Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Whitney Cummings

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 30, 2026

Discover the career path of Whitney Cummings, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Whitney Cummings is a multifaceted American entertainer known for her work as an actress, stand-up comedian, writer, producer, and director. She gained significant recognition for creating and starring in the NBC sitcom "Whitney" and co-creating the CBS sitcom "2 Broke Girls." Her comedy often explores themes of modern relationships, sexuality, and the challenges faced by women. Cummings has released multiple stand-up specials and hosts the podcast "Good For You," further solidifying her presence in the entertainment industry.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2004: Moved to Los Angeles and Worked on Punk'd

In 2004, Whitney Cummings moved to Los Angeles after college and worked on "Punk'd" on MTV. She also starred in the thriller "EMR", which was screened at Cannes, and began performing stand-up comedy.

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2004: Moved to Los Angeles After Graduation

In 2004, after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Whitney Cummings moved to Los Angeles to pursue her career.

2007: Named One of "10 Comics to Watch"

In 2007, Variety named Whitney Cummings one of the "10 Comics to Watch".

2007: Regular Guest on Chelsea Lately

Starting in 2007, Whitney Cummings began appearing as a regular roundtable guest on the E! series "Chelsea Lately".

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2008: Auditioned for Last Comic Standing

In 2008, Whitney Cummings auditioned in San Francisco for "Last Comic Standing", but she did not pass the showcase.

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2008: Co-starred in "The Tony Rock Project" and Appeared in "Made of Honor"

In 2008, Whitney Cummings co-starred on "The Tony Rock Project" and appeared in the romantic comedy "Made of Honor".

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2009: Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers

In 2009, Whitney Cummings appeared as a comedy roaster in the Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers.

August 2010: Whitney Cummings: Money Shot Premiered on Comedy Central

In August 2010, Whitney Cummings's first one-hour special, "Whitney Cummings: Money Shot", premiered on Comedy Central.

2010: Comedy Central Roast of David Hasselhoff

In 2010, Whitney Cummings appeared as a comedy roaster in the Comedy Central Roast of David Hasselhoff.

2011: Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump

In 2011, Whitney Cummings appeared as a comedy roaster in the Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump.

2011: Two Sitcoms Picked Up by Broadcast Networks

In 2011, two sitcoms created by Whitney Cummings were picked up by broadcast networks: "2 Broke Girls" (co-created and executive produced with Michael Patrick King) and "Whitney" (starred in, executive produced, and created).

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2012: Hosted "Love You, Mean It with Whitney Cummings"

In 2012, while still working on the second season of "Whitney", Cummings hosted a talk show, "Love You, Mean It with Whitney Cummings", on E!, which was cancelled after 11 episodes.

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May 2013: "Whitney" Canceled After Two Seasons

In May 2013, the series "Whitney" was canceled after two seasons. The show was not well received and Whitney Cummings admitted it was a learning curve for her.

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June 2014: Released Second Hour-Long Special "I Love You"

In June 2014, Whitney Cummings released her second hour-long special, "I Love You", on Comedy Central.

2014: Continued Appearances on Chelsea Lately Until Conclusion

Whitney Cummings continued to appear on "Chelsea Lately" until its conclusion in 2014.

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2016: Released "I'm Your Girlfriend" on HBO

In 2016, Whitney Cummings released her third hour-long special, titled "I'm Your Girlfriend", on HBO.

2017: Directed "The Female Brain"

In 2017, Whitney Cummings directed the comedy film "The Female Brain".

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2017: Supporting Role in "Unforgettable"

In 2017, Whitney Cummings had a supporting role in the thriller "Unforgettable", starring Katherine Heigl and Rosario Dawson.

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2017: Published "I'm Fine...And Other Lies"

In 2017, Whitney Cummings published her first book, titled "I'm Fine...And Other Lies", a collection of personal stories about her life.

2017: Starred in and Directed "The Female Brain"

In 2017, Whitney Cummings starred in and made her directorial debut with "The Female Brain", an independent comedy film distributed by IFC Films.

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2017: "2 Broke Girls" Canceled

In 2017, after running for six consecutive seasons, "2 Broke Girls", which Whitney Cummings co-created, was cancelled.

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2018: Head Writer and Executive Producer for "Roseanne" Revival

In 2018, Whitney Cummings served as one of the head writers, as an executive producer, and overseer of day-to-day production of the revival of the comedy series "Roseanne", for ABC. She left the show before its cancellation.

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July 30, 2019: Released "Can I Touch It?" on Netflix

On July 30, 2019, Whitney Cummings released her fourth hour-long special, "Can I Touch It?", on Netflix. The special features a robot that Cummings had custom made to look exactly like her.

November 5, 2019: Launched "Good for You" Podcast

On November 5, 2019, Whitney Cummings launched her first podcast entitled "Good for You", co-hosted by Benton Ray, with Dan Levy as her first guest.

December 2021: Began Working With Kast Media

In December 2021, Whitney Cummings began working with podcast network Kast Media.

September 10, 2024: Featured Guest on Talk Tuah Podcast

On September 10, 2024, Whitney Cummings was the featured guest on the first episode of the "Talk Tuah" podcast, hosted by Haliey Welch.

2025: Participated in Riyadh Comedy Festival

In 2025, Whitney Cummings participated in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Comedy Festival, despite controversies regarding human rights issues. Cummings accepted an offer to participate in the festival.