Melissa McCarthy
Melissa McCarthy is an American actress and comedian known for physical comedy and improvisational skill.
She rose to fame on the television series *Gilmore Girls* and *Mike & Molly*, then became a major film star with *Bridesmaids* (2011), which earned her an Academy Award nomination.
Her comedy often embraces brash, uninhibited characters: She has that Melissa McCarthy energy—totally fearless.
Exaggerated physical humor
- physical humorComedy using the body
- timingArt of choosing moments
- punchlineHumor's final delivery
- ad-libUnscripted speech or remark
wit · banter · pratfall · deadpan · character work · sketch · parody · improv
- The HeatSlang for police
- GhostbustersFictional spirit-catching squad
- TammyFeminine given name
- SuperintelligenceIntelligence far surpassing human level
Gilmore Girls · Saturday Night Live · Emmy Award · leading lady · character actor · physical comedy · improviser · ensemble cast
Episodic TV comedy series
- CBSMajor television and radio network
- primetimeTelevision's highest-viewership period
- Emmy winnerTelevision award recipient
- series regularContracted performer for ongoing episodes
Gilmore Girls · ensemble · streaming · Netflix · Hulu · limited series · guest appearance · ratings
Progress toward maturity
- greenlightAuthorization to proceed
- collaborationJoint intellectual work
- castingShaping through liquid form
- budgetingAllocating funds systematically
creative control · passion project · Superintelligence · executive producer · behind-the-scenes · filmmaker · independent film
slapstick
Exaggerated physical humor
- physical humorComedy using the body
- timingArt of choosing moments
- punchlineHumor's final delivery
ad-lib · wit · banter · pratfall · deadpan · character work · sketch · parody · improv · Groundlings
Bridesmaids
- The HeatSlang for police
- GhostbustersFictional spirit-catching squad
- TammyFeminine given name
Superintelligence · Gilmore Girls · Saturday Night Live · Emmy Award · leading lady · character actor · physical comedy · improviser · ensemble cast · box office
sitcom
Episodic TV comedy series
- CBSMajor television and radio network
- primetimeTelevision's highest-viewership period
- Emmy winnerTelevision award recipient
Gilmore Girls · series regular · ensemble · streaming · Netflix · Hulu · limited series · guest appearance · ratings · viewership
development
Progress toward maturity
- greenlightAuthorization to proceed
- collaborationJoint intellectual work
- castingShaping through liquid form
budgeting · creative control · passion project · Superintelligence · executive producer · behind-the-scenes · filmmaker · independent film
- comedianscomedian, stand-up, comic, stand-up comic, standup comic
- Character ActressesAllison Janney, Frances McDormand, Linda Hunt
- GhostbustersSlimer, Ecto-1, ghosts, firehouse, ghost trap
- TV PersonalitiesJohnny Carson, Oprah Winfrey, Bob Barker, Dick Clark, Steve Harvey
- supporting rolessidekick, second fiddle, supporting act, understudy, understudies
Melissa McCarthyAubrey Plaza
Buster Keaton · Bob Newhart · Bill Murray · Jim Gaffigan · Ellen DeGeneres
Melissa McCarthyGwyneth Paltrow
Cameron Diaz · Angelina Jolie · Jennifer Aniston · Charlize Theron · Margot Robbie