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Jessica McKenna

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Jessica McKenna
McKenna in 2026
McKenna in 2026
Born
Yorba Linda, California, U.S.
Alma materNorthwestern University
Occupations
  • Actress
  • comedian
  • singer
Years active2012–present

Jessica McKenna (sometimes credited as Jess McKenna) is an American actress, comedian and singer.[1] McKenna trained with The Groundlings and at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, where she regularly performs. McKenna was one of the stars of Fox's Party Over Here, alongside Nicole Byer and Alison Rich, and hosts the podcast Off Book: The Improvised Musical.

Early life

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McKenna was born in Yorba Linda, California.[2] She received a bachelor's degree in theater from Northwestern University.[2]

Career

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Theater

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McKenna began training at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre after college, and became a regular performer in 2012.[3][4] She regularly performs with the musical improv house teams, Magic to Do and Baby Wants Candy.[5] McKenna is also a frequent performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre's long-running improv show, ASSSSCAT.[6][5] McKenna has performed improv comedy at festivals including South by Southwest, SF Sketchfest, Edinburgh Fringe, the Del Close Marathon, Bumbershoot, and Chicago Sketch Fest.[1][2][7][8]

Television, film, and web series

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In 2014, McKenna was a regular cast member on Fox's improv-based game show, Riot, until its cancellation. In 2016, McKenna starred alongside fellow Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) alumnae Nicole Byer and Alison Rich in Fox's sketch comedy show, Party Over Here, which was produced by The Lonely Island and Paul Scheer.[9] Party Over Here was cancelled after one season.[10] McKenna has appeared in episodes of Modern Family and The Goldbergs.

McKenna often collaborates with UCB alumnus Zach Reino. McKenna and Reino have worked together on musical sketches for Funny or Die, BuzzFeed, and Nickelodeon.[11] In 2016, McKenna and Reino wrote and starred together in ABC's web series, Serious Music.[12] Along with Zeke Nicholson, the pair also featured in a 2021 episode of Dropout series Game Changer titled "The Official Cast Recording", in which they improvised a short musical based on host Sam Reich's prompts.[13] This was later adapted into a full series on Dropout titled Play It By Ear the following year.[14]

McKenna also works as a voice actress. McKenna voices the lead character, Lennon, on Amazon's Little Big Awesome.[2] It was originally announced that McKenna would voice the lead character on Billy Dilley's Super-Duper Subterranean Summer; however, creator Aaron Springer ultimately was cast in that role.[15][16]

In 2022, McKenna, along with Neil Casey, Zach Reino, and Niccole Thurman, won the Writers Guild of America Award in the category "Quiz and Audience Participation" for her work on the series Baking It.[17] In 2023, she was nominated again for the same award together with the other writers of Baking It.[18]

Podcasts

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Since 2017, McKenna and Reino have hosted the musical comedy podcast Off Book: The Improvised Musical, which was initially on the Earwolf network.[19] In 2023, she appeared as one of the main characters in the children's podcast Sound Detectives.[20] McKenna is also a regular guest on the podcast version of Comedy Bang! Bang!, where she is known for characters such as Beth, the Power Wheels–obsessed eight-year-old, This Is Your Boy Troy, and Park Ranger Margery Kershaw.[21] McKenna has also appeared on Improv4Humans, Doughboys, The JV Club, and Hollywood Handbook.[4]

Filmography

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Film

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YearTitleRoleNotes
2015BetaLaurenShort film
2017Gleep-Glorp & LasertagGleep-GlorpVoice
Short film
Lane Woods Finds Love
2018Song of Back and NeckDawn
2023Craig Before the CreekHandlebarbVoice

