Kate Berlant

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Kate Berlant
Born
Kate Elizabeth Méndez Berlant

1987 (age 35–36)[1][2]
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma materNew York University
Occupation
  • Actress
  • comedian
Years active2002, 2012–present
ParentTony Berlant

Kate Elizabeth Méndez Berlant (born 1987), is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and writer. Her stand-up and improvisational comic acts are surrealist and absurdist.[3] Since 2016, she has performed in a number of television comedies and feature films, including roles in Boots Riley's 2018 film Sorry to Bother You, Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Olivia Wilde's Don't Worry Darling.

Personal life

Berlant was born in Los Angeles. Her father is the artist Tony Berlant,[4] who was born in New York City and is of Jewish heritage. Her mother, performer Helen Méndez Berlant (née Méndez), is of Cuban and Spanish descent.[5][6][7][8]

Berlant received a master's degree in performance studies from New York University.[9]

She is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.[10]

Career

She has appeared twice on The Tonight Show, The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail and starred in an episode of the Netflix original series The Characters.[11] With John Early, Berlant created the Vimeo original series 555 produced by Abso Lutely Productions.[12] Berlant has performed regularly at the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival.[13] Berlant has performed at and collaborated with arts institutions including MoMA PS1, White Columns, the Getty Center, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.[14] Berlant was the winner of the American version of Taskmaster in 2018.[15] In June 2022, Berlant and Early released a one-hour sketch comedy schedule on Peacock TV, entitled Would It Kill You to Laugh? [16]

Would It Kill You to Laugh?

Would It Kill You to Laugh? is a one-hour sketch comedy special for Peacock that is directed by Andrew DeYoung and co-stars Berlant and John Early. The duo play fictionalized versions of themselves in the future who had previously been on the sitcom He’s Gay, She’s Half-Jewish and are reunited by Meredith Vieira[17] after a bitter falling out.[18] The comedians use the framing device of the reunion to display short skits with absurdist characters that they liked and built upon over a decade of creating and filming short comedy videos[18] and structured the special around shorter, digestable segments that would be consistent with the popularity of short-form video,[19] but using comedy that would be timeless.[20] Some of the sketches had been planned for years, but they weren't filmed until they had a budget for them; Would It Kill You to Laugh? was backed by both Peacock and A24.[21]

Paste published two reviews of the special: Michelle Cohn positively compared the special Bo Burnham's Inside for the way that both use identity to in comedy to cause audience reflection[22] and Clare Martin scored the special an 8.9 out of 10 for its "no-holds-barred surrealism".[23] Vulture's Kathryn VanArendonk praised the work as a "thoughtful and striking about partnerships and, in particular, about male–female relationships" and considers this "darker and more alarming" than their previous video collaborations.[24] Sean L. McCarthy of Decider recommended that audiences view it for the pair's ability to mine the "rich comedic tradition for overconfident characters who find themselves in way over their heads but cannot seem to get themselves out of the situation without making things worse".[25]

Cinnamon in the Wind

Berlant's first[26] stand-up special, the largely-improvised[27] Cinnamon in the Wind, was recorded in March 2019 at the Upright Citizens Brigade[28] for FX and directed by Bo Burnham,[29] who first suggested that she record a special.[30] The special was released on Hulu on September 15, 2022, while the Burnham-directed one-woman show Kate, also starring Berlant was running in New York City.[31] Decider's Sean L. McCarthy recommends watching the special and points out the meta-textual element of the comedy.[29] Alexandra Schwartz of The New Yorker similarly praises Berlant's comedy for breaking down the typical relationship between "performer, ego, and audience".[32]

Filmography

Film

Kate Berlant film work
Year Title Role Notes
2012 Family Dinner Mom Short film
2014 The Greggs Shelley
2015 Shopping Short film
2016 I Love You Both Ivy
2016 Dean Naomi
2016 Buster's Mal Heart Phone Sex Operator (voice)
2018 Sorry to Bother You Diana DeBauchery
2018 Little Bitches Counselor
2018 Happy Anniversary Lindsay
2018 Duck Butter Kathy
2019 Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Ticket Saleswoman
2019 After Class Jackie Cohn
2019 Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein Monica Fulton
2022 Don't Worry Darling Peg
TBA First Time Female Director Post-production

