Before he was an EGOT-winner, Mike Nichols was a part of a beloved, groundbreaking comedy duo

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Before anyone could fear Virginia Woolf or Mrs. Robinson could seduce Benjamin, legendary Director Mike Nichols was a part of an acclaimed and beloved comedy duo called Nichols and May.

Mike Nichols and Elaine May met as students at the University of Chicago in the 1950s. The pair was a part of the new era of comedy that cut the gags and took political and social satire to the stage. They tested the bounds of improvisation, willingly exposing each other's flaws through outrageous characters. Comedy giants believe that without Nichols and May, we wouldn't have the likes of Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin, or even Saturday Night Live.

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Lauren Hansen produces The Weekâ€™s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.