Next Gen 2012: Hollywood's Fastest-Rising Stars

Haldeman, 30, has carved a successful niche developing television careers for such young comics as Amy Schumer and Anthony Jeselnik, who are working on Comedy Central projects. The well-respected Pasadena native also helped identify the group Mail Order Comedy (creators of Comedy Central's breakout Workaholics) from the web.

INDUSTRY MENTOR: UTA's Matt Rice and Microsoft's Blair Westlake, who told me that the most important thing is to find a great mentor.

BIG BREAK: Meeting Michael Conway, who runs HR here, on the way back from lunch with a friend at UTA. He talked to me for 15 minutes and offered me a job. I was a senior at Penn at the time with some sweet hair and a puka-shell necklace. [He has been at UTA ever since.]

BEST ADVICE: Sue Naegle, Jay Sures and Matt all said: "You've got to be nice. It's going to get you a lot further."

BIGGEST 2012 ACCOMPLISHMENT: On the same day, Comedy Central picked up Amy Schumer's and Anthony Jeselnik's shows.

CAN'T-MISS TV: SportsCenter. And if I'm ever flipping around and I find Saved by the Bell, I have to stop and watch the entire episode.

LUNCH SPOT: I've got to go with Cole's French Dip.

I WAKE UP AT: 6 a.m.

THE FIRST THING I DO: Walk the dog and call my girlfriend in D.C.