We are a collective for humor, empowering an array of creative perspectives and voices
National Lampoon expands the boundaries of the comedy universe, with projects that span film, audio, live performance, television, and beyond. Like its origins, our storytelling pushes the envelope of defining comedy, and presents humor we call the “twisted mainstream”. All conveyed through voices that represent the next generation of leading artists.
Leadership
Kevin Frakes Co-CEO
Kevin Frakes is the Co-CEO of National Lampoon as well as the founder and CEO of its parent company, PalmStar Media. A producer of more than 45 films, Kevin started PalmStar during his senior year of college while studying at NYU’s film school. Over his 15-year career, Kevin has secured over $250M in development and production capital for motion pictures and other media content and Kevin has produced and executive produced over $400M in content across PalmStar’s slate. He has also served as an advisor to a number of media investment companies, including Merced Capital and Windy Hill Pictures. Kevin is also currently developing the film adaptation of the international best-selling novel, “The Alchemist” with TriStar. Kevin earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in 2001 and an MBA from Yale University in 2004.
Raj Singh Co-CEO
Raj Singh is the Co-CEO of National Lampoon. After joining PalmStar in 2016, Singh spearheaded the successful National Lampoon acquisition. Prior to PalmStar, Singh transitioned from Merced Capital, a $2.5B asset management firm based in Minneapolis. While at Merced, Singh oversaw the ~$150M media and entertainment portfolio. The portfolio consisted of single picture investments as well as corporate equity and debt investments in the space. Prior to that, Singh was a private equity investor at Greenbriar Equity Group in New York. He began his career on Wall Street in the investment banking division at Merrill Lynch & Co. Singh earned a Bachelor of Science in Business in Finance & Entrepreneurship from the University of Minnesota.
Evan Shapiro President
Evan Shapiro is the President of National Lampoon, a Comedy Studio for Live Performance, Film, TV, Social and Audio. Shapiro, an Emmy and Peabody Award Winner, has produced or created more than 150 television series, specials or documentaries, including Portlandia, Comedy Bang Bang, Please Like Me, Take My Wife, Shrink, Trapped In The Closet, Harmonquest, Laurie Kilmartin’s 45 Jokes About My Dead Dad, HitRecord, Fortitude, Carlos, Bollywood Hero, My Brother My Brother & Me, Brick City, This Film Is Not Yet Rated and more. He most recently executive produced the comedy special Funny Women of A Certain Age for Showtime, and Trump Bites, the Webby Award winner for Best Animated Series. He is a Professor for TV and Media at NYU/Stern School Of Business.