Television

Kate Berlant television work
Year Title Role Notes
2002 Lizzie McGuire Student #2 Episode: "Best Dressed for Much Less"
2014 Don't Walk Smug Local Episode: "Which Hood?"
2014 Crazy House Television film
2015 Monica Denise Episode: "Episode 2"
2016–2018 Animals. Sapphire / various (voice) 4 episodes
2016–2019 Those Who Can't Kate McGill / Zandra 2 episodes
2016 Netflix Presents: The Characters Various 2 episodes
2016–2020 BoJack Horseman Various voices 3 episodes
2016–2017 Clarence Ms. Julip (voice) 4 episodes
2016 Transparent Ronit Episode: "Oh Holy Night"
2016 Comedy Bang! Bang! Karen Episode: "Kaley Cuoco Wears a Black Blazer and Slip on Sneakers"
2016–2021 Search Party Nia / Editor 6 episodes
2017 555 Various 5 episodes
2017 Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ Morningstar Episode: "Dean's Legacy"
2017 Danger & Eggs Rhonda the Relator (voice) Episode: "Tube of Pain/Broccoli"
2017 Comrade Detective Reporter (voice) Episode: "The Whole World is Watching"
2017 Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job!
Awesome 10 Year Anniversary Version, Great Job? 		Linda Television film
2017–2018 Ghosted Linda 7 episodes
2017 Easy Lauren Episode: "Conjugality"
2018 Another Period Reporter Episode: "Sex Nickelodeon"
2018 Alone Together Jess Episode: "Sleepover"
2018 Taskmaster US Self Episode 1–8
2018 High Maintenance Reina Episode: "#goalz"
2018 Nailed It! Self Episode: "Just Do It Yourself!"
2019 The Other Two Pitzi Pyle Episode: "Chase Gets the Gays"
2019 I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson Owner of Jim Davis House Episode: "We Used to Watch This at My Old Work"
2019 Life in Pieces Eliza Episode: "Birth Meddling Jacket Denial"
2019 Tuca & Bertie (voice) 3 episodes
2019 The Good Place Esmerelda Episode: "The Answer"[33]
2020 Our Cartoon President Lara Trump (voice) Episode: "Warren vs. Facebook"
2020 Indebted Maggie Episode: "Everybody's Talking About the Shiva"
2020 The Shivering Truth (voice) Episode: "Nesslessness"
2021 Close Enough River Lake (voice) Episode: "Time Hooch/World's Greatest Teacher"
2021 Loki Ren Faire Woman Episode: "The Variant"
2021 American Dad! HG Member (voice) Episode: "Hot Scoomp"
2021 Bob's Burgers Shampooer (voice) Episode: "Seven-tween Again"
2021 The Fungies! Margot Mafungo / Mom (voice) Episode: "Pascal's BIG Fan"
2021 Summer Camp Island Striped Horse (voice) Episode: "Barb and the Spotter Bears Chapter 3: Nightcap"
2022 Space Force Sal Jr. (voice) Episode: "The Hack"
2022 Life & Beth Kate Episode: "Life & Beth"
2022 A League of Their Own Shirley Cohen
2022 Would It Kill You to Laugh? Various A sketch comedy special for Peacock, with John Early
2022 Cinnamon in the Wind Herself A stand-up special directed by Bo Burnham, filmed in 2019 and released on Hulu

