Jay Karas
# Jay Karas

Jay Karas is an American film and television director.

## Career

Karas's resume primarily consists of directing live telecasts and stand-up comedy specials. In recent years he moved on to directing episodic television, directing episodes of Parks and Recreation, Raising Hope, Awkward, The Fosters, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Workaholics. In 2014, Karas made his feature film directing debut with the film Break Point, starring Jeremy Sisto and David Walton.

Karas's episode of Dice was one of The Hollywood Reporter's "Critics' Picks: The 15 Best TV Episodes of 2016" and Teachers made Vanity Fair's "5 Underrated TV Shows You Should Watch Right Now".

## Personal life

Jay grew up in Maryland, Virginia, and Connecticut. He attended Bloomfield High School and graduated from the University of Southern California. He lives in Italy with his wife Monica and their son Leo.

## Filmography

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1997 | The Jenny McCarthy Show | Associate director, coordinating producer | 22 episodes |
| 2007 | The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show | Director, co-executive producer | 8 episodes |
| 2007 | MADtv | Director | 3 episodes |
| 2007–2008 | Frank TV | Director | 18 episodes |
| 2009 | NESN Comedy All-Stars | Director | 8 episodes |
| 2011 | Eagleheart | Director | 2 episodes |
| 2012–2013 | The Burn with Jeff Ross | Director | 12 episodes |
| 2011–2013 | After Lately | Director, executive producer, co-executive producer | 16 episodes |
| 2013 | Parks and Recreation | Director | Episode: "Doppelgängers" |
| 2014 | Awkward | Director | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Unstrung | Director | Television movie, ABC Family |
| 2015 | About a Boy | Director | Episode: "About a Manniversary" |
| 2015 | The Fosters | Director | Episode: "Justify the Means" |
| 2015 | Sirens | Director | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Director | Episode: "Sabotage" |
| 2015 | Finding Carter | Director | Episode: I Knew You Were Trouble |
| 2015 | Impastor | Director | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Married | Director | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Switched at Birth | Director | Episode: "To the Victor Belong the Spoils" |
| 2015 | Kevin from Work | Director | Episode: "Escape from Work" |
| 2016 | Deadbeat | Director | 3 episodes |
| 2016 | The Swap | Director | Television movie, Disney Channel |
| 2015–2017 | Kirby Buckets | Director | 6 episodes |
| 2011–2017 | Workaholics | Director | 8 episodes |
| 2017 | Lopez | Director | 2 episodes |
| 2016–2017 | Dice | Director | 4 episodes |
| 2018 | Alone Together | Director | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Great News | Director | Episode: "The Fast Track" |
| 2018 | Ghosted | Director | Episode: "The Premonition" |
| 2018 | Siren | Director | Episode: "Interview With a Mermaid" |
| 2018–2020 | Superstore | Director | 3 episodes |
| 2018–2019 | Splitting Up Together | Director | 4 episodes |
| 2016–2018 | Those Who Can't | Director | 4 episodes |
| 2017–2018 | Teachers | Director, producer | 16 episodes |
| 2019 | The Kids Are Alright | Director | 3 episodes |
| 2019 | Sunnyside | Director | Episode: "Skirt Skirt" |
| 2020 | The Baker and The Beauty | Director | Episode: "Honeymoon's Over" |
| 2020 | The Main Event (2020 film) | Director | |
| 2020 | Love, Victor | Director | Episode: "What Happens in Willacoochee" |
| 2021 | The Moodys | Director | Season two |
| 2021 | The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers | Director | Episode: "Breakaway" |
| 2021 | Dynasty | Director | Episode: "A Public Forum for Her Lies" |
| 2021 | Turner & Hooch | Director | Episode: "Diamonds Are Furever" |
| 2021 | Acapulco | Director | 5 episodes |
| 2022 | Abbott Elementary | Director | 2 episodes |
| 2022 | Ghosts | Director | Episode: "The Christmas Spirit" |
| 2023 | So Help Me Todd | Director | Episode: "Ivan the Terrible" |
| 2023 | True Lies | Director | Episode: "Independent Dependents" |
| Forthcoming | The Extraditers | Co-writer | In partnership with Dean Ward |
| Forthcoming | Rewrite of Man Up | Co-writer | In partnership with Dean Ward for CBS Films |

### Comedy

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2012 | D.L. Hughley: Reset | Director, executive producer | D.L. Hughley special |
| 2013 | Doug Stanhope: Beer Hall Putsch | Director, executive producer | Doug Stanhope special |
| 2014 | Bill Burr: I'm Sorry You Feel That Way | Director | Bill Burr special |
| 2014 | Chelsea Peretti: One of the Greats | Executive producer | Chelsea Peretti special |
| 2015 | Demetri Martin: Live (At the Time) | Director | Demetri Martin special |
| 2015 | Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted | Director | Tig Notaro special |
| 2016 | Tom Segura: Mostly Stories | Director | Tom Segura specially |
| 2016 | Not Safe with Nikki Glaser | Director | Nikki Glaser special |
| 2016 | Ali Wong: Baby Cobra | Director | Ali Wong special |
| 2017 | Jeff Foxworthy & Larry the Cable Guy: We've Been Thinking | Director | Jeff Foxworthy & Larry the Cable Guy special |
| 2017 | Bill Burr: Walk Your Way Out | Director, executive producer | Bill Burr special |
| 2017 | Christina P: Mother Inferior | Director | Christina Pazsitzk special |
| 2018 | Tom Segura: Disgraceful | Director | Tom Segura special |
| 2018 | Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife | Director | Ali Wong special |
| 2018 | Demetri Martin: The Overthinker | Director | Demetri Martin special |

### Advertising

Karas has directed spots for brands including Ford, Target, Coke Zero, and Fandango, as well campaigns for ABC, Disney, E!, A&E, and TBS, including Conan's launch campaigns and the viral "Desk Wash" spot.

### Music video

| Year | Title | Artist | Role |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2004 | "Keeping Last" | The Forgiven Fridays | Producer |

## Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2013 | Parks and Recreation | Online Film & Television Association, OFTA Television Award, Best Direction in a Comedy Series | Nominated |
| 2014 | Break Point | Newport Beach Film Festival, Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking | Won |
| 2014 | Break Point | SXSW Film Festival, Narrative Spotlight | Nominated |
