---
name: "Beth McCarthy-Miller"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/beth-mccarthy-miller"
fi1m_id: "beth-mccarthy-miller"
imdb_id: "nm0565063"
tmdb_id: 87673
wikidata_id: "Q4897586"
roles: ["Director"]
born: "3 September 1963"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 78
average_as: "director"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-07T14:32:39.188242+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Beth McCarthy-Miller

## Identity

Beth McCarthy-Miller

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/beth-mccarthy-miller
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** beth-mccarthy-miller
- **IMDb ID:** nm0565063
- **TMDB ID:** 87673
- **Wikidata ID:** Q4897586
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beth_McCarthy-Miller, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4897586, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0565063/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/87673

Director. Born 3 September 1963 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Director
- **Born:** 3 September 1963, Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA
- **Active:** 2006–2017
- **Also known as:** Beth McCarthy Miller , Beth McCarthy
- **Frequently works with:** [Ken Whittingham](https://film.one/person/ken-whittingham.md), [Tristram Shapeero](https://film.one/person/tristram-shapeero.md), [Claire Scanlon](https://film.one/person/claire-scanlon.md), [Gail Mancuso](https://film.one/person/gail-mancuso.md), [Linda Mendoza](https://film.one/person/linda-mendoza.md), [Don Scardino](https://film.one/person/don-scardino.md), [Jack Burditt](https://film.one/person/jack-burditt.md), [Jaffar Mahmood](https://film.one/person/jaffar-mahmood.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as director, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 78 (5), 2010s 78 (5)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 74 across 10 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Comedy 10, Crime 1, Drama 1, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 1, War & Politics 1
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beth_McCarthy-Miller, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4897586, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0565063/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/87673

## Streaming the US now

- **Hulu:** [*30 Rock*](https://film.one/tv/30-rock.md) (86), [*Community*](https://film.one/tv/community.md) (83), [*Californication*](https://film.one/tv/californication.md) (63)
- **Disney+:** [*The Good Place*](https://film.one/tv/the-good-place.md) (84), [*Modern Family*](https://film.one/tv/modern-family.md) (77), [*The Mindy Project*](https://film.one/tv/the-mindy-project.md) (72)
- **Netflix:** [*Brooklyn Nine-Nine*](https://film.one/tv/brooklyn-nine-nine.md) (78), [*Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt*](https://film.one/tv/unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt.md) (76)
- **Peacock:** [*Parks and Recreation*](https://film.one/tv/parks-and-recreation.md) (83)
- **HBO Max:** [*Veep*](https://film.one/tv/veep.md) (82)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Beth McCarthy-Miller

> Beth McCarthy-Miller gives sharply different comic performers room to be funny together. We rate her highly for the timing and attention to listening faces that help *30 Rock* stay coherent without making its ensemble behave alike.

In *30 Rock* (2006), the person listening can be as funny as the person speaking. Beth McCarthy-Miller is among the directors who make room for that second performance without letting the scene lose its shape. We laughed at those listening faces because a colleague's foolishness could register without another line being needed. Her skill lies in keeping the exchange clear while allowing the actors to behave quite differently, rather than imposing one comic manner on everyone.

Her route to ensemble sitcoms began at MTV in the late 1980s. She directed *MTV Unplugged* in 1993, then spent eleven seasons directing *Saturday Night Live* between 1995 and 2006. That work encompassed sketches and musical performances, with their different demands on timing and camera placement. It is a useful background for a director whose strengths include complex blocking, but it does not by itself explain the pleasure of her comedy.

The closer explanation is her work with performers such as Tina Fey, her writer-performer collaborator on *30 Rock*. McCarthy-Miller began directing the series in 2007 and made 24 episodes, including its live broadcasts in 2010 and 2012. Fey and Alec Baldwin provide the workplace friction; directors including McCarthy-Miller and Don Scardino let the ensemble's contrasting instincts work together. The affection is persuasive because it need not be announced. The ensemble takes time to settle, though, and the credit for its assurance belongs to several directors, writers and performers.

Her subsequent work on *Modern Family*, from 2011 to 2020, continued that emphasis on ensembles. We value the ability to keep several performers funny within one scene more than a conspicuous directorial flourish, though the discretion makes individual contributions harder to judge. A live broadcast offers clearer evidence of the practical skill involved: the blocking and camera decisions have to serve the performers there and then. Start with *30 Rock*, with a little patience for the ensemble to find its feet.

## Biography

Beth McCarthy-Miller is an American television director. She was born on 3 September 1963 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and studied radio, television and film at the University of Maryland.

She began her career at MTV, where she directed episodes of *MTV Unplugged* and other programming. From 1995 to 2006 she directed 218 episodes of *Saturday Night Live*. She has since directed episodes of numerous sitcoms, including 24 episodes of *30 Rock* (2007–2013), as well as *Modern Family*, *Brooklyn Nine-Nine*, *Parks and Recreation*, *The Good Place* and *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt*.

