Gail Matthius
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Gail Matthius | |
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| Born | |
| Alma mater | Gustavus Adolphus College |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1980–2001; 2017–present |
Gail Matthiusis an American actress and comedian. She was a cast member ofNBC'sSaturday Night Liveduring its critical and ratings low point at the time (the1980–1981 season,produced byJean Doumanian), and co-anchored theWeekend Updatesegment withCharles Rocketin 1981.
Early life and career
[edit]A native ofSioux Falls, South Dakota,and graduate ofGustavus Adolphus College,[1]Matthius had performed atThe Comedy StoreinLos Angelesprior to successfully auditioning for Doumanian's cast.[2][3]Matthius's time on the show occurred only a year after her move to Los Angeles, a move that was funded by performing jingles and visiting farms on behalf ofAllis-Chalmerstractors across the Great Plains.[4]
Saturday Night Live
[edit]In 2015, the magazineRolling Stoneranked Matthius at, out of 141 cast members, the 74th best ofSaturday Night Live,calling her, "A flicker of hope in theSaturday Night Live1980 debacle, with a sharpvalley girlmall-chick character named Vickie. Matthius and Vickie both deserved better. "[5]During her audition, she performed oppositeJoe Piscopoas well asPaul Reubens.[4]
Recurring characters
[edit]- Vickie, a valley girl who, along with her friend, Debbie (played byDenny Dillon), annoy people with their persistent questions and shallow statements.
- Roweena, aMidwestern-accented hairdresser who often has a neurotic, middle-aged woman named Nadine (played byDenny Dillon) as a frequent customer.
- Frances Lively, wife toCharles Rocket's Phil Lively, a fellowgame showhost who lives life at home as if it were just another game show.
Celebrity impersonations
[edit]- Brooke Shields,in a parody of the racyCalvin KleinTV advertisements that featured her.
- Irene Cara
- Nancy Reagan
- Mary Cunningham
Post-SNL
[edit]Following her stint onSNL,Matthius appeared in the short-lived British/American sketch showAssaulted Nutsand the syndicatedsketch comedyseriesLaugh Trax(where she revived her valley girl Vicki character fromSNL). She auditioned for theKathleen Turnerrole inBody Heat.[4]
She had some voice acting work for animated shows from the late 1980s into the 1990s, includingBobby's World(withLaugh Traxco-starHowie Mandel),Tiny Toon Adventures,Snorks,Animaniacs,The Ren & Stimpy Show,Bump in the NightandThe Tick,often using the voice of her valley girl and Roweena characters fromSaturday Night Live(in characters such as Martha, who sounds like Roweena, andShirley the LoonfromTiny Toon Adventures).
Matthius is a member of the Spolin PlayersImprov comedytroupeand works as a drama coach for various acting studios, including Theatre Palisades inPacific Palisades,California. In 2016, Matthius appeared in the playFor Piano and HarpobyDan Castellaneta.Today, she performs in a rock band, The Shambles (LA).[4]
References
[edit]- ^Winegar, Karin (August 21, 1981)."Live from Minneapolis... it's our own Gail Matthius".The Minneapolis Star.p. 28. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
- ^Clifford Terry (February 22, 1981)."'The struggle to keep Saturday Night Live'".Chicago Tribune.p. 30.RetrievedApril 10,2016.
- ^
Gus Wezerek (December 14, 2019)."The 'S.N.L.' Stars Who Lasted, and the Ones Who Flamed Out".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on December 14, 2019.RetrievedDecember 16,2019.
Some of the names here will be familiar only to die-hard fans; others, like Murphy, defined what was funny for generations of viewers.
- ^abcdHoglund, Andy (June 6, 2024)."Gail Matthius's Short Time on the SNL 'Playground'".Vulture.RetrievedJune 10,2024.
- ^"'Saturday Night Live': All 141 Cast Members Ranked ".Rolling Stone.February 11, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 19,2015.
External links
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