Jamie Denbo is an American writer, producer, and comedian born in Boston, but now lives in Los Angeles. They are also co-executive producer and writer on Grey’s Anatomy, as well as experienced member of legendary comedy troupe, the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre. Their latest stage show is Beverly Live!, which they’re putting on at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. We caught up with them to find out more.
STARBURST: How would you pitch Jamie Denbo: Beverly Live to a controlling elderly relative with bad hearing?
Jamie Denbo: “Hey Aunt Ruthie, come see this documentary about your life!” Kidding. Beverly has more ‘selective’ hearing than bad hearing. I think Aunt Ruthie would enjoy Beverly Live because it would be validating for her. When my mother comes to see the show, she recognizes all of her friends – women of a certain age trying too hard to be cool. Be sure to tell Aunt Ruthie that I’ll save her the best seat with the best view in the house*. Older women LOVE to go VIP. *Every seat has a great view. Don’t tell her.
And how would you pitch it to someone who someone who is a huge fan of Ghostbusters or Family Guy?
You saw Jamie Denbo as a waitress for five seconds in the all-female Ghostbusters and you heard Jamie Denbo scream on one episode of Family Guy, now is your chance to see her not waiting tables or screaming! And for a longer period of time! On a stage! In a wig! This is what you never knew you wanted! Come see Jamie Denbo as a hilarious older Jewish woman in a wig! Then look Jamie Denbo up and see all the other things she’s had five seconds of screen time in! There are weirdly a lot.
Why do you have a bell? Why do you need that?
Beverly is a 74-year-old woman who’s doing her best. But even when she does her best, she often falls short. She is learning (as we all are) what’s appropriate and what’s not- where the line is. The BELL is there for someone hipper, cooler and more culturally sensitive to ‘ding’ her when or if she says anything ‘problematic’. Beverly would say it is “so the audience knows what to be triggered or offended by”. For example, Beverly on her twin girls: “I love them both equally. Except the fat one.” (DING!)
What are the origins of this show?
The character of Beverly started in 2005 as part of a duo called ‘Ronn and Beverly’. We had a successful run as a podcast, TV show and live act, performing all over the US and UK. When we parted ways in 2017, I thought I would only return to the character when the time was right. And after a long break, I decided to bring the character back in 2023, when it felt like the world needed her opinions and point of view. And by then – and now – I think we all REALLY needed to laugh. So, Beverly emerged from her cocoon*, older, wiser and transformed in other more enlightened ways. *She is convinced she left an earring in there, however, and has called the Cocoon company no less than 400 times since emerging last year. They finally blocked her.
What’s more rewarding: script writing or performance?
For me, the most rewarding thing is to perform my own material, so Beverly Live is really the perfect scenario. I can write and improvise what I want and perform it as I see fit. That said, I love writing scripts for TV and watching other brilliant – mostly far better-looking – performers bring my words to life. So… I guess the answer is really all of the above.
Why the Edinburgh Fringe? What other festivals/conventions are you planning on being part of?
I was at the Edinburgh Fringe 14 years ago with the double act, so it feels like I am returning home. I am even staying with the same locals I befriended back in 2010! I plan to return to the San Francisco Sketch Fest again next year and I have always wanted to do the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. What I really hope is that Beverly is well-received enough in Edinburgh for me to bring her to more venues in and around the UK. No one really understands the comedy of an embarrassing American Auntie like the UK. She won’t rest until she can get Kate some unsolicited parenting advice. She finds Charlotte’s looks a little risqué for that age. DING!
What sort of guests do you expect to have on Beverly Live this year?
All sorts! Bev will aim high [Hannah Gadsby, Alan Cumming] and low (whoever is this year’s pre-Baby Reindeer Richard – some shmuck performing for three people in a shady pub). We are still booking, so no guarantees. You never know who might turn up on any given night – allowing themselves to be interrogated by Bev in the hopes of promoting their own fringe show. Beverly Live is fun for guests because they get to just relax and just be themselves WHILE getting steamrolled by a woman who could be the lovechild of Jiminy Glick and Joan Rivers – and the audience is always on their side.
What’s been the hardest part of getting this show produced so far?
I have stellar producers on the ground in Edinburgh, including Barry Church-Woods of Civil Disobedience, so getting produced in the literal sense hasn’t been that hard. I am 14 years older than I was the last time I did the Fringe, and I have to work much harder to be physically healthy and strong enough to run. So, I’ve been working out, eating well, and shaping up! Okay, yeah – so I guess what’s genuinely hard is admitting that I have done none of those things.
What has been the most ridiculous moment so far?
Throwing on my Beverly costume, wig and makeup in my Grey’s Anatomy office to do a promotional video for the fringe and then walked in on by a fellow Grey’s writer who wasn’t familiar with my alter ego. He was pretty sure I was having some sort of psychotic break. And I have yet to convince him otherwise.
What’s your next big project after the Fringe has ended?
I will be back at Grey’s Anatomy for Series 21! And I hope to pitch some new original projects as well. I also appeared as a guest star on an episode of 9-1-1 entitled Buck, Bothered and Bewildered that should air in the UK soon if it hasn’t already. Another episode of something good or something bad – you decide.
Simpsons or Futurama?
Futurama – Katey Sagal can do no wrong.
Kirk or Picard?
Kirk. William Shatner was born in Montreal! Like Beverly!
Doctor No or Doctor Strange?
Doctor Jay Schapira M.D. – top cardiologist at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.
Truth or Beauty?
BEAUTY. Because you don’t have to tell the TRUTH about whichever plastic surgery you’ve gotten to achieve it.
