Micah Merrill of BYUtv’s “Studio C” on the importance of joy

Free is such a beautiful word. It means that something is not constrained by obligations. You might not know it, but that’s exactly what BYUtv is: free! The Emmy Award-winning, family-friendly entertainment brand offers millions of viewers thousands of hours of content across streaming, cable, satellite, social media, and YouTube. Owned and operated by Brigham Young University, BYUtv’s content includes TV shows, movies, unscripted programs, live broadcasts, sports, game shows, and so much more. And yes, all of this entertainment is available for free – no subscriptions, in-app purchases, or ads!

One of the network’s flagship original shows is Studio C. This comedy sketch program has over three billion views on YouTube. It focuses on the absurdities we all stumble upon in everyday life. It also examines the ridiculousness of pop culture. Over the years, Studio C has welcomed numerous high-profile guest stars, such as Terry Crews, Jack McBrayer, Kenan Thompson, Jon Heder, Will Forte, Josh Peck, Steven He, and Pierson Wodzynski. The current season, Season 22, features Rainn Wilson (The Office) in the premiere episode.

Andra Johnson Duke, head of content at BYUtv, stated, “Rainn Wilson has been an exceptional creative partner whose work fits seamlessly with Studio C’s commitment to deliver uplifting comedy for family audiences. He reinforces our belief that comedy can be smart, positive, and broadly appealing without being mean‑spirited. We can’t wait for audiences to see him in action. As Studio C nears two dozen seasons, it’s exciting to see the show continue to resonate and deliver laughs for audiences of all ages.”

Micah Merrill has been involved with Studio C since Season 10. He is a BYU film graduate and a co-founder of Kaleidoscope Pictures. Micah built his career on the conviction that good filmmaking and principled living aren’t competing ideas. His work spans features, television, comedy, documentary, and an award-winning long-term partnership with FranklinCovey that brought leadership principles to life on screen for organizations across more than 160 countries. Entertaining Options asked Micah a few questions about Kaleidoscope Pictures, his background, and what makes Studio C such an enduring show — “the second-longest running sketch show in American television history.”

What can you tell us about Kaleidoscope Pictures?
Kaleidoscope started when several of us worked on each other’s projects in the BYU film school program and really got to know each other. Making a film is hard, and you really find out who you like to be around, respect, and trust when working on a project 12+ hours a day. You need people you can trust for their competence, their character, and honestly, just people you enjoy being around! After graduation, we all went our separate ways and worked in various aspects of the industry, but we came back together for our first feature, and we’ve been going strong since then. 

What drew us together was a shared sense of mission about what kind of stories we wanted to tell, and the camaraderie and friendship we’d built that made us want to tell them together. We’ve also added a lot of amazing and talented people along the way who share that same sense of mission.

What services does Kaleidoscope Pictures provide?
In addition to developing our own original stories, we’re a full-service production company. We work in television and features, and also have a division that does branded content. What’s more important to us than the platform is the type of story and its impact. What we specifically and purposefully go after, or try to bring to light, are stories that artistically express hope for the positive values of life. That mission has been at our core from the beginning and drives everything we do. If people feel a sense of hope after watching one of our shows, we’ve accomplished what we set out to do.

There are a lot of music projects on your resume. Do you have a musical background?
I’ve always loved music. It touches the soul and connects with people in a way that’s unique and powerful. I grew up in the ’80s, and a couple of my music heroes were Howard Jones, one of the pioneers of early synth music, and Bono of U2.

What made you want to work on The Song That Changed My Life?
The Song That Changed My Life is a show where artists share the music that shaped them, and it was really driven by my partner Russ Kendall, whose own musical heroes were Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and Mike Peters of the Alarm. When we started the show, Russ and I told each other we wouldn’t be done until we’d each gotten one of our heroes on. We both did. Russ got Mike Peters, and I got Howard Jones. I directed that episode, and it was a dream getting to hang out with one of my musical heroes. 

What is your role on Studio C?
I’m the Executive Producer for Kaleidoscope on the show and get to work closely with BYUtv, our amazing showrunner Jake Van Wagoner, a wonderfully talented cast, and writing staff, our line producer Diane, and a crew that is truly dedicated, many of whom have been with the show longer than I have. I’ve been involved since Season 10 when BYUtv asked us to reboot the show, and we’re now in Seasons 23-24. I still love it. You know something’s special when you’re genuinely excited to come to work and feel the energy of a group of amazing people who care so deeply about their craft and about putting uplifting comedy out into the world.

What is it like working on a show with such an extensive list of seasons and episodes?
Matt, Jared, and the early cast, along with BYUtv, created such a strong foundation. It’s genuinely exciting to build on top of something that was already great, to add to it and keep it growing and improving. Each season feels a little different as new cast members, writers, and guest stars bring fresh energy. We’re constantly asking ourselves how we can make the show better and reach more people. Studio C is now the second-longest running sketch show in American television history. That’s a legacy we’re proud of and take seriously.

What about writers? How hard is it to get a sketch onto the show? What makes a great comedy writer?
One thing that has consistently amazed me working with comedy writers over the years is their dedication to the craft. You might assume writers are just naturally funny and dash off whatever pops into their heads, and it becomes a great sketch. The reality is they work incredibly hard. For every sketch that makes it to air, we throw away five others, and those are distilled from even more ideas that get tirelessly worked and reworked. Beyond that, I think what makes a great comedy writer is the ability to take something universal from everyday experience that people can immediately relate to, look at it in a new way, and then hit them with an unexpected twist.

What makes Studio C stand out from other sketch shows?
We hope Studio C is a genuine bright spot in someone’s day. Comedy serves a lot of purposes, satire, critique, social commentary, holding up a mirror to society, and there are other great shows that do those things really well. The best joke can make you laugh, make you think, and make you feel something all at once. What I think makes Studio C unique, though, is that it focuses on comedy’s most basic aim: giving people joy. That kind of positive comedy creates laughter that releases tension, builds connection, and is genuinely pleasurable. I love hearing from people who watch the show with their families and how happy it makes them. We want your day to be a little brighter, your face to have a smile on it, and for you to feel just a bit better about life after watching.

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Season 22 of Studio C welcomes back original cast member Jason Gray and two new regular cast members: Claire Riffle and Chad Westbrook. The returning cast includes Garet Allen, Kiri Case, Dalton Johnson, Michelle Knapp, Jericho Lopez, Aleta Myles, and Naomi Winders. Studio C is produced by Kaleidoscope Pictures, with Jake Van Wagoner (Aliens Abducted My Parents and Now I Feel Kinda Left Out, Impractical Jokers) returning as showrunner along with producer Micah Merrill for Kaleidoscope and executive producer Luke Johnson for BYUtv.

BYUtv is available across the country via multiple digital media platforms, cable, and satellite. The network streams for free on the BYUtv app and BYUtv.org with no subscriptions, in-app purchases, or ads. It is always streaming live, and past and current seasons are all available to binge.

BYUtv links:
website • Instagram • Facebook • X • YouTube

Kaleidoscope Pictures links:
website • Instagram • Facebook • X

Studio C links:
website • Instagram • Facebook • X • YouTube

Featured image: Dalton Johnson and Rainn Wilson in “Road Rage In Space” (Season 22, Episode 1). Photo by Rylan Murphy. © 2025 BYU Broadcasting.

Other BYUtv articles:
• Tabernacle Choir helps us find the “Hope of the Season”
• Celebrate Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, featuring Michael Maliakel and Lesley Nicol