Paula Pell
Pell holding a microphone
Pell interviewed on Employee of the Month in 2014
Born (1963-04-15) April 15, 1963 (age 60)
Joliet, Illinois, U.S.
OccupationComedy writer, producer, actress
EducationSeminole State College
University of Tennessee (BA)
Years active1991–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2020)​

Paula Pell (born April 15, 1963)[1] is an American writer, actress, comedian, and producer. Pell is best known for her work as a writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2020.[2][3][4] For her work on SNL and 30 Rock, she has been recognized with a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program and six Writers Guild of America Awards.[5] In 2019, Pell was honored with the Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence.[6]

Pell has produced, written, and performed in numerous TV series, including 30 Rock, A.P. Bio, Love, and Mapleworth Murders, and has worked as a writer for awards ceremonies like the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes and the MTV Video Music Awards. As a voiceover artist, she has voiced characters in Inside Out, Big Mouth, and Bless the Harts. Pell has also appeared in several films and TV series, including Sisters, Other People, and Wine Country. Since 2021, Pell has been a main cast member on the Peacock original series Girls5eva.

Early life

Born in Joliet, Illinois, Pell wanted to be an actress from an early age. She studied acting and visual art at Orlando's Seminole Community College and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.[7] She took a job at Walt Disney World, working in the nightclubs of the resort's adults-only Pleasure Island section.[8]

Career

Pell was a writer for Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2013. She is credited with creating some of its memorable characters, such as Debbie Downer, the Culps, Justin Timberlake's Omeletteville mascot, and the Spartan Cheerleaders, among others.[9] She also was a producer and writer for the sitcom 30 Rock, and is credited with writing the episodes "Argus" and "Floyd". In 2006, a pilot she wrote, Thick and Thin, was picked up by NBC for 13 episodes, with Pell as executive producer, but it never aired in the United States.[2] Pell has worked with Judd Apatow providing additional writing for the films Bridesmaids and This is 40.[10]

As an actress, Pell appeared in several episodes of 30 Rock as the wife of Pete Hornberger and played the mother of Ron Swanson in a 2011 episode of Parks and Recreation.[3] She has also appeared as an extra or in bit parts in dozens of SNL sketches. She voices Gadget Gal in the Hulu original series The Awesomes.[11]

She has a small cameo in the 2013 comedy film Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. She co-created the web series Hudson Valley Ballers with fellow SNL writer and long-time friend James Anderson with whom she also co-stars.[12] Tina Fey produced and starred in Pell's first feature screenplay, Sisters (2015).[13] Pell also played the dream producer and Mom's Anger in the 2015 Pixar film Inside Out. From 2016–2018, she guest-starred in the TV series Love as Erika. She also played a character based on Elaine Stritch in the mockumentary musical episode "Co-op" on Documentary Now![9] She appeared in one episode of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt in 2017, season 3 episode 10. She plays Helen Henry DeMarcus on the show, A.P. Bio. She also plays Aunt Mo in the Showtime series SMILF.[14]

Pell co-starred alongside several other Saturday Night Live alumnae in the 2019 Netflix original comedy Wine Country.[15]

On August 10, 2020, the comedy-mystery Mapleworth Murders, which she also co-wrote and executive produced, aired on Quibi.[16] Pell was nominated at the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her performance.[17] Between 2020 and 2021, Pell voiced several characters in the animated series Bless the Harts.[18]

In 2021, she began starring as Gloria McManus in the Peacock comedy series Girls5eva.[19]

Personal life

Pell is openly gay.[20] She was married for 17 years before getting divorced.[21] She later married Janine Brito on November 13, 2020.[22][23]

Filmography

Film

Paula Pell film work
Year Title Role Notes
2012 Lilly Lilli Short film
2013 Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues Crowd Member Directed by Adam McKay
2014 Birdman Lady in Bar Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu
2015 Inside Out Dream Director / Mom's Anger Voice[24]
Riley's First Date? Mom's Anger Voice[24]
The Parker Tribe Dot Parker Short film
Sisters Dana Directed by Jason Moore
2016 Other People Aunt Patti Directed by Chris Kelly
Brother Nature Woman in Suit Directed by Oz Rodriguez
2019 Wine Country Val Main role, directed by Amy Poehler