References

  1. ^ "Berlant, Kate, 1987-". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
  2. ^ "Berlant, Kate 1987-". WorldCat. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
  3. ^ Keeping It Fake Kate Berlant’s Experimental Comedy, The New York Times; accessed March 3, 2018.
  4. ^ Kate Berlant's The Characters takes easy shots at the art world AV Club; accessed April 13, 2017.
  5. ^ "Kate Berlant and John Early's Escape from Comic Realism". The New Yorker. 9 February 2017.
  6. ^ "Kate Berlant and John Early Are Hungry: A Love Story in Four Courses". FLOOD.
  7. ^ Fong, Jonathan (January 27, 2017). "The best (and worst) decorating trends from the last 30 years — Jewish Journal".
  8. ^ Swann, Jennifer (September 20, 2018). "Artist Tony Berlant and Daughter, Comedian Kate Berlant, Get Personal". LA Magazine.
  9. ^ KATE BERLANT’S TABOO-SHATTERING COMEDY Newsweek; accessed March 3, 2018.
  10. ^ @kateberlant (31 December 2019). "This is long overdue, but I finally joined @DemSocialists — become a member & support today! As little as $5/ month…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ^ Netflix Sets New Sketch Comedy Series ‘The Characters’ For March, Deadline; accessed February 11, 2016.
  12. ^ KATE BERLANT AND JOHN EARLY’S ESCAPE FROM COMIC REALISM New Yorker; accessed April 3, 2017.
  13. ^ The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival, SXSW, The Just For Laughs Festival, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and The New York Comedy Festival. New Yorker; accessed March 3, 2018.
  14. ^ Kate Berlant Is Blurring The Lines Between Art And Entertainment FADER; accessed March 3, 2018.
  15. ^ "Taskmaster Hosted by Reggie Watts Premieres on Comedy Central Next Month". Vulture. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
  16. ^ Parthsarthy, Deeksha. "What time will Would It Kill You to Laugh? air on Peacock? Release date, cast and more details explored". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
  17. ^ Gajjar, Saloni (2022-05-04). "John Early, Kate Berlant ask Would It Kill You To Laugh? in an exclusive look at Peacock's comedy". The A. V. Club. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  18. ^ a b Urban, Sasha (2022-06-28). "Kate Berlant and John Early Discuss the Origin of 'Would It Kill You to Laugh?' and Their 'Absence of Sexual Tension'". Variety. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  19. ^ Zuckerman, Esther (2022-06-23). "Kate Berlant and John Early Are Inspired by Awkward Reunions and Architectural Digest". Thrillist. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  20. ^ Hullender, Tatiana (2022-06-22). "Kate Berlant & John Early Interview: Would It Kill You To Laugh?". Screen Rant. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  21. ^ Hess, Liam (2022-07-06). "There's Something Funny About John Early and Kate Berlant". Vogue. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  22. ^ Cohn, Michelle (2022-08-24). "How Would It Kill You To Laugh? and Inside Create a Full Picture of Millennial Anxiety". Paste. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  23. ^ Martin, Clare (2022-06-30). "Kate Berlant and John Early Create Surreal, Uncomfortable Comedy on Would It Kill You to Laugh?". Paste. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  24. ^ VanArendonk, Kathryn (2022-06-27). "Welcome Back to John Early and Kate Berlant's Absurd Duet". Vulture. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  25. ^ McCarthy, Sean L. (2022-06-24). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'Would It Kill You To Laugh? Starring Kate Berlant & John Early' On Peacock, These Characters Were Made For Each Other". Decider. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  26. ^ Bell, BreAnna (2022-09-13). "FX Announces Comedy Specials From Kate Berlant, Byron Bowers to Premiere on Hulu". Variety. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  27. ^ Late Night with Seth Meyers, 2022-09-15
  28. ^ Feidelson, Lizzie (2022-09-23). "Kate Berlant Plays the Fool". Vulture. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
  29. ^ a b McCarthy, Sean L. (2022-09-22). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'Kate Berlant: Cinnamon in the Wind' On FX On Hulu, Reflecting The Inherently False Moments Of Performative Comedy". Decider. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  30. ^ Zinoman, Jason (2022-08-23). "Kate Berlant Can't Hide Any Longer". The New York Times. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
  31. ^ Alter, Rebecca (2022-07-14). "Bo Burnham Will Direct Kate Berlant's One-Woman Show, Kate". Vulture. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  32. ^ Schwartz, Alexandra (2022-09-28). "Kate Berlant's Broken Mirror". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
  33. ^ Elderkin, Beth (November 22, 2019). "The Good Place Finally Gives Us Chidi's Story in a Clever Spin on a Clip Show". Gizmodo. Retrieved November 22, 2019.

External links

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  • Kate Berlant at IMDb
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