[MADtv] Stephnie Weir

[Miss Information]

Full Name: Stephnie Carmel Weir [news]
Date of Birth: November 28th, 1967
Place of Birth: Odessa, TX
Height / Weight: 5'6" / <unknown>
Seasons on MADtv: 6-11 (2000 - 2006)

Recurring Characters:

• Dot Goddard
• Mrs. Leona Campbell
• Angela Wright
• Dorothy Lanier
• Dr. Kylie Johnson
• Vera Magnus
• Lili Hubsher
• Liz Allen
• Zamula Kincaid (Prehistoric Glamazon Huntresses)
• Mackenzie (Sorority Row)
• Mattie Lutz (Sony Neighbors)
• Muriel Westig (7am Condo Report)
• Kayla (Sean the Floor Leader)
• Kelly Shank (Feuding Parents)
• Gail Cinders (The Lillian Verner Game Show)
• Kat (QVC)
• Thelma Strom (Handicap Helpers)

Celebrity Impressions:

• Amber Benson
• Anna Nicole Smith
• Anne Hathaway
• Ashley Olsen
• Barbara Walters
• Betty White
• Beverly Mitchell
• Billie Burke
• Bree Van De Kampf
• Camilla Parker Bowles
• Christie Brinkley
• Courtney Love
• Darva Conger
• Diane Keaton
• Dido
• Elizabeth Crane
• Evangeline Lilly
• Farrah Fawcett
• Grace Koppel
• Hilary Duff
• Jane Krakowski
• Jann Carl
• Javier Domingues
• JC Chasez
• Jennifer Aniston
• Judge Marilyn Milian
• Julia Stiles
• Kathryn Morris
• L'il Kim
• Laura Bush
• Lois Smart
• Lola (Fantana)
• Martha Stewart
• Mary Kate Olsen
• Melanie Griffith
• Reba McIntyre
• Rue McClanahan
• Tiffany Brisette
• Tina Simpson
• Victoria Gotti

Biography:
Stephnie Weir was born on November 28th, 1967 in Odessa, Texas. In the early stages of her life, Stephnie's influences were her family, and particularly her father, who was a car salesman and according to Stephnie, a "Man's man", but who also had an artistic side and acted in community theatre. She describes her childhood as "untraditional", and credits a lot of her character and sketch material to her unique upbringing. From an early age, Stephnie was interested in acting and pursued traditional theatre. While in Texas, she attended Odessa Junior College, where she studied Theatre and Broadcast Communication, while working as a mail carrier, and performing in plays including "Oklahoma!" and "The Firebug" at Odessa's Globe Theatre. In 1989 she met and married Sean Benjamin, and together they moved to Edwardsville Illinois where Stephnie attended Southern Illinois University and took classes in women's studies and anthropology. It wasn't until 1993 that Stephnie discovered comedy and improvisation. 1993 was also the year that she divorced her first husband, and it wasn't until 1999 that she married Robert Dassie. Stephnie went through the Second City Training Centre, and had the chance to perform and test new works at the ImprovOlympic on teams like "Armando Diaz", the all-female "Jane", two-person improv "Naked" and three-person improv "Trio". Impressed by Stephnie's immense talents, Improv instructors Noah Gregoropoulos and Mick Napier encouraged that Weir audition for the Second City Mainstage. Her audition was successful and Stephnie wrote and performed in a number of Mainstage reviews including "Promise Keepers, Losers Weepers" (1997), "The Psychopath Not Taken" (1998) and "Second City 4.0" (1999). In July 2000, she was invited to audition for MADtv, and commenced her time on the show as a Featured Player in episode #607, which originally aired on the 18th of November 2000.

Where are they now?
As of Spring 2007, Stephnie recently starred in a sitcom on ABC entitled "Big Day". The show has not yet been picked up for a 2nd season.

Television - Starring Roles:

• Big Day - Lorna

Television - Guest Roles:

• Cupid: <various episodes> - Priscilla
• Joey: "Joey and the Actors Studio" - Maureen
• King of the Hill: "Arlen City Bomber" - Southern Tourist
• Unsolved Mysteries: "Episode #4.39" - Hotel Resident

Film - Starring Roles:

• <none at this time>

Film - Supporting Roles:

• Eden Court (2007) - Barb
• Fun with Dick and Jane (2005) - Debbie
• Moonpie (2006) - Candy Peterson
• New Port South (2001) - Librarian
• On Becoming Blonde (1998) - Judy
• Too Much Flesh (2000) - Connie

