The Laugh Factory is getting serious about expansion.
The iconic comedy brand, headquartered on L.A.’s Sunset Strip and owned by Jamie Masada, has hired two senior leaders in a push towards major growth that includes the establishment of Laugh Factory Entertainment, a new division that will spearhead development of television shows, films, streaming content, social media initiatives, podcasts, web series and live events. David Fuhrer is now on board serving as president while John Weiser has been appointed as head of entertainment to oversee the new division.
The blueprints also call for “significant upgrades” to the location at 8001 Sunset Blvd., as well as launching additional clubs across the globe following satellite locations in Chicago, Long Beach, San Diego, Las Vegas and Reno.
Per his LinkedIn bio, Fuhrer joined Laugh Factory in April. He is known as an inventor and entrepreneur with a focus on the global toy industry, which has long been a Fuhrer family passion. Prior to Laugh Factory, he has served as managing director of BlueSquare Innovations and as founder and president (for nearly 30 years) of FUNANUF, which specializes in creation and licensing of toys, household products and family entertainment.
Fuhrer also served as the co-founder of ToyVision Inc. as well as that company’s president and chief operating officer. Fun fact about Fuhrer: He’s been recognized by Guinness World Records as “the world’s fastest backwards talker,” and has appeared on The Tonight Show, Late Night with David Letterman and Entertainment Tonight and in the pages of People showing off the unique talent.
Weiser comes to Laugh Factory after spending more than three decades at Sony Pictures Entertainment, where he served in many roles including president of distribution, feature films and television. Weiser, who joined the studio in 1988, eventually became president of First-Run Television in 2018. During his tenure at Sony, he was a key figure in negotiating lucrative syndication deals including for the beloved series Seinfeld, while overseeing the studios library of more than 350 TV shows and 4000 films, among many other duties. Weiser departed Sony in September 2021. Since that time, he has been running his own firm, Weiser Entertainment. Prior to Sony, Weiser served as executive vp at Guber-Peters Entertainment, and as general sales manager at Chuck Barris Prods.
