Janet Varney | |
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Born | Tucson, Arizona, U.S. | February 16, 1976
Alma mater | San Francisco State University (BA) |
Occupations |
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Years active | 2003–present |
Website | janetvarney |
Janet Varney (born February 16, 1976) is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer. She is known for voicing the character of Korra in the Nickelodeon animated television series The Legend of Korra , co-starring as Sheriff Evie Barret in the television series Stan Against Evil , and a recurring role as Becca Barbara in You're the Worst .
Varney has hosted The JV Club podcast since 2012 and is also the co-host of the Avatar: Braving the Elements podcast along with Dante Basco. She is the co-founder, creative director and producer of the long-running comedy festival SF Sketchfest in San Francisco.
Varney was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. She graduated as salutatorian from Rincon High School in 1993 [1] [2] and is an alumna of San Francisco State University, where she majored in theater, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1997. [3] She later pursued a career in interior design before eventually finding her way back into acting. [4] Varney was raised Mormon, but left the church at 17 and began to identify as an agnostic. [5] Varney is of English and Scottish descent. [6] [2]
Varney made her television debut in 2004 as a guest on the Comedy Central debate show Crossballs . She has appeared as a guest star in series including Bones , Better Off Ted , How I Met Your Mother , Hot in Cleveland, and Psych. Varney has had recurring roles on the shows Entourage (HBO), Burning Love (Yahoo! Screen), Country Comfort (Netflix), You're the Worst (FX), and Take My Wife (Seeso).
In 2012, she co-created Neil's Puppet Dreams with Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka. That same year, Varney also began her role voicing the main character of Korra on the Nickelodeon animated series The Legend of Korra , a spin-off of the series Avatar: The Last Airbender . Varney voiced the character of Korra for all four seasons of the show, which ended in 2014. After a decade of voicing Korra in both the series and several video games, Varney later stepped down from the role with her final outing as the character being in Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway in 2022. [7]
In 2016, Varney was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her role on Everyone's Crazy But Us, a web series produced on Funny or Die. [8]
Varney was a main cast member on IFC's Stan Against Evil , playing Sheriff Evie Barret. The show ran for three seasons from 2016 to 2018. [9] She was also the host of ESCAPE!, [10] a web series broadcast on Geek & Sundry where teams of celebrities work together to get out of an escape room. [11] The show ran for one season in 2017.
In 2018 Varney created, produced and starred in Fortune Rookie, an 8-episode web series presented by IFC. [12]
In 2005, Varney replaced Lisa Kushell as the host of the TBS cooking and entertainment show Dinner and a Movie . She appeared with Paul Gilmartin and Claud Mann in each episode, introducing films and injecting humor during the preparation of a creative dinner for some themes. The series was cancelled in 2011.
Varney has written and performed several comedic audio commentaries for films along with fellow SF Sketchfest co-founder Cole Stratton. These appear on the RiffTrax website under the RiffTrax Presents branding, as they are officially sanctioned by RiffTrax founder and Mystery Science Theater 3000 alumnus Michael J. Nelson.
She has performed in Rifftrax commentaries for the following films:
In March 2012, Varney launched a podcast titled The JV Club, hosted on Nerdist.com [13] from 2012 to 2018. In November 2018, it was announced that The JV Club would be moving to the Maximum Fun network. [14] The podcast released its 500th episode in Jan 2023. [15]
Varney has participated on a regular basis on the improv comedy podcast Spontaneanation with Paul F. Tompkins, where she is referred to as "Little Janet" Varney. She is also one of the core cast members of the improvised SciFi podcast Voyage to the Stars, [16] and the podcast Thrilling Adventure Hour . [17]
Avatar: Braving the Elements, an official Nickelodeon companion podcast to Avatar: The Last Airbender , premiered on June 22, 2021, hosted by Varney (the voice of Korra) and Dante Basco (the voice of Zuko). Varney and Basco discuss key moments and behind-the scenes information from each episode. [18]
She has appeared on the podcast Hello from the Magic Tavern as the character Braidwynn the Warrior Elf, who disguises herself as Crone Bakeress. She is also a frequent guest on the puzzle, riddle and lateral thinking podcast Hey Riddle Riddle .
Since 2022, Varney has voiced the character of Janet Lubelle on Welcome to Night Vale .