Other Credits:

• <none at this time>

Fun Facts:

• One of Stephnie's most popular characters, Leona Campbell, is based on a woman she overheard speaking on a long train trip, and her grandmother, whose wry observations in life have influenced Weir's comedic being.
• Stephnie auditioned twice for Saturday Night Live, ultimately losing her place in the cast to Rachel Dratch.
• Stephnie was considering branching out and moving to New York City (from Chicago) in 2000 when she was contacted by the producers of MADtv, flown out to Los Angeles, and subsequently hired as a featured player for the 2000-2001 season.
• Stephnie has been married twice -- her first marriage to Sean Benjamin in 1989 ended in 1993, and she has been married to Robert Dassie since 1999.
• Robert Dassie makes frequent appearances on the show, even playing himself in a sketch that Stephnie wrote about bad dreams in Season 8.
• Stephnie's mother, Sharon, lives in Oklahoma.
• Stephnie won the award for Female Improviser of the Year at the 2002 Chicago Improv Festival.
• Stephnie was born on the exact same day as Anna Nicole Smith, which, ironically, is also Stephnie's most notorious and well-recieved celebrity impression.
• Stephnie is sometimes mistaken as the mother of her own husband.

Famous Catch-Phrases:

• "Oh my goodness, honey!" --Mrs. Campbell
• "Reeeeally...?" --Mrs. Campbell
• "It was the funniest thing you ever saw!" --Dot
• "Howard!" --Anna Nicole Smith
• "You are not a scientist from the future... as I am!" --Zamula Kincaid (Prehistoric Glamazon Huntresses)
• "Silence mortals!" --Zamula Kincaid (Prehistoric Glamazon Huntresses)
• "Huntresses... ATTACK NOW!" --Zamula Kincaid (Prehistoric Glamazon Huntresses)

Memorable Quotes:

• "My husband teaches improvisation. My last name is Weir. So, if I hyphenated, it would be 'Weir-Dassie', so I just go by Weir." --Stephnie Weir (The Sharon Osbourne Show)
• "I adore these creative, eccentric and insane people. I realize, thus far, I've taken a good part of my personal and professional life's journey with them. I owe much to the art of improv." --Stephnie Weir (PerformInk Article)
• "I had an untraditional childhood. My Dad was a car salesman who also had a junkyard. We would take our vacations to repossess cars." --Stephnie Weir (PerformInk Article)
• "I've often been so hard on myself, but what has stuck with me were those moments of non-judgment and going with the flow. That's what improv is all about." --Stephnie Weir (PerformInk Article)
• "Improv has taught me a lot about improvising my life. Don't get upset if someone throws you a curve. Run with it. Enjoy the ride." --Stephnie Weir (PerformInk Article)

Pertinent Links:

• <none at this time>

Special Thanks:

• Dartanian - Biography
• ef_7 - Title Banner

Sources:

• Planet MADtv
• IMDb

__________________________________________________

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[Dartanian]

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A REALLY great article about Mad TV's GREATEST star, Stephnie!

Stephnie Weir
BY LUCIA MAURO
Words like versatile and chameleon can easily be applied to Stephnie Weir, whose seemingly endless range of acting abilities have bounded across the stages of Second City and ImprovOlympic, along with the popular televised comedy series, "MADtv." But this respected writer-performer-improviser does not aim for showy character transmogrifications. Instead Weir plumbs the depths of her own life experiences, then intelligently transforms them into humorously recognizable human truths tinged with darkness and empowerment.

A major comedy presence in Chicago for most of the 1990s, Weir married fellow writer-improviser Bob Dassie last summer. The pair now lives in Los Angeles, where Weir has been a cast member-writer for "MADtv" on Fox Network since 2000. They have returned to Chicago to perform their well-received original show, WeirDass, which evolved into two versions: a long-form improvised piece based on one audience suggestion; and WeirDass: Unmentionables, the scripted incarnation, which includes thoughtful musings on taboo topics and the current state of the world.

The couple–who met at the ImprovOlympic–will be back here in the summer to perform and visit colleagues who influenced and inspired their careers.

"Looking through my wedding photos," says Weir, long-distance from Los Angeles, "I’m overwhelmed by the number of people I’ve come to know and love–all from pursuing improvisation. My friend, Mary McCain, sang at Bob’s and my wedding, and she was also in the first improv class I ever took. I met my husband in class, as well as my best friend, Liz Edwards.

"I adore these creative, eccentric and insane people. I realize, thus far, I’ve taken a good part of my personal and professional life’s journey with them. I owe much to the art of improv."

