Mary Jo Pehl
Encyclopedia
Mary Joseph Pehl born February 27, 1960 in Circle Pines, Minnesota
, is an American
writer, actress and comedienne. She is best known for her various roles on the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000
.
, the mother of Dr. Clayton Forrester
(Trace Beaulieu
), initially as a guest character and then as a recurring character on the departure of TV's Frank
(played by Frank Conniff
). When Beaulieu left the series at the end of the seventh season, she took over as the head "mad" on the series. Pehl also played a number of other small roles on the series, such as "Jan in the Pan", a woman's head that had been removed from a body (inspired by the movie The Brain That Wouldn't Die
).
In 2007, she returned to MST3K-style riffing on bad movies, joining former castmate Mike Nelson's RiffTrax
for the film Glitter
, and Bill Corbett
for The X-Files
movie, as well as becoming a cast member on Joel Hodgson
's Cinematic Titanic
, making her one of a select few MST3K alumni to be involved with both Mike and Joel's successor projects. After an extended stay in New York City
, she now resides in Austin, Texas
with her husband, and performs with the Violet Crown Radio Players. In October 2007, she recorded an interview with the Austin-based podcast Chicken Fried Radio. To date, hers is the only interview the show has aired.
She has since starred in the science fiction computer game DARKSTAR - The Interactive Movie as both Captain Beth Ingram of the Starship Bridgebuilder and the voice of the computer Westwick Main.
announced he was starting a new show with the same "riffing on bad movies" premise as MST3K called Cinematic Titanic
, together with former MST3K cast and crew members Pehl, Trace Beaulieu
, J. Elvis Weinstein
, and Frank Conniff
.
As of September 2011, she continues to tour with Cinematic Titanic.
.
Pehl contributed quotes to Girls Against Girls by author Bonnie Burton
.
Pehl has stated that she is a Catholic, and has written for the Catholic Digest
, including an article about a priest who works in a circus.
In September of 2011, Pehl will release her new book "Employee of The Month And Other Big Deals."
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer, actress and comedienne. She is best known for her various roles on the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
.
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Pehl was one of the writers on the MST3K series. From 1992 to 1996, Pehl played the role of "Magic Voice", a disembodied woman's voice who would announce upcoming commercials at the beginning of the show. In 1996, she began playing the role of Pearl ForresterPearl Forrester
Pearl Forrester is a character on the Mystery Science Theater 3000 television series, played by Mary Jo Pehl. Forrester was the mother of Dr. Clayton Forrester...
, the mother of Dr. Clayton Forrester
Doctor Clayton Forrester (MST3K)
Dr. Clayton Deborah Susan Forrester is a fictional character on the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000 . Named for the hero of the 1953 film The War of the Worlds, Dr. Forrester was the chief mad scientist on the show from its inception in 1988 through the seventh season in 1996, and...
(Trace Beaulieu
Trace Beaulieu
Trace Beaulieu is an American puppeteer, writer, and actor. He is best known for his roles on Mystery Science Theater 3000 .-Mystery Science Theater 3000:...
), initially as a guest character and then as a recurring character on the departure of TV's Frank
TV's Frank
TV's Frank, played by Frank Conniff, is a fictional character, mad scientist Dr. Clayton Forrester's lab assistant in the television comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000. He appears at the beginning of Season 2, with the departure of Forrester's earlier co-scientist Dr. Laurence Erhardt, and...
(played by Frank Conniff
Frank Conniff
Frank Conniff is a writer and actor who is perhaps best known for his portrayal of TV's Frank on Mystery Science Theater 3000 .-Early work:...
). When Beaulieu left the series at the end of the seventh season, she took over as the head "mad" on the series. Pehl also played a number of other small roles on the series, such as "Jan in the Pan", a woman's head that had been removed from a body (inspired by the movie The Brain That Wouldn't Die
The Brain That Wouldn't Die
The Brain That Wouldn't Die, also known as The Head That Wouldn't Die, is a 1962 science-fiction/horror film directed by Joseph Green and written by Green and Rex Carlton. The film was completed in 1959 under the title The Black Door, but was not released until May 3, 1962, when it was renamed...
).
Work after MST3K
Since the ending of the series, Pehl has had comedy segments on National Public Radio.In 2007, she returned to MST3K-style riffing on bad movies, joining former castmate Mike Nelson's RiffTrax
RiffTrax
RiffTrax are downloadable audio commentaries featuring comedians Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett heckling films in the style of Mystery Science Theater 3000, a TV show in which Nelson was the head writer, and later the host. The RiffTrax are sold online and delivered by digital...
for the film Glitter
Glitter (film)
Glitter is a 2001 film starring R&B singer, songwriter Mariah Carey. It was produced by 20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures and directed by Vondie Curtis-Hall. It centers on the life and times of a struggling singer from the early club music scene in the 1980s.-Production:Carey has said about...
