Stella - Michael Ian Black | Comedy Central

Michael Ian Black was a founding member of Stella with Michael Showalter and David Wain. Before Stella, Black was best known as a cast member and writer for the sketch comedy show The State, which aired for three years on MTV. He later contributed to the book State by State with The State and joined three other cast members to write and star in the satire of European television, Viva Variety on Comedy Central. In it, Black played '80s-obsessed crooner Johnny Bluejeans. When the show ended, Black teamed with The State members David Wain and Michael Showalter to form the the comedy troupe Stella, which played to sold-out audiences across the country before becoming a series on Comedy Central.

After TV guest appearances and commercials (the voice of the Pets.com sock puppet), Black appeared on the VH1 sketch show Random Play. He made his film debut with the role of McKinley in the satire Wet Hot American Summer, directed by Wain and starring Showalter. In 2000, Black joined the cast of NBC's comedy-drama Ed in the role of Phil Stubbs, the manager of Stuckeybowl. He has contributed his deadpan humor to VH1's I Love the .... series from its inception and continues to contribute to the show. dunno Less