Weir also underscores the familial and collaborative nature of improv. Her art and life were bound to be entwined. In a strange way, all the quirky things she experienced growing up in West Texas have shaped her career in comedy.

"A lot of my humor is very dark," explains Weir, 34, in a seemingly incongruous warm Texas drawl. "It also comes from my dad and my family."

She then goes on to relate a story about a pretty terrifying joke her father played on her. Weir, who was about four-years-old at the time, was eating breakfast alone in the kitchen when the lights suddenly went out. As she stumbled around in the darkness to find the light switch, her dad–who had been crouching down with a nylon mask over his face–jumped up and roared like a monster. Admitting to being scared out of her wits, the aspiring actor-comic later used this scenario as fodder for a grotesquely witty bit in Second City’s mainstage revue, The Psychopath Not Taken, in which she portrayed a female werewolf who devoured unsuspecting men on dates.

"I had an untraditional childhood," Weir continues, without the slightest tone of irony. "My dad was a car salesman who also had a junkyard. We would take our vacations to repossess cars."

But her dad, whom she describes as "a man’s man," also cultivated an artistic side. He acted in community theatre, too.

In fact, Weir wanted to be an actress from an early age. Her initial experiences were in traditional theatre. It wasn’t until 1993 that she stumbled upon improv and comedy.

While living in Texas, Weir worked as a mail carrier and studied theatre and broadcast communications at Odessa Junior College. She played Ado Annie in Oklahoma!, Minnie Fay in Hello, Dolly and a firefighter in The Firebugs at Odessa’s Globe Theater.

"One of the biggest influences in my life was a theatre professor from Odessa," shares Weir, "Dr. Paula Thompson, who was insistent that I move to Chicago and pursue an acting career. Her unconditional faith in my abilities has had a long-lasting impact on me."

In 1989, Weir moved to Chicago with her then-husband Sean Benjamin (a member of the Neo-Futurists) and began auditioning for off-Loop plays. But Weir felt overwhelmed and was her own worst critic. She and Benjamin then relocated to Edwardsville, Ill., where they attended Southern Illinois University. Weir took classes in women’s studies and anthropology, with the latter topic seeping into her comedic routines addressing cultural perceptions. At SIUE, she also performed in theatre productions, including Steel Magnolias.

Early on, she auditioned for the Second City touring company but did not get called back. On the train ride home, however, Weir admits to having "a real sense of clarity" about envisioning a career on the stage. Back in Chicago, Benjamin enrolled Weir in her first improv class in 1993.

"Improv helped open the door to writing," explains Weir, who is now devoting more time to the scribe side of the business. "You realize you just ‘wrote’ a scene in five minutes by letting it flow out of you. Improv also helped me with auditions; it made me a better listener."

After going through the Second City Training Center, she had a chance to perform and test new work at the ImprovOlympic on teams like Armando Diaz, the all-female JANE, two-person improv Naked, and three-person improv Trio. Weir went on to perform at various comedy and fringe festivals, including Aspen, Montreal and Edinburgh.

Improv instructors and directors Noah Gregoropoulos and Mick Napier recommended that she audition for the Second City mainstage. Weir served as a writer-performer in Promise Keepers, Losers Weepers (1997), The Psychopath Not Taken (1998) and Second City 4.0 (1999).

"Second City was such a great training ground," she notes, "because you had to adapt to so many varied audience reactions at each show. It also conditioned me to be true to myself on stage.

"And it’s such a collaborative effort. You don’t bring a written script to rehearsal. You come in with an idea and improvise together. You also learn so much when you bomb. You have to be fearless and willing to try something new again. I learned a lot about the arc of a scene and gained an internal understanding of the rhythm of a scene."

These lessons have carried over to her collaborative work as part of the ensemble of "MADtv." Interestingly, in June 2000, Weir was planning to branch out and considered moving to New York when the executive producer of "MADtv" (a Second City alum) invited her to audition. She was flown to LA and can’t stress enough the support and respect she received from the show’s producers and other actor-writers during the audition process.

At the audition, Weir was asked to present the standard three characters and three impersonations. But, instead of doing isolated interpretations, she "wove them into a little herald, with no break in between the characters–like they were performing in a play." She points out, "The impersonation is less about nailing the person and more about writing something creative."

At "MADtv," she enjoys the best of both worlds: stage and screen. Some of the shows are filmed before a live audience, so the cast can feed off that live energy. But she also acknowledges the benefits of filming a few programs without an audience–"you’re not distracted or trying to get a laugh," she says.