, and Bill Corbett
Bill Corbett
Bill Corbett is an American writer and performer for television, film and theatre. He was a writer and performer on the cult television show Mystery Science Theater 3000 , for which he voiced the robot Crow T. Robot during the show's later seasons on the Sci Fi Channel and played the character...
for The X-Files
The X-Files (film)
The X-Files is a 1998 American science fiction-thriller film written by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz, and directed by Rob Bowman. It is the first feature film based on The X-Files series created by Carter that revolves around a fictional FBI paranormal investigation unit called the X-Files...
movie, as well as becoming a cast member on Joel Hodgson
Joel Hodgson
Joel Gordon Hodgson is an American writer, comedian and television actor. He is best known for creating Mystery Science Theater 3000 and starring in it as the character Joel Robinson. In 2007 MST3K was listed as "one of the top 100 television shows of all time" by Time.com...
's Cinematic Titanic
Cinematic Titanic
Cinematic Titanic is a project by Mystery Science Theater 3000 creator and original host, Joel Hodgson.The project involves "riffing" B-movies, in a manner similar to that of MST3K....
, making her one of a select few MST3K alumni to be involved with both Mike and Joel's successor projects. After an extended stay in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, she now resides in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
with her husband, and performs with the Violet Crown Radio Players. In October 2007, she recorded an interview with the Austin-based podcast Chicken Fried Radio. To date, hers is the only interview the show has aired.
She has since starred in the science fiction computer game DARKSTAR - The Interactive Movie as both Captain Beth Ingram of the Starship Bridgebuilder and the voice of the computer Westwick Main.
Cinematic Titanic
On October 30, 2007, Joel HodgsonJoel Hodgson
Joel Gordon Hodgson is an American writer, comedian and television actor. He is best known for creating Mystery Science Theater 3000 and starring in it as the character Joel Robinson. In 2007 MST3K was listed as "one of the top 100 television shows of all time" by Time.com...
announced he was starting a new show with the same "riffing on bad movies" premise as MST3K called Cinematic Titanic
Cinematic Titanic
Cinematic Titanic is a project by Mystery Science Theater 3000 creator and original host, Joel Hodgson.The project involves "riffing" B-movies, in a manner similar to that of MST3K....
, together with former MST3K cast and crew members Pehl, Trace Beaulieu
Trace Beaulieu
Trace Beaulieu is an American puppeteer, writer, and actor. He is best known for his roles on Mystery Science Theater 3000 .-Mystery Science Theater 3000:...
, J. Elvis Weinstein
J. Elvis Weinstein
Josh "J. Elvis" Weinstein is an American writer and performer, best known for his roles as Dr. Laurence Erhardt and the original puppeteer and voice for Tom Servo on Mystery Science Theater 3000.-Mystery Science Theater 3000:...
, and Frank Conniff
Frank Conniff
Frank Conniff is a writer and actor who is perhaps best known for his portrayal of TV's Frank on Mystery Science Theater 3000 .-Early work:...
.
As of September 2011, she continues to tour with Cinematic Titanic.
Literary work
Pehl wrote her first book in 2004 I Lived With My Parents and Other Tales of Terror published by Plan 9 PublishingPlan 9 Publishing
Plan Nine Publishing was a small press book publisher known for publishing webcomics in printed form. The first series published, and perhaps its most famous, was Kevin and Kell....
.
Pehl contributed quotes to Girls Against Girls by author Bonnie Burton
Bonnie Burton
Bonnie Burton is a San Francisco-based author, journalist a Content Developer for Lucas Online, and a staff writer for both Star Wars.com and Star Wars Insider magazine, and maintainer of the Official Star Wars Blog. She goes by the handle "bonniegrrl" at those official sites...
.
Pehl has stated that she is a Catholic, and has written for the Catholic Digest
Catholic Digest
Catholic Digest is an American Roman Catholic monthly magazine.It was founded in 1936 and today circulation totals 300,000.In December 2001, the French Roman Catholic media group Bayard Presse purchased the magazine from University of St. Thomas...
, including an article about a priest who works in a circus.
In September of 2011, Pehl will release her new book "Employee of The Month And Other Big Deals."