Varney is the co-founder, creative director and producer of SF Sketchfest, the San Francisco Comedy Festival, and is also the co-founder of the San Francisco sketch group Totally False People. She is a core member of the Los Angeles based improv group Theme Park Improv. [19] She performed with the Los Angeles and San Francisco-based group Sequel 4000.
Varney dated comedian Chris Hardwick from 2004 to 2011. [20] [21] [22] In 2018, Varney came out as bisexual. [23] In young adulthood, Varney was diagnosed with depersonalization disorder. [24]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | Stuck | Jane | |
2004 | Catwoman | Party Girl | |
2007 | Humble Pie | Joleen | |
Dante's Inferno | Cleopatra / Dis Intercom / Teacher / Ulysses' Usher | Voice | |
2008 | Bill | Amelia | Short film |
Drilbit Taylor | Attractive Blonde Woman | ||
2009 | Still Waiting... | Haley | Direct-to-video |
2010 | Nic & Tristan Go Mega Dega | Sylvia Fishtickle - Mom | |
2011 | The Selling | Mary Best | |
Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer | Mrs. Kate Moody | ||
2014 | Present Tense | Cynthia | Short film |
2016 | Norm of the North | Janet | Voice |
Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse | Shana | ||
2021 | See You Next Christmas | Lenora | |
Injustice | Wonder Woman / Diana Prince [25] | Voice | |
2023 | Urkel Saves Santa: the Movie | Old Lady Buechler, Amber, and Woman |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | Crossballs: The Debate Show | Additional Characters | Unknown episodes |
2005 | Back to Norm | Christine MacDonald | Television film |
2006 | Free Ride | Megan | Episode: "Up the Aunty" |
Love, Inc. | Glenda | Episode: "Full House" | |
Happy Hour | Molly | Episode: "The Mix CD" | |
What About Brian | Carol | Episode: "What About First Steps" | |
2007 | Home Purchasing Club | Debbie Driscoll | Unknown episodes |
The Untitled Rob Roy Thomas Project | Ellie Tennant | Television film | |
Halfway Home | Kimberly Costas | 2 episodes | |
Die Hardly Working | Heroine | Television film | |
Eternal Waters | Lead | ||
How I Met Your Mother | Stacey Gusar | Episode: "Little Boys" | |
The Weekend | Madelaine | Television film | |
2008 | Chocolate News | Trina Johns | 2 episodes |
Man Stroke Woman | Various | Television film | |
2008, 2014 | Psych | Mindy Howland / Connie Camp | 2 episodes |
2008–09 | Back on Topps | Bev Cleary | Series Unknown episodes |
Entourage | Amy Miller | 3 episodes | |
2009 | Memory Lanes | Tracy Morris | Television film |
Bones | Maureen Perot | Episode: "The Bones That Foam" | |
Better Off Ted | Lawyer | Episode: "Trust and Consequence" | |
Married Not Dead | Susan | Television film | |
2011 | Hot in Cleveland | Ellen | Episode: "Bad Bromance" |
Best Player | Tracy Saunders | Television film | |
2012 | The Game | Summer Grayson | 2 episodes |
Sullivan & Son | Kim Elliot | Episode: "The Bar Birthday" | |
Childrens Hospital | Stacy | Episode: "Ladies Night" | |
Neil's Puppet Dreams | Patron | 3 episodes; Also co-creator, writer, and executive producer | |
2012–13 | Burning Love | Carly | Regular role (23 episodes) |
Key & Peele | Campaign Advisor / White Woman #1 | 2 episodes | |
2012–14 | The Legend of Korra | Korra | Voice, main role (52 episodes) |
The Exes | Lorna | 2 episodes | |
2013 | MyMusic | Nancy Spackman | 2 episodes |
2013–14 | Kroll Show | Wife / Mrs. Wilson / Jessica | 2 episodes |
2014 | Warehouse 13 | Elise | Episode: "Secret Services" |
Maron | Delphine | Episode: "Therapy" | |
2014–19 | You're the Worst | Becca Barbara | Recurring role (28 episodes) |
2014–16 | Sanjay and Craig | Various | Voice, 4 episodes |
2015 | Shameless | Park Mom | Episode: "Rite of Passage" |
Other Space | Host | Episode: "Getting to Know You" | |
2016 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Movie Trailer Wife | Episode: "Kaley Cuoco Wears a Black Blazer and Slip on Sneakers" |
American Housewife | Jenn | Episode: "Power Couple" | |
ESCAPE! | Host | Web series | |
2016–17 | Mutt & Stuff | Janine / Pilot | Voice, 3 episodes |
2016–18 | Take My Wife | Melina Marquez | 5 episodes |
Stan Against Evil | Evie Barret | Main role: 18 episodes | |
2017 | Adam Ruins Everything | Mandy | Episode: "Adam Ruins Weight Loss" |
Hidden America with Jonah Ray | Leona | Episode: "Cleveland: Can't Win Them All" | |
HarmonQuest | Sedona | Episode: "The Barely Cursed Bazaar of Commerce" | |
2018 | Bravest Warriors | Ambulance Driver | Voice, episode: "I Just Can't Cope Without My Soap" |
