Karen Kilgariff

Last updated

Karen Kilgariff
KAREN-KIL-PP.jpg
Born (1970-05-11) May 11, 1970 (age 54)
Petaluma, California, U.S.
Years active1990–present
Notable works and roles My Favorite Murder Podcast Co-Host, Co-founder of Exactly Right Podcast Network

Karen Kilgariff (born May 11, 1970, in Petaluma, California) is an American writer, comedian, singer, author, actress, television producer, and podcast host. She began her career as a stand-up comedian in the early 1990s and later became a television actress, most notably as a cast member on Mr. Show . She has written for many comedy television shows, including being the head writer on The Rosie Show , The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Pete Holmes Show . [1] [2]

Contents

Since 2016 she has co-hosted the true crime comedy podcast My Favorite Murder along with Georgia Hardstark. [3] In 2018, she and Hardstark co-founded the podcast network Exactly Right. [4] [5] Along with Hardstark, Kilgariff wrote the non-fiction book Stay Sexy and Don't Get Murdered, which was released on May 28, 2019. [6] [7]

Early life

Karen Kilgariff grew up outside Petaluma, California with her mother Patricia (née Knight), who died in 2016, her father Jim, and her older sister Laura. Both of Karen's parents worked; her father was a San Francisco firefighter and her mother was a head psychiatric nurse at the Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute. [8] She attended St. Vincent de Paul High School in Petaluma. [9]

Career

Stand up and acting

Karen Kilgariff started out as a stand-up comedian in Sacramento in the 1990s. She went on to land comedy roles on television, including being a cast member on seasons 3 and 4 of Mr. Show . [10] She would later appear in the 2015 reboot, W/ Bob & David , as well. [11] She played the role of Jean Pettengill for five episodes of The Book Group in 2003.

In 2015, Kilgariff teamed up with Drennon Davis to record a live album of comedy songs titled I Don't Care, I Like It. [12]

Writing career

In 2003 Kilgariff was hired by Ellen DeGeneres to help write for her comedy special, Ellen DeGeneres: Here and Now . Kilgariff later toured with DeGeneres as her opening act. [13] Kilgariff was then named head writer for the day time talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show , which launched in September 2003. [14] She occasionally appeared on screen in sketches and other segments. She was also part of a comic duo (with Mary Lynn Rajskub) called Girls Guitar Club.

Kilgariff served as the head writer for The Rosie Show, which aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network. She later served as the head writer for The Pete Holmes Show, which aired on TBS. [15]

She also wrote for and starred in truTV's Talk Show: The Game Show and produced Making History on FOX Broadcasting Company.

Kilgariff wrote four episodes for FX’s comedy-drama Baskets between 2017 and 2019. [16]

Podcast hosting

In 2014, Kilgariff started a podcast with comedian Chris Fairbanks called Do You Need A Ride?. [17] The podcast originally took place entirely in a car, where Karen and Chris would speak to their guest while driving around. Citing safety concerns, however, they now occasionally record at the Exactly Right Studios. In 2016, Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark started the true-crime podcast My Favorite Murder , [18] in which they discuss various infamous murders and serial killers. Since its inception, the podcast has garnered a large fan base, [18] totaling over 19 million listeners. [5] They have also toured the United States and internationally performing My Favorite Murder live shows. In 2018, she and Hardstark co-founded the podcast network Exactly Right, which now produces their podcast along with ten others. In April 2019, the network's first original podcast Jensen and Holes: The Murder Squad debuted at number one. [5]

In 2019, Kilgariff and Hardstark published Stay Sexy and Don't Get Murdered , a joint memoir. [19]

Personal life

Kilgariff does not drink alcohol, and has been open about her past struggles with abuse of amphetamines and diet pills. In an interview with Marc Maron for his podcast, she said she stopped using drugs and alcohol completely after she began having seizures, fearing her drug use had been the cause. Karen now lives in Studio City, California with her dogs, Frank and Blossom. [3] Kilgariff married at age 32 and is now divorced. [20]

Discography

In 2014, Kilgariff recorded a musical comedy album Live at the Bootleg. [21] [22]

Singer / Songwriter
YearAlbumSong
2014Karen Kilgariff - Live at the Bootleg [23] I Want to Win [24]
2014Karen Kilgariff - Live at the BootlegSolid 9 [25]
2014Karen Kilgariff - Live at the BootlegPassword
2014Karen Kilgariff - Live at the BootlegChelsea Guitars
2014Karen Kilgariff - Live at the BootlegLook at Your Phone
2014Karen Kilgariff - Live at the BootlegBusiness Situation
2014Karen Kilgariff - Live at the BootlegAOK
2014Karen Kilgariff - Live at the BootlegGimme Mine
2014Karen Kilgariff - Live at the BootlegJesus Walks
2014Karen Kilgariff - Live at the BootlegGolly Gee
2014Karen Kilgariff - Live at the BootlegDrink My Way Through Christmas

