on the Network, “Grimm,” “Girl Meets World,” “White Collar,” “Mulaney,” “Weeds” and “Wilfred.” Her film credits include “The Blackout.” As a sketch writer, Paras is known for political and musical satire, including the viral videos “Trumping Makeup Tutorial” (Fusion Digital Comedy), “Typecast” and “What If Catcalls Were Cheeseburgers?” Recently, she wrote, directed and starred in “The Patients,” a short film inspired by events in her own life. It premiered at the 2019 L.A. Asian Pacific Film Festival, screened at Bend Film Festival, and received an award from the Asian American Psychological Association for its advocacy of mental health awareness. She has been profiled by “Good Morning America,” Ms. magazine and Glamour magazine for her activism in the AAPI arts community. Tess performs with Quick and Funny Musicals! and the Asian AF Show at the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) Theatre in Los Angeles. Paras is repped by Gersh and Haven Entertainment.

Tien Tran, a performer and writer in the 2019 SHOWCASE, is an L.A.-based comedian and writer. As a stand-up, she was recently named a New Face of Comedy at the 2019 Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal. She was also an actor and writer for the Second City’s 106th Mainstage revue, “Dream Freaks Fall from Space,” and the Second City’s 41st etc. revue, “Fantastic Super Great Nation Numero Uno.” Her credits include “Easy” (Netflix), “Hot Date” (PopTV), “A Legendary Christmas” (NBC), “Sherman’s Showcase” (IFC), and “Southside” (Comedy Central). She was also a writer on “Work in Progress” (SHOWTIME). You can see her performing stand-up all over Los Angeles, or you can hear her as one of the co-hosts of Crooked Media’s Hysteria podcast. She is repped by CAA and Mosaic.

Alumni of the SHOWCASE include Emmy Award winners Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”), Tiffany Haddish (“Girls Trip”), Diona Reasonover (NCIS), Justin Hires (MACGYVER), Geoffrey Arend (“Madam Secretary”), Nico Santos (“Superstore” and “Crazy Rich Asians”), Nicole Byer (“Nailed It!”) and Ego Nwodim (“Saturday Night Live”), among numerous others.

For more on the 11 writers go to: https://www.viacomcbspressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/releases/view?id=54215