2020 | Dicktown | Tracey | Episode: "The Mystery of the Moaning Ghost" |
The Loud House | Dr. Carol Linnaeus / Automated Voice | Voice, episode: "Blinded by Science" | |
The George Lucas Talk Show | Self | 2 episodes | |
2021 | Country Comfort | Summer | 8 episodes |
Bless the Harts | Voice, episode: "Betty's Birthday" | ||
2023-24 | The Legend of Vox Machina | Vilya | Voice, 2 episodes |
2023 | Harley Quinn | Mera | Voice, episode: "A Very Problematic Valentine's Day Special" |
2024 | Um, Actually | Herself | Season 9, Episode 12 |
Year | Title | Voice role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | The Legend of Korra | Korra | |
Smite | |||
2021 | Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl | Voiceover added in the June 2022 update | |
2022 | Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway | Final time voicing Korra |
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series | Everyone's Crazy But Us | Nominated |
Dante Roman Basco is an American actor. He is known for his role as Rufio, the leader of the Lost Boys in Steven Spielberg's Hook, Dolph in the cult film But I'm a Cheerleader, the lead character Ben Mercado in the hit indie film The Debut, and for voicing the titular protagonist of American Dragon: Jake Long and Prince Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
PrinceZuko, also known as the Blue Spirit, is a fictional character in Nickelodeon's animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender. Created by Eric Coleman and designed by series creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the character is voiced by Dante Basco in Avatar: The Last Airbender and Bruce Davison in The Legend of Korra, and portrayed by Dev Patel in M. Night Shyamalan's 2010 film The Last Airbender and Dallas Liu in the 2024 Netflix live-action remake series.
Katara is a fictional character in the Nickelodeon animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender and its sequel series The Legend of Korra. The character, created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, is voiced by Mae Whitman in the original series and Eva Marie Saint in the sequel series, The Legend of Korra. She is Chief Hakoda and Kya's daughter and Sokka's younger sister. In the 2010 live action film adaptation, she was played by Nicola Peltz, while in the live-action television series adaptation, she is portrayed by Kiawentiio.
General Iroh, credited as Uncle is a fictional character in Nickelodeon's animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender. Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the character was voiced by Mako in the first two seasons and, due to Mako's death, by Greg Baldwin in the third season and the sequel series The Legend of Korra.
Princess Azula is a fictional character and the secondary antagonist in Nickelodeon's animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender, created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, and voiced by Grey DeLisle.
SF Sketchfest, or The San Francisco Comedy Festival, is an American comedy festival founded in 2002 by Bay Area actor-comedians David Owen, Janet Varney and Cole Stratton. It takes place every January and February in a variety of Bay Area venues and features sketch comedy, improv comedy, film and television tributes and reunions, solo performers, music, podcasts and stand-up comedy performers.
RiffTrax is an American company that produces scripted humorous commentary tracks which are synced to feature films, education shorts, and television episodes. With the talents of former Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) cast members and writers, RiffTrax also produces several live shows each year which are broadcast to movie theaters. The style of commentating originated from MST3K, their earlier television series, in which they would similarly mock films aloud while watching them. As of September 2024, RiffTrax has riffed 554 feature films, 488 short films, and 16 TV episodes.
The Legend of Korra, also known as Avatar: The Legend of Korra, or more rarely simply as Korra, is an American animated fantasy action television series created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko for Nickelodeon. As a stand-alone sequel to their previous series, Avatar: The Last Airbender, which ran for three seasons from February 21, 2005, to July 19, 2008, Legend of Korra ran for 52 episodes ("chapters"), separated into four seasons ("books"), from April 14, 2012, to December 19, 2014. It has been continued as a comic book series.