Television

Paula Pell television work
Year Title Role Notes
1991 Super Force Mrs. BIloxi Episode: "A Hundred Share"
1992–1993 Welcome Freshmen Mrs. Gillman / Hillbilly Teacher 2 episodes
2002 The Colin Quinn Show Various characters 3 episodes
2007–2013 30 Rock Paula Hornberger 6 episodes, recurring role
2011 Funny or Die Presents Lady Refs 3 episodes
Parks and Recreation Tamara Swanson Episode: "Ron and Tammys"
2012 The Front Desk Herself Episode: "Turn Down"
2013–2015 The Awesomes Gadget Gal Voice, 30 episodes[24]
2013 Hudson Valley Ballers Paula Main role, 6 episodes
2014 Monkey Love Ariana Episode: "Girls Night Ou"
2015 Above Average Presents Mom 1 2 episodes
The Mindy Project Evelyn Episode: "Road Trip"
2015–2019 Documentary Now! Patty / Patti Skrowaczeski 3 episodes
2017 SMILF Aunt Mo Episode: "Run, Bridgette, Run or Forty-Eight Burnt Cupcakes & Graveyard Rum"
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Bev Episode: "Kimmy Pulls Off a Heist!"
2017–present Big Mouth Barbara Glouberman / Lola's Couch Pillow / Bubbe Voice, 30 episodes
2017–2018 Love Erika 7 episodes, recurring role
2018–2021 A.P. Bio Helen Henry Demarcus Main role (seasons 2–4), Recurring (season 1)
2019 No Activity Daisy / Trucker Voice, 2 episodes
2020 Mapleworth Murders Abigail Mapleworth Main role
2020–2021 Bless the Harts Ruth / Lenore Voice, 3 episodes
2021–present Girls5eva Gloria McManus Main role, 16 episodes
2022 Duncanville Voice, episode: "The Sharent Trap"
2023 Not Dead Yet Marlena Quintro Episode: "Not Friends Yet"
Die Hart Cynthia 4 episodes
The Slumber Party Principal Petersen Disney Channel Original Movie[25]

Producer and screenwriter

Paula Pell production and screenwriting work
Year Title Role Notes
1995–2020 Saturday Night Live Screenwriter / writing supervisor 311 episodes, Talk show
1999 Saturday Night Live 25th Anniversary Special Screenwriter Television special
2002 NBC 75th Anniversary Special
MTV Video Music Awards Awards ceremony
2003 Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Halftime Special Television special
2004 Macy's 4th of July Spectacular
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Cheri Oteri Television documentary
2006 Thick and Thin Executive producer 3 episodes, Television series
2007 Saturday Night Live in the '90s: Pop Culture Nation Screenwriter Television special
2008 Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday 3 episodes, talk shok
2009–2010 30 Rock Producer / screenwriter 22 episodes, television series
2010 The Women of SNL Screenwriter Television movie
2011 83rd Academy Awards Awards ceremony
2012 This Is 40 Executive producer Film
2013–2015 Hudson Valley Ballers Screenwriter 14 episodes, television series
2014 The Re-Gift Short film
86th Academy Awards Awards ceremony
2015 Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special Television special
87th Academy Awards Awards ceremony
Sisters Film
2017 74th Golden Globe Awards Award ceremony
2018 75th Golden Globe Awards Award ceremony
Camping Executive producer / screenwriter 3 episodes, television series
2019 A.P. Bio Screenwriter Episode:"Handcuffed"
2020 Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine Television special
Mapleworth Murders Executive producer / screenwriter 12 episodes, television series

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations for Paula Pell
Award Year Category Work Result Ref.
Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards 2021 Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy Girls5eva Nominated [26]
Writers Guild of America Awards 2001 Best Comedy/Variety – Talk Series Saturday Night Live Nominated [27]
Best Comedy/Variety (Music, Awards, Tributes) – Specials Saturday Night Live 25 Won
2002 Best Comedy/Variety – Talk Series Saturday Night Live Nominated [27]
2003 Nominated
Best Comedy/Variety (Music, Awards, Tributes) – Specials NBC 75th Anniversary Special Nominated
2007 Best Comedy/Variety – Talk Series Saturday Night Live Won
2008 Nominated
2009 Won
2010 Won
Best Comedy Series 30 Rock Won
2011 Nominated
Best Comedy/Variety – Talk Series Saturday Night Live Nominated
2012 Nominated
2013 Nominated
2014 Nominated
2015 Nominated
2016 Best Comedy/Variety (Music, Awards, Tributes) – Specials Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special Nominated
2017 Best Comedy/Variety – Sketch Series Saturday Night Live Won
Primetime Emmy Awards 2001 Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series Saturday Night Live Nominated [28]
2002 Won
2003 Nominated
2008 Nominated
2009 Nominated
2010 Nominated
2011 Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special The Women of SNL Nominated
2012 Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series Saturday Night Live Nominated
2015 Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special Nominated
2021 Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Mapleworth Murders Nominated [17]
2023 Die Hart 2: Die Harter Nominated [29]

