Mary Mack (comedian)
Mikelle Louise Budge, professionally known as Mary Mack (born July 25, 1975),[1] is an American comedian, musician, and writer. Mack currently stars as Jessica Wearsprada "Jesse" Opposites in the animated sitcom Solar Opposites, which debuted May 8, 2020 on Hulu/Disney+.[2][3][4] She has released five albums of her stand-up.[5][6][7]
| Mary Mack | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Mikelle Louise Budge |
| Born | July 25, 1975 (age 48) Minnesota |
| Medium | Stand-up comedy |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Spouse | Tim Harmston |
| Notable works and roles | Comedy Central's Live at Gotham (2008) Dry Bar Comedy Golan the Insatiable (2013–2014) Aqua Teen Hunger Force (2013) Last Comic Standing (2014) Conan (2016–2018) Last Call with Carson Daly (2017) Solar Opposites (2020–present) Kiff (2023–present) |
| Website | www |
Early life Edit
Mack was born in Minnesota to parents from Duluth and raised near Webster, Wisconsin.[8][6][9]
She has a bachelor's degree in music from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and an MFA in conducting from Middle Tennessee State University.[10] She taught music at the elementary and middle school levels in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and Nashville, Tennessee,[11] and led a polka band in Nashville before moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to pursue a career in comedy.[12][10]
Career Edit
Mack describes herself as a "folk humorist," using storytelling and her strong northern-Wisconsin accent as part of her comedy,[13][14] playing off of the Fargo stereotype of Midwesterners in a way that Mack has described as blending Gilda Radner and Garrison Keillor.[10] Chris Spector of Midwest Record notes that the seeming innocence of Mack's "little-girl voice and demeanor ... gives Mack an edge. Mack's zingers hit harder since she lulls you into this place where you just don't expect it."[15] A classically trained musician with two degrees, she often plays mandolin as part of her act.[12] She has performed at SF Sketchfest, the Vancouver Comedy Fest, the Andy Kaufman Awards, and the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal.[16][17]
TV and radio appearances Edit
Before Solar Opposites, in which she voices Jessica Wearsprada "Jesse" Opposites, Mack voiced the character Dylan Beekler in the first season of Golan the Insatiable[18] making a guest appearance as a drunken Zeeble in Aqua Teen Hunger Force,[19] and voicing Renée in a recurring role in Kiff. Mack's other TV appearances include Last Comic Standing in 2014,[8] Conan,[20] Comedy Central's Live at Gotham,[21] and Last Call with Carson Daly.[14]
Mack has been featured on WTF with Marc Maron, The Bob & Tom Show, XM's National Lampoon Comedy Radio, Wits, and Minnesota Polka Spotlight.[21][8][22]
Discography Edit
Mack has released seven albums of her stand-up. Jake Kroeger of the Comedy Bureau called her 2015 album Pig Woman "especially mischievous and fun" with a "down-to-earth, Midwestern zeitgeist".[23] Richard Lanoie of the Serious Comedy Site called the album "an absolute hoot" and "absolutely fearless".[24]
- Either You Wake Up or You Don't (2007)
- Pinch Finger Girl: A Tragedomedy (2009)
- "Happy Father's Day" (digital single, 2009)
- Pig Woman (Stand Up! Records, 2015)
- Mrs. Taco Man (2019)
- Comedy Bootleg 2020 (2020)[5][6][7]
- All Ages (2021)
- Perm Day (2022)
Video games Edit
- Doobie Dooper – Trover Saves the Universe
- Jessica Wearsprada "Jesse" Opposites – Warped Kart Racers
Personal life Edit
Mack is married to fellow comedian Tim Harmston; they frequently tour together.[25]
References Edit
- ^ "Episode 34: Mary Mack and Scott Krinsky". The Dork Forest with Jackie Kashian (Podcast). April 19, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
- ^ McLevy, Alex (April 29, 2020). "May's TV premieres travel to Hollywood, Central Park, and the afterlife: Solar Opposites (Hulu)". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 28, 2018). "Alien Animated Comedy From 'Rick and Morty' Duo & 20th TV Gets Hulu Series Order". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (January 17, 2020). "Hulu Sets Premiere Dates For 'The Great', 'Ramy' And 'Solar Opposites' – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
- ^ a b Mary Mack at AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
- ^ a b c Mehta, Raghav (December 22, 2015). "12 questions with Mary Mack". City Pages. Minneapolis. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ a b "Albums". Mary Mack Comedy: Official Site. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
- ^ a b c Carlson Gustafson, Amy (May 19, 2014). "Five Twin Cities comedians on revived 'Last Comic Standing'". Pioneer Press. St. Paul. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ "Mack brings her north woods comedy home to the Northland". Duluth News Tribune. August 11, 2008. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
- ^ a b c Priesmeyer, Molly (August 24, 2005). "Rambler: Itinerant storyteller, standup, musician, and actor Mary Mack stumbles into comedy and staves off insanity". City Pages. Minneapolis. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
- ^ "Episode 273: Tattletail Videos With Mary Mack". Lady To Lady (Podcast). April 11, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
- ^ a b Horgen, Tom (December 20, 2011). "Mary Mack: Laugh now (cry later)". Star Tribune. Minneapolis-St.Paul. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
- ^ Roberts, Chris (September 29, 2010). "Mary Mack's riffs on the Midwest resonate nationally". Minnesota Public Radio. St. Paul, Minnesota. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
- ^ a b Pharris, Kelda J.L. (February 10, 2019). "Midwest comfort fuels comedian Mary Mack". Aberdeen News. Aberdeen, South Dakota. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
- ^ Chris Spector (April 7, 2016). "Volume 39/Number 158". Midwest Record. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
- ^ Maron, Marc (March 18, 2012). Episode 263 - Mary Mack. WTF with Marc Maron
- ^ "Did You Know?". Burnett County, Wisconsin Government Center. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
- ^ Bolles, Dan (October 25, 2017). "Comedian Mary Mack Talks Music, Writing and Touring With Her Husband". Seven Days. Burlington, Vermont. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ "Aqua Teen Hunger Force - Storage Zeebles". IMDb. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ Justin, Neal (September 15, 2016). "Minneapolis comic Mary Mack cracks up Conan". Star Tribune. Minneapolis-St.Paul. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
- ^ a b "Expect musical merriment from Mary Mack". Duluth News Tribune. Duluth, Minnesota. December 17, 2009. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
- ^ Roth, David (January 1, 2015). "Mary Mack". Minnesota Original. Season 5. Episode 2. PBS. Twin Cities PBS. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
- ^ Kroeger, Jake (October 10, 2015). "Mary Mack's Fantastic "Pig Woman" Out Now". The Comedy Bureau. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
- ^ Richard Lanoie (April 9, 2018). "Mary Mack – Pig Woman". The Serious Comedy Site. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
- ^ Thomas, Rob (July 14, 2015). "Wisconsin husband-and-wife comedians are married to comedy (and each other)". Capital Times. Madison, Wisconsin. Retrieved April 28, 2020.