Avatar Korra, commonly simply known as Korra, is the title lead character in Nickelodeon's animated television series The Legend of Korra, in which she is depicted as the current incarnation of Raava's Avatar—the spiritual embodiment of balance and change—responsible for maintaining peace and harmony in the world. She is the immediate reincarnation of Avatar Aang. The character was created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko and was voiced by Janet Varney, and by Cora Baker as a child.
Cole Stratton is an American actor, comedian, podcaster, writer and producer, best known as one of the Co-Founders of SF Sketchfest, the San Francisco Comedy Festival and the co-host of the Pop My Culture Podcast.
Book One: Air is the first season of the American animated television series The Legend of Korra created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. Consisting of twelve episodes, it was initially intended to be a stand-alone epilogue miniseries sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender before the series was expanded to an order of four seasons ("books") of fifty-two episodes ("chapters") in total. Book One: Air aired from April 14 to June 23, 2012, on the Nickelodeon channel in the U.S., and is broadcast in other countries beginning in June 2012.
"Out of the Past" is the ninth episode of the first season of the American animated television series The Legend of Korra, which is a spin-off/stand-alone sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender. The show follows Avatar Korra, the only person capable of bending all four elements, as she tries to maintain balance in the world, with this season focusing on her battle with Amon and his group of equalists as they intend to remove bending abilities from the world using Amon's ability to take bending away from an individual.
Bolin is a major fictional character in Nickelodeon's animated television series The Legend of Korra, which aired from 2012 to 2014. The character and the series, a sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender, were created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. He is voiced by P. J. Byrne. Bolin is able to manipulate the classical element of earth, which is known as earthbending. It is revealed in the third season that he is also able to create and control lava, which is a very rare sub-ability called lavabending.
Zaheer is a fictional character in Nickelodeon's animated television series The Legend of Korra. He serves as the main antagonist of Book Three: Change, and his actions have lingering effects on Avatar Korra and the series' plot in the following book. The character was created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko and is voiced by Henry Rollins. The character was well received by critics as a complex and intimidating villain.
Jessica McKenna is an American actress, comedian and singer. McKenna trained with The Groundlings and at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, where she regularly performs. McKenna was one of the stars of Fox's Party Over Here, alongside Nicole Byer and Alison Rich, and hosted the podcast Off Book: The Improvised Musical until 2023.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is an American multimedia franchise created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. The franchise began with the Avatar: The Last Airbender, which aired on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008. The series is set in an Asian-inspired fantasy world in which some people can telekinetically manipulate one of the four classical elements: air, water, earth, or fire. Only the titular "Avatar" can bend all four elements and is responsible for maintaining balance in the world.
Irene Tu is an American comedian, actor, and writer. She has appeared at comedy festivals such as SF Sketchfest, the Portland Queer Comedy Festival, Bridgetown Comedy Festival, and Comedy Central's Clusterfest, and on shows such as Take My Wife and Funny How? In 2016, she was named one of KQED's Women to Watch and SFist listed her as one of the Bay Area's 11 Best Stand Up Comics. In 2017, the San Francisco Chronicle dubbed her as an "artist on the brink of fame". In 2019, Vulture by New York Magazine placed her on their list The Comedians You Should and Will Know in 2019, tracking "23 comics that industry insiders are watching closely". The same year, SFist listed her as one of 13 San Francisco Standup Comedians to Go See Now.
Michaela Jill Murphy, also known by her stage name Jessie Flower, is an American voice actress. She is best known for voicing Toph Beifong in Avatar: The Last Airbender and Chaca in Kronk's New Groove and The Emperor's New School.
Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway is a racing game developed by Bamtang Games and published by GameMill Entertainment. It is the third entry in the Nickelodeon Kart Racers series, following Nickelodeon Kart Racers (2018) and Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix (2020). Like its predecessors, Slime Speedway is based around characters from various Nickelodeon animated series, known as "Nicktoons", participating in kart races and attempting to defeat their opponents. The game was released on October 14, 2022 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
I've been woefully lax in celebrating Pride this month on social media! So I'm ending this month listing 10 movies that made me feel less weird about my feelings for ladies as a young person. #pride