Aniello is an alumna of the Upright Citizens Brigade, an improvisational and Sketch comedy group founded in 1990 by a group of comedians including Amy Poehler who is an executive Producer of Broad City. The troupe was originally based in Chicago but moved in 1996 to New York City where they opened their own theater, The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, where they both performed and taught classes.
Aniello and Paul W. Downs met at a Upright Citizens Brigade Level One improvisational comedy class. Aniello and Downs began working together on a series of digital shorts and improv. They started their own website and comedy production company called Paulilu Productions. Together they have been writing, directing and acting in digital shorts since 2007. Some of their most well-known web series include The Diary of Zac Efron and The Real Housewives of South Boston. She also co-wrote and directed the first commercial for "Dollar Shave Club".
Aniello has received recognition for her work, including “Best of NY Sketch,” in the 2010 New York Comedy Festival and a TONY’s “Critic’s Pick.” Her work has been featured in the 2011 Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal.
Aniello directed and, with Downs, co-wrote the comedy Rough Night, which was released in June 2017. It stars Scarlett Johansson, Zoe Kravitz, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, Demi Moore, Ty Burrell and Colton Haynes. It has been announced she will direct the film version of the BBC police drama series Bergerac. It will star Lloyd Owen, Jack Davenport and Zooey Deschanel.
When Broad City moved to television Glazer and Jacobson asked Aniello to direct the pilot and cast Downs as Trey, the trainer and boss of Jacobson’s character on the show. After the pilot did well and the show was picked up by Comedy Central, they asked both Aniello and Downs to join the group of Writers for the show. While collectively, the group was relatively inexperienced and self-taught, they shared a passion for a feminist perspective on comedy and attribute their success to their collective vision. Broad City is widely known for its social commentary. The show is groundbreaking in how is breaks gender roles, positively portrays female sexuality and polyamory in hookup culture.