McCarthy-Miller has received multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her directing work.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (10)

- *The Good Place* (2016), Fi1m 84, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-place.md)
- *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt* (2015), Fi1m 76, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt.md)
- *Brooklyn Nine-Nine* (2013), Fi1m 78, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/brooklyn-nine-nine.md)
- *The Mindy Project* (2012), Fi1m 72, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mindy-project.md)
- *Veep* (2012), Fi1m 82, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/veep.md)
- *Community* (2009), Fi1m 83, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/community.md)
- *Modern Family* (2009), Fi1m 77, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/modern-family.md)
- *Parks and Recreation* (2009), Fi1m 83, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/parks-and-recreation.md)
- *Californication* (2007), Fi1m 63, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/californication.md)
- *30 Rock* (2006), Fi1m 86, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/30-rock.md)

## Complete filmography (82)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Roast of Kevin Hart* (2026), Director
- *Netflix Tudum 2025* (2025), Director
- *SNL50: The Homecoming Concert* (2025), Director
- *Carrie Underwood: Reflection* (2025), Director
- *Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular* (2024), Director
- *An SNL Thanksgiving* (2024), Director
- *The Roast of Tom Brady* (2024), Director
- *Reboot* (2022), series, Director
- *Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes - At Home Holiday Special* (2020), Director
- *Bob Hearts Abishola* (2019), series, Executive Producer, Director
- *Abby's* (2019), series, Director
- *The Kominsky Method* (2018), series, Director, Producer
- *Bill Maher: Live From Oklahoma* (2018), Director
- *Young Sheldon* (2017), series, Director
- *Alec Baldwin: One Night Only* (2017), Director
- *Great News* (2017), series, Director
- *Divorce* (2016), series, Director
- *The Good Place* (2016), series, Director — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-place.md)
- *Adele: Live in New York City 2015* (2015), Director
- *Dr. Ken* (2015), series, Director
- *Life in Pieces* (2015), series, Director
- *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt* (2015), series, Director — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt.md)
- *An SNL Valentine* (2015), Director
- *Marry Me* (2014), series, Director
- *black-ish* (2014), series, Director
- *The Maya Rudolph Show* (2014), Director
- *The Sound of Music Live!* (2013), Director
- *The Goldbergs* (2013), series, Director
- *Brooklyn Nine-Nine* (2013), series, Director — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/brooklyn-nine-nine.md)
- *Blake Shelton's Not So Family Christmas* (2012), Director
- *The Mindy Project* (2012), series, Director — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mindy-project.md)
- *Veep* (2012), series, Director — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/veep.md)
- *Work It* (2012), series, Director
- *American Judy* (2012), Director
- *Man Up!* (2011), series, Director
- *Up All Night* (2011), series, Director
- *Daniel Tosh: Happy Thoughts* (2011), Director
- *Patrice O'Neal: Elephant in the Room* (2011), Director
- *Mr. Sunshine* (2011), series, Director
- *The Women of SNL* (2010), Director
- *SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas* (2009), Director
- *Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me* (2009), Director
- *Modern Family* (2009), series, Director — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/modern-family.md)
- *Community* (2009), series, Director — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/community.md)
- *Saturday Night Live: The Best of Amy Poehler* (2009), Director
- *Parks and Recreation* (2009), series, Director — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/parks-and-recreation.md)
- *Radio City Christmas Spectacular* (2008), Director
- *Welcome to the Captain* (2008), series, Director
- *Dave Attell: Captain Miserable* (2007), Director
- *Samantha Who?* (2007), series, Director
- *Legally Blonde: The Musical* (2007), Director
- *Jim Norton: Monster Rain* (2007), Director
- *D.L. Hughley: Unapologetic* (2007), Director
- *Bob Saget: That Ain't Right* (2007), Director
- *Californication* (2007), series, Director — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/californication.md)
- *30 Rock* (2006), series, Director — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/30-rock.md)
- *Shania Twain Up! Close and Personal* (2003), Director
- *Shania Twain Up! Live in Chicago* (2003), Director, Executive Producer
- *Saturday Night Live: The Best of Will Ferrell* (2002), Director
- *NBC 75th Anniversary Special* (2002), Director
- *America | A Tribute to Heroes* (2001), Director
- *The Continental: Anticipation* (2001), Director
- *Taina* (2001), series, Director
- *Fiona Apple: MTV Live in New York, 1999* (1999), Director
- *Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special* (1999), Director
- *Bad Boys of Saturday Night Live* (1998), Director
- *James Taylor - Live at the Beacon Theatre* (1998), Director
- *Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman* (1998), Director
- *Saturday Night Live: A Tribute to Chris Farley* (1998), Director
- *Fiona Apple: MTV Unplugged* (1997), Director
- *Jon Stewart: Unleavened* (1996), Director
- *Eagles: Hell Freezes Over* (1994), Director
- *Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged* (1994), Director
- *Nirvana: Unplugged In New York* (1993), Director
- *MTV Unplugged: Nirvana* (1993), Director
- *Nirvana: Live and Loud* (1993), Director
- *Stone Temple Pilots: MTV Unplugged 1993* (1993), Director
- *Neil Young: MTV Unplugged* (1993), Director
- *Arrested Development: MTV Unplugged* (1993), Director
- *Saturday Night Live: Halloween Special* (1991), Director
- *R.E.M. - This Film Is On* (1991), Director
- *R.E.M.: MTV Unplugged* (1991), Director

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/beth-mccarthy-miller