Do showrunners hire staff writers who specialize in jokes?

Advice from a TV writer/showrunner

A subscriber to my paid tier submitted this question:

Michael, do showrunners ever hire staff writers that specialize in jokes? I know how to start scenes later and leave early and can write some good jokes, but I really struggle with plot and structure.

Great question. And I say this as someone who’s considered by colleagues to be a really good joke writer: Jokes are not nearly as valuable as you think they are.