References

  1. ^ Bendix, Trish (October 24, 2013). "Paula Pell on being out in the "SNL" writers' room and her new web series - AfterEllen.com". AfterEllen.com. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Paula Pell". Here's The Thing. NPR. 26 November 2012. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  3. ^ a b Longwell, Todd (2 December 2011). "Pell: 'SNL' scribe plays for bigscreen laughs". Variety. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  4. ^ Evans, Bradford (8 January 2013). "Talking to Paula Pell About Working at 'SNL' for 17 Years, Writing with Apatow, and Other Stuff". Splitsider. Archived from the original on 12 August 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  5. ^ "Paula Pell". Television Academy. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  6. ^ "WGA Awards to Honor Comedy Writers Merrill Markoe and Paula Pell". The Hollywood Reporter. 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  7. ^ "Paula Pell, queen of comedy: On her "SNL" years, making "Wine Country" with Amy Poehler and more". Salon. 2019-05-13. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  8. ^ Harris-McCray, Chandra (14 May 2013). "Funny Lady". Tennessee Alumnus. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  9. ^ a b Erbland, Kate (2019-05-17). "You Might Not Know Paula Pell's Name, But You've Loved Her Comedy for Decades". IndieWire. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  10. ^ Erbland, Kate (17 May 2019). "You Might Not Know Paula Pell's Name, But You've Loved Her Comedy for Decades". IndieWire.com.
  11. ^ Walker, Allison (September 23, 2014). "SNL's Paula Pell 'waiting for the action figure'". News 13. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  12. ^ Hartsell, Carol (17 December 2013). "10 Reasons You Should Watch 'Hudson Valley Ballers' Right Now". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  13. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (4 February 2013). "'Pitch Perfect' Helmer Jason Moore In Tune With Tina Fey For Uni Comedy 'The Nest'". Deadline. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  14. ^ Schulman, Michael (2021-06-18). "Paula Pell's Hot Streak". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  15. ^ "Wine Country (2019)". IMDB.com.
  16. ^ Porter, Rick (December 3, 2019). "Lorne Michaels' Quibi Murder Mystery Lines Up All-Star Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  17. ^ a b Alyssa, Ray (2021-07-13). "2021 Emmy Nominations: All the Shocking Snubs and Surprises". E! Online. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  18. ^ Cobb, Kayla (2019-10-02). "From 'King of the Hill' to 'Bless the Harts' Emily Spivey Is an Expert at Making Fun of the South". Decider. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  19. ^ Chapman, Wilson (2022-05-19). "'Girls5eva' Star Paula Pell on the Mystery of Ashley's Death and Her Love of 'Joyful Losers'". Variety. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  20. ^ Crittenton, Anya (10 May 2019). "Gay comedian Paula Pell on getting her first on-screen love interest at 56". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  21. ^ Leishman, Rachel (10 May 2019). "I Got to Geek out with Paula Pell over Wine Country". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  22. ^ Crittenton, Anya (2019-05-03). "Comedian Paula Pell says it's lonely dating as an older LGBTI person". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on 2019-05-24. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  23. ^ Paula Pell [@paulapell] (November 17, 2020). "On Friday the 13th I had the extreme luck of marrying my beloved @janinebrito on a sparkling day in front of our old pal and our dogs. We wore hastily purchased Target duds and cried so many joy tears. We can't wait to have a celebration w our friends and family when it's safe" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. ^ a b c "Paula Pell (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 22, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
  25. ^ Denise Petski (September 27, 2022). "'The Slumber Party' Coming-Of-Age Comedy Movie Based On 'The Sleepover' Teen Novel Ordered By Disney Branded Television". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 2022-09-27. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  26. ^ Pedersen, Erik (July 8, 2021). "HCA TV Awards Nominations: 'Ted Lasso' Leads Programs For Inaugural Honors; NBC, HBO & Netflix Lead Nets". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  27. ^ a b "Writers Guild Awards Winners". WGA. 2010. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  28. ^ "Paula Pell".
  29. ^ "Paula Pell".

External links

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series (2000–2009)
Authority control databases
Categories