What are some of the key differences between the two mediums?

"On TV," Weir responds, "you have to hold longer for camera shots and replay scenes. At Second City, you would do a scene once. Here it’s a little more piecemeal."

She has written sketches for "MADtv" or presented an idea to the writers. Overall, scenes are generated in different ways–from precisely mapped out to improvised on the spot.

When we spoke, Weir was wrapping up her second season with "MADtv" (they are in production from mid-August through mid-March). The ensemble typically does a table read of 20 to 25 scenes on Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday are devoted to rehearsals, fittings and re-writes. And that schedule varies. Weir has had weeks where she rehearses the whole time or may not have to go in until 5 p.m. on a Tuesday. The show is taped on Thursday and Friday. She works three weeks, with one week off every month.

In LA, she finds that improv has been approached as "an individual thing"–i.e., as a showcase vehicle. But, with the newly opened ImprovOlympic LA and other improv opportunities, Weir is finding that more performers realize the importance of the ensemble and how that teamwork can benefit them in sketch comedy or on a sitcom.

She still thinks that, despite "Whose Line Is It Anyway?," long-form improv is a struggle to convey on screen.

"There’s no room for improv to fall flat on TV," she says. "I think elements of improv can be applied to TV and film–for example, the wholly improvised [Christopher Guest] movies, Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show. The game-like nature of improv would have to be downplayed, and it’s going to be about using the form in a more artistic way."

Weir has a few independent films to her credit, as well as an appearance in "Cupid" and a role in the Goodman Studio Theatre’s production of Schoolgirl Figure.

She applauds her improv training for giving her the confidence and skill to tackle other disciplines. Short-term goals include her ongoing comedy work, writing, the one-person-show genre and more traditional theatre. Weir talks about more of her influences.

"I’ve found extraordinary inspiration surrounding myself with other creative women," she says. "I was part of a writing group, 8 oz. Bette, in Chicago and, here in LA, I’m slowly discovering a similar outlet of supportive, fearless women.

"Along with Sean Benjamin, Charna Halpern and ImprovOlympic, an endless number of improvisers have influenced me–Kevin Dorff, Jimmy Carrane, Paul Grondy, Amy Poeler, Lily Frances, Abby Shachner, Dave Koechner, to name a few. It’s not about molding yourself into the person you admire, but following their lead in finding and embracing your own unique voice. Improvisation, like life, is about discovering yourself and playing well with others."

At this point in her life and career, Weir is listening more acutely to her inner improvisational voice.

"I’ve often been so hard on myself," she admits. "But what has stuck with me were those moments of non-judgment and going with the flow. That’s what improv is all about.

"Improv has taught me a lot about improvising my life. Don’t get upset if someone throws you a curve. Run with it. Enjoy the ride."

- Stephnie Weir

Current MAD TV writer Tami Sagher (Who is an ImprovOlympic vet and was a writer/ producer at BoomChicago) started an all female improv company with Stephnie a few years ago.



Source: http://www.yesand.com/features/seham/improvolympic.html

[Kwaf]

That's a good article. What's it from? I didnt realize she was that old.

[madtvlover]

OMG...this lady is sooooo hilarious!! I just don't believe she gets as much credit as she deserves. I read somewhere that she actually saved Madtv in alot of ways. WOW!! Now that takes a true talented tropper like Stephnie to do. Not saying that Mike, Mo and the others aren't good. They are just as talented and strong as I've ever seen them, but I just want to give credit to Stephnie. She is soooo funny and I really hope at least Mike and Aries can stay a little longer. It's just Stephnie, Mike and Aries now!! Madtv still hasn't lost everything!!

[GoGo Yubari]

Okay, first off, I'll bite; how did she save MadTV?

And in terms of it being Stephanie, Mike, and Aries, what d'you mean by that? They are the only three remaining established cast members at this point (by all rights Bobby should be at this point too, and he is quite identifiable, but he's been used so poorly recently), but they're certainly not the only three TALENTED cast members left.

[madtvlover]

Originally posted by GoGo Yubari
Okay, first off, I'll bite; how did she save MadTV?

And in terms of it being Stephanie, Mike, and Aries, what d'you mean by that? They are the only three remaining established cast members at this point (by all rights Bobby should be at this point too, and he is quite identifiable, but he's been used so poorly recently), but they're certainly not the only three TALENTED cast members left.