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vance DeGeneres</span> American actor, musician, film producer and screenwriter

Vance Elliott DeGeneres is an American actor, comedian, musician, film producer and screenwriter, known for his work in television and movies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Lynn Rajskub</span> American actress and comedian

Mary Lynn Rajskub is an American actress and comedian who is best known for portraying Chloe O'Brian in the action thriller series 24 and Gail the Snail in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Rajskub was a regular cast member on HBO's Mr. Show with Bob and David, appeared in The Larry Sanders Show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Veronica's Closet, and such films as Dude, Where's My Car?, Firewall, Sweet Home Alabama, Punch-Drunk Love, Mysterious Skin, Little Miss Sunshine, Sunshine Cleaning, Safety Not Guaranteed, and The Kings of Summer, among others.

<i>The Ellen DeGeneres Show</i> American syndicated talk show (2003–2022)

The Ellen DeGeneres Show is an American first-run syndicated talk show that was hosted by Ellen DeGeneres. The show ran for nineteen seasons from September 8, 2003, to May 26, 2022, in which it broadcast 3,339 episodes. It was produced by Telepictures Productions. The majority of stations owned by NBC Owned Television Stations, along with Hearst Television and Tegna, served as the program's largest affiliate base. For its first five seasons, the show was taped in Studio 11 at NBC Studios in Burbank, California. From season 6 onwards, the show moved to being taped at Stage 1 on the nearby Warner Bros. lot. Since the beginning of the sixth season, The Ellen DeGeneres Show was broadcast in high definition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christina Pazsitzky</span> Canadian-American comedian (born 1976)

Christina Pazsitzky, known by her stage name Christina P, is a Canadian-born American stand-up comedian, podcaster, writer, host and TV personality. Pazsitzky co-hosts the Your Mom's House podcast with her husband, comedian Tom Segura, and also hosts the Where My Moms At? podcast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Negin Farsad</span> Comedian and director

Negin Farsad is an American comedian, actress, writer, and filmmaker based in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellen DeGeneres</span> American comedian and television host (born 1958)

Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American retired comedian, actress, television host, writer, and producer. She starred in the television sitcoms Ellen (1994–1998) and The Ellen Show (2001–2002). She also hosted the syndicated television talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003–2022), for which she received 33 Daytime Emmy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Anthony</span> American comedian

David Sean Anthony is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, and podcaster. He is best known as the creator and co-host of the comedy podcast The Dollop, in which he tells notable stories from American history to his friend and fellow comedian Gareth Reynolds, who has not heard the story before. The pair have a second podcast, The Past Times, where Anthony picks a paper from a day in history and reads it to Reynolds and a special guest. Since 2019, Anthony has also co-hosted the podcast The Audit with writer Josh Olson.

<i>The Dollop</i> American history and comedy podcast

The Dollop is an American comedy history podcast in which comedian Dave Anthony reads stories from American history to his friend and fellow comedian Gareth Reynolds, who usually has no knowledge of the topic that will be discussed, with the two commenting on and reacting to the stories. Each episode centers on an event or person from history selected for its humor or peculiarity. Typical episodes feature stories or events that are usually, but not always, from American history; they are described by Anthony, and he and Reynolds often improvise comical scenarios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Butcher</span> American comic, actor, writer, producer, and podcast host

River Buddy Butcher is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, producer, and podcast host. Butcher is best known for personal, observational comedy focused on his vegetarianism, feminism, love of baseball, and experiences as a queer person.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia Hardstark</span> American broadcaster and podcaster

Georgia Hardstark is an American television host and podcast personality. She is the co-host of the true crime-comedy podcast My Favorite Murder along with comedian Karen Kilgariff. In 2018, Hardstark and Kilgariff co-founded the Exactly Right Podcast Network. Together, Hardstark and Kilgariff also wrote a joint memoir published in May 2019 called Stay Sexy and Don't Get Murdered.

<i>My Favorite Murder</i> True crime comedy podcast

My Favorite Murder is a weekly true crime comedy podcast hosted by American comedians Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. The first episode was released in January 2016. The podcast debuted at #25 on the iTunes podcast charts and peaked at #3 on April 27, 2018. Weekly episodes regularly land within the iTunes' Top 10 Comedy Podcast chart. As of 2020, the podcast gets 35 million downloads per month.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Parris</span> English comedian (born 1984)

Rachel Sarah Parris is an English comedian, musician, actress and presenter. She hosts the satirical news show Late Night Mash.

