Michael Jamin and the Importance ...

Michael Jamin and the Importance of Small Moments

Explicit
Talking Writing by Martha Nichols, John Vogel, and Neva Talladen
S6 · E10
Mar 4, 2026
39:39

Episode notes

For this episode TW creative director John Vogel sat down with television writer and showrunner Michael Jamin about his collection of personal essays, A Paper Orchestra.

Michael’s television career started in the mid-90’s with an episode of Lois and Clark, followed by more involved work on Just Shoot Me! and King of the Hill. Other writing and production credits include Beavis and Butthead, Rules of Engagement, Maron, and Wilfred.

He self-published A Paper Orchestra through his company 3 Girls Jumping, and the book was named one of the best comedy books of 2024 by Vulture. Partially inspired by David Sedaris, Michael has also developed a stage show of the essays that has evolved from readings to reenacted performances of the scenes. In this conversation Michael and John talk about different themes throughout the essays, his transition to the stage, and balancing family life with work.

Keywords

nonfiction
creative lifer
art
creative life
family
self discovery
john vogel
podcast
author
parenting
autobiography
self-publishing
Melrose Place
essays
social media
books
memoir
Michael Jamin
television
screenwriting
A Paper Orchestra