Tag Archive: Jill-Michele Melean

Jill-Michele Meleán on Her Film This is Meg

L-r: Alex Ferrari, Roarke Walker Satava, Lahna Turner, Debra Wilson, Jill-Michele Melean, Ruben Dario, Shawn Pelofsky-Oliveira, and Carlos Alazraqui

We caught up with stand-up comedian/actress Jill-Michele Meleán (Mad TV, Reno 911) at the closing night of the HollyShorts Film Festival, where her film, “This is Meg” was the closing night feature.This is Meg, Joseph Reitman, Jenica Bergere, Debra Wilson, Holly Wortell, Krista Allen, Ruben Dario, Shawn Pelofsky, Lahna Turner, Carlos Oscar, Roarke Walker, Carlos Alazraqui, Alex Ferrari

“Jilly” was born and raised in Miami, Florida (aka Cuba). She declared at a young age that she wanted to be like Bette Davis, Joan Crawford and Benny Hill. Jilly started in Theatre and toured with The Coconut Grove Playhouse (which is the Broadway of Miami). In 2000, she moved Los Angeles and needed to be on stage…

Meleán is super proud of this project that she wrote, stars in and executive produce—and has distribution already. Listen in on our conversation below.

This is Meg stars Melean and her friends, Joseph Reitman, Jenica Bergere, Debra Wilson, Holly Wortell, Krista Allen, Ruben Dario, Shawn Pelofsky, Lahna Turner, Carlos Oscar, Roarke Walker, and Carlos Alazraqui. Directed by Alex Ferrari.

Photos: ©2017 Angela María Ortíz S.

Latino Stand-up Comics in Front of the Camera on LolFlix.com

There are a whole lot of laughs to be found with Latino stand-up comics…and a web site called lolflix.com has put a bunch of them in front of the camera for your viewing pleasure as well, available for streaming and purchase at amazingly good prices.

Johnny Sanchez (Mad TV), Carlos Alazraqui (Reno 911) and Al Madrigal (The Daily Show, Free Agents) are the three performers in 3 Non-Juans, subtitled “Stand-Up Comedy for the Spanish Impaired.” Steve Trevino’s first one hour stand-up special, Grand Pa Joe’s Son, is a hilarious testament to his years growing up in a Mexican American household in the heart of Corpus Christi, Texas. And then there’s Legally Brown, hosted by Tony Plana (Ugly Betty) and starring Alex Reymundo (Latin Kings of Comedy) Jerry Bednob, (Harold and Kumar Go to the White Castle), Cristela Alonzo (a Last Comic Standing runner up), Willie Barcena (Comedy Central), and Rick Najera as “Border Patrol Agent Bubba Gomez,” as well as Kiki Melendez’ Hot Tamales Live II, that brings together seven of today’s most talented and diverse comedians: Amy Anderson (Premium Blend), Kira Soltanovich, Nikki Payne, Valentino, Jill-Michele Melean (Mad TV & Reno 911), Nadine Rajabi, and Thea Vidal. And all of them for low-cost streaming or purchase at $5.00 or less.

Individual stand-up sets are available, too. Rick Najera has a half-hour set from 2010 called Diary of a Dad Man, and Puerto Rican comic Bill Santiago has a half-hour set called Pardon My Spanglish as well. You can watch them for less than two bucks a piece or buy them forever for $4.00 a pop.

It’s a great source for an evening’s entertainment, at a lot less cost than a cover charge and a two-drink minimum. And here’s a taste: the trailer for Three Non-Juans (and careful: it’s definitely NSFW), click here.

Rick Najera benefit coming May 18th–be there!

Rick Najera & the ICU (Intensive Comedy Unit): Comedy Benefit
Special Guests Join Rick Najera in Live Performance

We don’t usually reprint press releases as-is (we have too much ego to do that!), but sometimes the news is important enough to skip the cosmetics and cut straight to the chase:

On Friday, May 18th, friends of award-winning writer/comedian Rick Najera will come together to celebrate familia with an all-star line up of comedic performers including special guest stars Johnny Sanchez (MADtv, Happy Feet), Carlos Alazraqui (Reno 911, Comedy Central), Jill-Michele Melean (Nickelodeon, Comedy Central) and Rudy Moreno (Showtime).

On March 3rd, Najera was critically injured in an accident and suffered head trauma that left him two weeks in the ICU. With the generous outpouring of love and support from family, friends in the industry and the community, Najera’s recovery was nothing short of a miracle. Even his doctors were surprised, especially as his humor began to emerge from the ICU.

To give thanks and to celebrate all of our familia in the industry, friends of Rick Najera cordially invite you to a experience a special evening of comedy as we celebrate a second chance for Rick Najera and a chance to celebrate our community through comedy, the best medicine of all.

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