<i>Ill Be Gone in the Dark</i> 2018 true crime book by Michelle McNamara

I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer is a true crime book by the American writer Michelle McNamara about the investigation of the Golden State Killer. The book was released on February 27, 2018, nearly two years after McNamara's death and two months before an arrest would be made in the case.

<i>Stay Sexy and Dont Get Murdered</i> 2019 non-fiction book by Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff

Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered: The Definitive How-to Guide is a nonfiction book written by Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff, host of the true crime comedy podcast My Favorite Murder. The book is a dual memoir of Hardstark and Kilgariff and also discusses true crime. It was released on May 28, 2019. There is an audiobook available with Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff as the narrators, also with the help of Paul Giamatti.

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.

Janelle James is an American comedian, actress, and writer. She is best known for her role as Ava Coleman in the ABC television series Abbott Elementary, for which she won a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an NAACP Image Award, in addition to nominations for three Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award.

"Podcast News" is the sixth episode of the thirty-second season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 15, 2020. In the episode, Grampa Simpson is accused of murdering his girlfriend, and Kent Brockman creates a podcast about it. Brockman's podcast is able to convince the town that Grampa was guilty of the crime, including Grampa himself, who confesses to the police. However, after the discovery that Grampa's girlfriend is still alive, he is exonerated and set free.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exactly Right Podcast Network</span> American podcast network

Exactly Right Podcast Network is an American podcast network founded by Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff in 2018. It produces 16 podcasts including My Favorite Murder which Hardstark and Kilgariff have co-hosted since 2016.

References

  1. ↑ Rife, Katie (February 20, 2018). "Karen Kilgariff has profound thoughts about self-acceptance—and ranch dressing". AV Club. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  2. ↑ Gorman, Steve (November 10, 2007). "Union rebukes Ellen DeGeneres over writers strike". Reuters. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Maron, Marc (April 10, 2014). "Episode 487 — Karen Kilgariff" (audio podcast). WTF Podcast. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  4. ↑ MCDONELL-PARRY, AMELIA (November 28, 2018). "'My Favorite Murder' Hosts Launch Podcast Network". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 Quah, Nicholas (August 15, 2018). "My Favorite Murder's Creators Are Launching a Podcast Network". Vulture. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  6. ↑ Penn, Farrah (August 7, 2018). "The Hosts Of "My Favorite Murder" Are Writing A Book That Will Be Released Next Year". BuzzFeed. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  7. ↑ Nelson, Hillary (September 27, 2018). "My Favorite Murder Hosts Share Sneak Peek of Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered Memoir". Vulture. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  8. ↑ Hawgood, Alex (May 19, 2018). "Grisly Murders and Serial Killers? Ooh, Tell Me More". The New York Times. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Petaluma Argus-Courier Article September 3, 1986". Petaluma Argus-Courier. September 3, 1986. p. 5.
  10. ↑ Berkowitz, Joe (January 28, 2011). "Mrs. Show: The Women Behind a Comedy Classic". Vulture Magazine. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  11. ↑ Adams, Sam (November 12, 2015). "Reviews of Netflix's 'Mr. Show' Reunion 'W/ Bob & David'". Indie Wire. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Drennon Davis and Karen Kilgariff's Comedy Music Album 'I Don't Care, I Like It' is Out Today". November 20, 2015.
  13. ↑ Ellen DeGeneres (October 28, 2003). The Funny Thing Is... . Simon and Schuster. pp.  111–. ISBN   978-0-7432-5366-6.
  14. ↑ Molyneaux, Libby. "Karen Kilgariff: Comedy Pick of the Week". LA Weekly. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  15. ↑ "The Pete Holmes Show on Twitter".
  16. ↑ "Karen Kilgariff Writing Credits". IMDb .
  17. ↑ "Do You Need A Ride?".
  18. 1 2 "My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark".
  19. ↑ "Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered | Karen Kilgariff | Macmillan". US Macmillan. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Until I Lose Interest ep28".
  21. ↑ "In 'Bootleg,' Kilgariff Sets Her Comic Commentary To Music" on NPR
  22. ↑ Bartolone, Tony (March 4, 2014). "Karen Kilgariff Live at the Bootleg". The Huffington Post. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  23. ↑ Kilgariff, Karen. "'Live at the Bootleg' playlist". YouTube. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  24. ↑ "I Want to Win". youtube. March 31, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Solid 9". youtube. March 31, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.