Lisa Arch
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| Lisa Arch | |
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| Born | Lisa Kushell November 23, 1971 Los Angeles, United States |
| Other name(s) | Lisa Kushell |
| Official website | |
Lisa Arch (born November 23, 1971), also known as Lisa Kushell, is an American comedic actress known for her roles in the 1997-98 Season of the FOX Network comedy show, MADtv, as cohost of TBS's Dinner and a Movie from 2002 to 2005, and most recently as the recurring character of Samantha Samuels on Disney Channel's Cory in the House. Arch has also has been in movies, such as 2007's Evan Almighty.
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[edit] Personal life
Arch was born in Los Angeles, California. She then began acting on stage at 15 years old in the comedy troupe Upstage Comedy. As a member of the troupe, she gained experience with writing and creating sketch characters. Arch has often stated that her parents were extremely supportive of her and they enabled her to hone her skills in their "unfurnished living room" until she graduated high school. Arch earned her SAG card with one line as a waitress on Dream On. After her first appearance, Lisa began appearing on such shows as Seinfeld, The X-Files, and For Your Love.
She has an older brother named Robert who was born 1969. Born Lisa Kushell, she is married to animator Russell Arch.
[edit] Career
[edit] MADtv
Lisa joined the cast of MADtv in 1997, as a repertory performer, for the third season. She would be promoted to repertory status mid-season. She is remembered for playing characters like social outcast Susan Whitfield and sassy country gal, Wanda Terry-Ann Lainier Parker from the Parker Sisters sketches.
Arch also flexed her comedy muscles with her celebrity impressions, of public figures like Paula Jones. She also lampooned Hollywood stars like Farrah Fawcett, Demi Moore, Alyson Hannigan, Lori Loughlin and Hope Summers. She has also impersonated singers like Melanie Chisholm (a.k.a. "Sporty Spice") and Alanis Morissette. However, Lisa is most remembered for lampooning singer Fiona Apple in a MADtv music video parody.
After one season on the show, Lisa left MADtv at the conclusion of season three to pursue other career opportunities.
[edit] Catch phrases
- "You ain't gettin' none a' this, none a' this and especially none of THIS" - Wanda Terry-Ann Lainier Parker (The Parker Sisters)
- "Oh look, an attractive woman" - Fiona Apple
[edit] Other television projects
Since Leaving MADtv, Arch has done many guest appearances and voice overs. She has appeared in such commercials as "Mervyn's" and "Southern Comfort."
Lisa is currently featured on the Comedy Central "crank phone call" show Crank Yankers as the voice of "Cammie", an airheaded bisexual party-girl in her early twenties. She is also playing the role of Samantha Samuels on the Disney Channel show Cory in the House.Arch can be seen on a regular basis at Los Angeles' ACME Comedy Theater and recently hosted a special episode of Reel Comedy, also on Comedy Central about the new movie, Bewitched. She also has numerous guest appearances on television shows including Reno 911!, Seinfeld, and The X-Files.
[edit] Dinner and a Movie
In 2001, Arch's career got a great boost when she replaced Annabelle Gurwitch as the hostess of the TBS cooking and entertainment show, Dinner and a Movie. For two and a half years, Lisa appeared, alongside host Paul Gilmartin and chef Claud Mann, in each episode introducing movies and "cracking jokes" during the preparation of a creative dinner to go with some theme of the movie.
In 2004, Arch's contract had expired. As she was preparing for another season as hostess of the show, she got a call from TBS executives, right after the Thanksgiving holiday, informing her that her contract was not going to be renewed. She left the show on good relations with the Dinner and a Movie staff (in fact she still remains in contact with them) but she was very bitter about the failure to have her contract renewed. In 2005, Lisa was succeeded by Janet Varney as hostess.
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
| 2007 | Evan Almighty | Staffer | |
| 2005 | I'm Not Gay | Chris | |
| 2005 | Guess Who | Woman at Elevator | |
| 2001 | The Comedy Team of Pete & James | Gwen | |
| 2001 | Legally Blonde | Guest | |
| 1999 | Dirt Merchant | XTV Reporter | |
| 1998 | Billboard Dad | Woman #2 |
[edit] Television Appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
| 2007 | Cory in the House | Samantha Samuels | Recurring role |
| 2006 | Hannah Montana | Liza (the photographer) | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | Half & Half | Dr. Swenson | |
| 2004 | Significant Others | Girl at Bar | |
| 2003 | Charmed | Tour Guide | |
| 2003 | Windy City Heat | Suzanne/Jiggly Wrigley | |
| 2003 | For Your Love | Kathy McCulloch | |
| 2003 | Reno 911! | Stripper with Dispute | |
| 2002 | Dinner and a Movie | Host | |
| 2000 | The X Files | Call Girl | |
| 1998 | Michael Hayes | Rhonda | |
| 1997 - 1998 | MADtv | Various Characters | |
| 1996 | Seinfeld | Connie | |
| 1994 | Attack of the 5 Ft. 2 Women | Dotty | |
| 1993 | Dream On | Waitress |
[edit] Voice acting and video game appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
| 2004 | Outlaw Golf 2 | Trixie | Video Game |
| 2002 - Present | Crank Yankers | Cammie | Puppet Comedy TV Series |
| 2000 | Mission Hill | Stacy/Miss Colleen Peck/Chola Girl/TinaThe Chosen One | TV Series |