Okay....I'm going to cut in and say that I didn't say that Aries, Mike and Stephnie were the only talented ones left. I MEANT that they're the only "original" ones left. I didn't know that caused confusion, so my bad!! And as for Stephnie saving Madtv, I'm not saying that she did from my point of view but from what I read. If you go to www.amiannoying.com and type in Weir, you'll see where I'm coming from. Hope that clears things up!!

[Knickers]

That site is soo stupid! Why would it matter if she didn't have an A in her name if she was annoying or not? And crooked teeth? what crooked teeth?!

[madtvlover]

Originally posted by DaNiKsTa48
That site is soo stupid! Why would it matter if she didn't have an A in her name if she was annoying or not? And crooked teeth? what crooked teeth?!

Yeah that was really stupid. But I focused on the part where it said she saved the show and all that. I'm not sure if that was true but she did go from good to great in just one season. She really brought back alot of Dr. Kylie, Dot, Mrs. Cambell and The Drama Queen just in time. I think that's what they meant by saving it!! All in all, she's been great and her characters brought alot to Madtv!!

[ashcan05]

stephnie is talented but annoying, aries is finished, and mike needs to find new characters... long live the featured players....

[PitaPockets]

Originally posted by ashcan05
stephnie is talented but annoying, aries is finished, and mike needs to find new characters... long live the featured players....

I love Stephanie so I won't say anything because I think she's hilarious(Dot is the best, ) and that's that.

Aries I feel bad for. Although he's an established cast member, he doesn't get very good roles. They should give him better characters.

Mike...eh what can you say? He's very funny but I think they focus on him too much. He seems to almost always play "dad" or "husband". It wouldn't hurt to let other cast members get a chance.

[LookWhatICanDo]

Originally posted by madtvlover


Yeah that was really stupid. But I focused on the part where it said she saved the show and all that. I'm not sure if that was true but she did go from good to great in just one season. She really brought back alot of Dr. Kylie, Dot, Mrs. Cambell and The Drama Queen just in time. I think that's what they meant by saving it!! All in all, she's been great and her characters brought alot to Madtv!!

She didnt save the show. Where did that come from. But if the show NEEDED saving, she sure could save it. Yes Pitapockets, dot is the best. lol.

[PitaPockets]

Yeah, I agree the she didn't 'save' MADtv, but she added to it alot. And given certain situations, she could have. (just my opinion)

[madtvlover]

Originally posted by PitaPockets
Yeah, I agree the she didn't 'save' MADtv, but she added to it alot. And given certain situations, she could have. (just my opinion)

Yeah.......that's what I meant.

[Dartanian]

I've read alot of articles saying that the show died, ie. It lost alot of viewers with the departure of Nicole Sullivan. I've also read alot of articles saying the show has GAINED alot of viewers through Stephnies presence. I would say this is true, as I probably wouldn't be watching if Stephnie wasn't on the show. SHe is the reason I love MAD TV so much. Pitapockets, is it the same for you?

[PitaPockets]

Yeah, I would have to say it's the same for me. I think that the show has definitly gained from Stephanie's presence. Not to say I didn't like MADtv before, but she is the reason i'm crazy about the show.

[MysterE]

I don't know what episode it was, but I saw Stephnie as one of the guest commentators Saturday on VH1's Super Secret Movie Rules.

[E.Freedom]

I have to say I absolutley LOVE DOT!!! She is by far my fav character. My roommates call me Dot (they all have thier own MadTV personas as well) ...

But I am having a problem... My company moved me to a different office and I've lost ALL of my Dot Avatars, pics, sound bites: and now stupid SpyWear won't let met view parts of the official site.
Does anyone have any Dot pics I could share?????

[Scorpiogrrl4405]

Originally posted by Mystere
I don't know what episode it was, but I saw Stephnie as one of the guest commentators Saturday on VH1's Super Secret Movie Rules.

IT was the one about um love and tragedies and somethin like that. I saw it too.

Anyone notice how VH1 used to have Mo and Debra all the time and now they have Stephnie.

[madCC]

yea i saw mo and debra in "i love the 80s" (great show) and on E!'s 101 shockin moments

[madtvlover]

Stephnie Weir has REALLY come a long way!! IMO, she is the Madtv's leading lady now!! Her talent has taken off like a canon ball being shot out of a canon. She's terrific and I really do hope she stays with the show forever!! I can say that I really miss alot of the castmembers that have left the show....I even stopped watching it for a while, but because of Stephnie, I'm watching it whenever I can. She deserves alot of credit and I wish I could meet her to tell her what I think!!

GO STEPH!!