Jonathan “Jon” Corn is an American film and television editor known for shaping narrative pacing on hit projects from HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm to Netflix’s Fatherhood. A member of the American Cinema Editors (A.C.E.), Corn has edited comedies and dramas alike – from improvisational sitcoms to sci-fi blockbusters. He has earned industry recognition (including Emmy nominations) for his work and continues to edit high-profile films and series.
Jon Corn – a Maryland native who studied English – moved to Los Angeles early in his career to break into film and TV. He began as a post-production assistant on MADtv, where he learned editing techniques under veteran editor Matt Davis. Corn’s career highlights include:
- Early Editing Roles: Corn’s first editing credits came on niche shows. He served as an additional editor on MTV’s comedy Austin Stories and as lead editor on Nickelodeon/VH1’s spoof series 2gether, both in the early 2000s.
- Breakthrough with Curb Your Enthusiasm: In 2001 he joined HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm as an editor (working alongside Steve Rasch), eventually editing dozens of episodes through 2017. This improvisational comedy made Corn Emmy-nominated for Outstanding Picture Editing in 2003 and 2004.
- Other TV Credits: Corn edited episodes of FX’s cult comedy The League (on which he was billed through New League Productions). More recently, he was a picture editor on Apple TV+’s sci-fi series Murderbot (2024).
Major Film Projects. Corn’s editing work extends to feature films as well. He co-edited the Netflix sci-fi action-comedy The Adam Project (2022) starring Ryan Reynolds. He was the film editor for the Kevin Hart drama Fatherhood (2021). Other notable film credits include indie and studio comedies such as Grandma (2015), The Big Wedding (2013), and Good Grief (2023). (Rotten Tomatoes confirms his filmography, listing Corn as editor on Grandma, The Big Wedding, Brüno (2009), Dealin’ with Idiots (2013), and Good Grief.) In all these projects, Corn’s role was to assemble raw footage – often unscripted or multi-camera material – into a coherent narrative with polished timing.
Editing Style and Approach
Jon Corn’s editing style is shaped by his background as an English major and a keen ear for dialogue. He explains that each scene feels like assembling a “great sentence” from improvisation. On shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm, actors ad-lib scenes from outlines, so Corn’s task was to watch hours of raw footage and pick out the best jokes and story beats. He says cutting an improvised comedy “is a lot of fun” – each take offers multiple ideas, and he must “pluck together the story information and the best jokes… to put together a coherent scene”. As Corn puts it, “My goal is to make great sentences, not great edits.” This philosophy emphasizes clarity and timing over flashy cuts.
Awards and Recognition
Corn’s craftsmanship has been formally recognized. He is an ACE (American Cinema Editors) member – an honorary society for top editors – and has earned Emmy Award nominations for his TV editing. Notably, his work on Curb Your Enthusiasm garnered nominations for Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing in 2003 and 2004. These nominations reflect peers’ praise for his ability to handle complex, improv-heavy material. His film editing has earned solid reviews (for example, Grandma earned a 91% “Certified Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes), though major awards beyond the Emmys are not publicly noted.
Key Projects and Credits
- HBO – Curb Your Enthusiasm (2001–2017): Joined the editing team in season 2. Emmy-nominated for editing in 2003 and 2004.
- Netflix – Fatherhood (2021): Sole film editor on this family drama starring Kevin Hart.
- Netflix – The Adam Project (2022): Co-editor of this sci-fi action film starring Ryan Reynolds.
- FX – The League (2009–2015): Edited episodes of this improvised sitcom about friends in a fantasy football league.
- Apple TV+ – Murderbot (2024): Picture editor on the sci-fi series adaptation of the popular books.
These credits (and others) demonstrate Corn’s versatility: he moves between half-hour comedies, family dramas, and genre films.
Behind the Scenes – How He Got Started
Corn’s path to editing was not linear. He moved to Los Angeles from Maryland with a broad goal to work in film/TV, and “was unaware of what editing was” as a career. Inspired by music videos on MTV, he decided he wanted to piece together images and sound. His first job was as a post-production assistant on MADtv, where he soaked up knowledge from the editing team. A combination of mentorship (editor Matt Davis giving him access to the editing room) and persistence landed Corn small editing gigs. His very first editing credit was on the MTV sketch comedy Austin Stories, followed by editor on 2gether (VH1/Nickelodeon). Those early “learning years” prepared him for his big break: producer-writers Mark and Brian Gunn eventually hired him on Curb Your Enthusiasm, where he became a key editor on the acclaimed series.
Conclusion
Jon Corn’s career shows how an editor’s creativity can shape comedy and drama. By focusing on story and dialogue, Corn turned raw improv scenes into polished TV episodes and films. Today he continues editing major projects (his 2024 credits include Murderbot) and occasionally expresses interest in directing. Whether you’re a filmmaking fan or an aspiring editor, Corn’s story highlights the importance of persistence, collaboration, and always “making great sentences” in your cuts.
