If you’ve watched a single episode of late-night television in the last decade, you’ve probably laughed at something A.D. Miles wrote. You just might not know his face. Or maybe you do? He’s that guy. The one who looks like your suburban neighbor but keeps popping up in the background of cult classics and massive NBC hits.
Honestly, the list of ad miles movies and tv shows is a bizarre, brilliant map of American comedy from the early 2000s to right now.
He isn't just a writer. He isn't just an actor. He’s sorta the secret glue holding together the "alternative" comedy scene and the mainstream machine. From the chaotic, sweat-soaked vibes of Wet Hot American Summer to the high-gloss production of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Miles has been in the room where it happens.
The Early Days: Wet Hot and Cult Classics
Most people first clocked him as Gary in the 2001 masterpiece Wet Hot American Summer. You know the scene. The one with the phone. It was weird, low-budget, and basically failed at the box office. But that’s where the magic started.
That movie became a foundational text for a whole generation of comedians. Miles was right in the center of that "The State" and "Stella" orbit. If you look at the trajectory of ad miles movies and tv shows, you see a pattern of him working with the same geniuses—David Wain, Michael Showalter, Paul Rudd—over and over again.
He wasn't just a bit player. He was a collaborator.
Why the Early Stuff Matters
- Wet Hot American Summer (2001): He played Gary, a role he eventually reprised for the Netflix prequel and sequel series.
- The Baxter (2005): A sleeper hit for fans of dry, awkward humor.
- Dog Bites Man (2006): This was a semi-scripted, mockumentary-style show on Comedy Central. It was ahead of its time. Seriously. It followed a hack local news team, and Miles played Marty Shonson. It’s a masterclass in "cringe" comedy before The Office made it a household term.
The Late Night Pivot: Jimmy Fallon’s Secret Weapon
In 2009, something changed. Miles took a job that would define his career for the next fifteen years. He became the head writer for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
Think about that transition. Going from indie film sets and "Stella" shorts to a massive network gig at 30 Rock. He didn't just write jokes; he helped build the brand. When Fallon moved to The Tonight Show in 2014, Miles went with him as the head writer.
He is responsible for the sketches that went viral before "going viral" was a science. Ew! with the colorful basement? That’s him. He often played "Step-dad Gary" in those sketches, standing next to people like Michelle Obama or Ariana Grande while wearing a terrible sweater.
He also helped form the Ragtime Gals. You’ve seen them—the barbershop quartet that sings "Ignition (Remake)" or "SexyBack." That was Miles’s idea. He’s the one on the far right, usually looking incredibly committed to the bit.
The Return to the Desk
After a brief hiatus where he worked on projects like the Netflix animated series Hoops (voicing Matty) and Between Two Ferns: The Movie, Miles actually returned to The Tonight Show as head writer in late 2023. It’s rare for someone to leave a high-pressure gig like that and then get asked back to steer the ship again. It speaks to how much Fallon trusts his comedic instincts.
Ad Miles Movies and TV Shows: A Selected Filmography
Trying to track every single appearance is a chore because he does so much voice work and uncredited punch-up writing. But here are the heavy hitters you need to see if you want to understand his range.
👉 See also: Solo Leveling Episode 16: Why the Arise Moment Changes Everything for Jinwoo
Role Models (2008)
He plays Martin, the guy at the "Sturdy Wings" program who is perpetually annoyed by Seann William Scott and Paul Rudd. It’s a small role, but he steals every scene he's in by just being incredibly dry.
The Ten (2007)
Another David Wain project. This one is an anthology based on the Ten Commandments. Miles plays Oliver Jennings. It’s absurd, occasionally offensive, and 100% his vibe.
Wainy Days (2007–2011)
If you haven't seen this web series, go find it. It was produced back when the internet was still the Wild West. Miles directed several episodes and appeared frequently. It’s the purest distillation of that mid-2000s New York comedy scene.
Childrens Hospital
He appeared as "This Kid" (who was getting a vasectomy, naturally) in the early days of the show. It’s one of those "if you blink, you’ll miss it" cameos that populates most of the ad miles movies and tv shows list.
Why He’s the "Comedian's Comedian"
There is a specific kind of respect Miles has in the industry. He isn't chasing the A-list leading man life. He seems perfectly happy being the guy who makes the funniest person in the room even funnier.
Writing for late night is a grind. You have to churn out a monologue, three sketches, and digital bits every single day. Miles has done this for over 2,000 episodes. That kind of longevity is almost unheard of in TV writing. Most people burn out after two years. He’s been the architect of the Fallon era, which transformed late night from a "desk and a guest" format into a variety show full of games and musical parodies.
Nuance in Performance
Even when he's acting, there's a specific "Miles" energy. It’s a mix of total sincerity and absolute absurdity. Whether he's playing a tech evangelist in Silicon Valley or a scout in Hoops, he never "winks" at the camera. He plays the weirdness straight.
📖 Related: Mike & Molly Victoria Explained: What Really Happened to the Flynn Sister
The Takeaway: How to Spot an Ad Miles Project
If you see a show that feels like a group of friends just messing around, but the jokes are surgically precise, there’s a good chance A.D. Miles is involved. He bridges the gap between the weird and the widely accessible.
He’s a writer first, an actor second, and a comedy historian third. His influence on the last 20 years of American humor is massive, even if he's usually wearing a wig or standing behind a camera.
Next Steps for the Curious Viewer
- Watch "Dog Bites Man": It’s hard to find but worth the hunt. It explains exactly why he was hired to run a major talk show.
- Rewatch "Wet Hot American Summer": Focus on Gary this time. The subtle physical comedy is actually insane.
- Check out "Horrible People": Another early web series he created for My Damn Channel. It’s a parody of soap operas that still holds up.
Stop looking for him to be the star. Start looking for him to be the reason the star is actually funny. That’s the real legacy of the ad miles movies and tv shows collection.