Television

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YearTitleRoleNotes
2013–2016Comedy Bang! Bang!Various3 episodes
2014The GoldbergsWaiterEpisode: "The Age of Darkness"
2015The HotwivesMackenzie2 episodes
Adam Ruins EverythingJessEpisode: "Adam Ruins Restaurants"
Filthy Preppy Teen$MacauleyEpisode: "The Return of the Prodigal Teens"
2016Party Over HereVarious10 episodes
American Dad!Various voicesEpisode: "Gifted Me Liberty"
Legendary DudasEmployeeEpisode: "King Sam/Karate Kids"
2016–2017The UCB ShowVarious2 episodes
2017Voltron: Legendary DefenderVarious voices2 episodes
2018Little Big AwesomeLennon / various voices13 episodes
Modern FamilyNurse TamiEpisode: "The Escape"
2018–2020Big City GreensVarious voices3 episodes
2018–2023Craig of the CreekHandlebarb / Jake (voice)14 episodes
2019HarmonQuestFlairence SparrowEpisode: "Ad Quod Damnum"
SunnysideAndromeda BurrffEpisode: "Pants Full of Sandwiches"
2019–2021DC Super Hero GirlsAqualad (voice)18 episodes
2020Space ForceParticipant #2Episode: "Proportionate Response"
Trick MoonTrickshot (voice)TV pilot
2020–2024Star Trek: Lower DecksEnsign Barnes, various voices19 episodes
2020–2022The Mighty OnesRocksy (voice)40 episodes
2021AmphibiaGabby (voice)Episode: "Hop 'Til You Drop/Turning Point"
Curb Your EnthusiasmWaiterEpisode: "Irma Kostroski"
2021, 2025, 2026Game ChangerHerselfEpisodes: "The Official Cast Recording", “Samalamadingdong”, "Earwigs"
2021–2023Ten Year Old TomMrs. Band / various voices14 episodes
2022We Baby BearsBaby Panda (singing voice)Episode: "High Baby Fashion"
DuncanvilleVarious voicesRecurring role
2022–2026The Loud HouseBoy Jordan, various voices3 episodes
Make Some NoiseHerself5 episodes
2022–presentPlay It by EarVarious16 episodes
2023Strange PlanetBlanket Cape / Being #4 (voice)Episode: "Greyscale Finger Bandit"
FrasierKikiEpisode: "Blind Date"
2025-presentGoldieGoldie[22]Main role

Video games

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YearTitleRole
2020Fallout 76: Steel DawnMaximo Leone

References

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  1. 1 2 Malin, Sean L. (March 13, 2017). "SXSW Comedy Review: Comedy Bang! Bang!". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Jessica McKenna's schedule for SF Sketchfest 2018". SF Sketchfest. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  3. ↑ Jusino, Teresa (March 16, 2016). "Interview: Party Over Here's Jessica McKenna Talks Women in Comedy and Her Sweet New Gig". The Mary Sue. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  4. 1 2 White, Chad (March 8, 2017). "Improvising comedy raps with Jessica McKenna". C+ Comedy. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Jessica McKenna". ucbcomedy.com. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  6. ↑ Ruskin, Zack; Mojadad, Ida (January 31, 2018). "Dispatches from Sketchfest 2018: Volume II". SF Weekly. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  7. ↑ "JESSICA MCKENNA – Résumé | Omnipop Talent Group". resumes.breakdownexpress.com. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Comedy & Conversation". BUMBERSHOOT. Archived from the original on July 3, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  9. ↑ Prudom, Laura (February 4, 2016). "Fox Launches Saturday Sketch Comedy Series 'Party Over Here' from Lonely Island". Variety. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  10. ↑ Wright, Tolly (August 10, 2016). "Party Over Here Canceled, Never to Be 'Here' on Fox Again". Vulture. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Jessica McKenna | Serious Music". ABC. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Watch Serious Music TV Show - ABC.com". ABC. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  13. ↑ @GameChangerSam (December 28, 2021). "Welcome to Mountport's opening number – from Zeke Nicholson, @ZachReino, @JessRMcKenna, and @ScottPassarella!🏔️🌊" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ↑ CollegeHumor (August 16, 2022). Play It By Ear Trailer.
  15. ↑ Milligan, Mercedes (March 4, 2016). "Disney XD Announces 'Billy Dilly' and 'Country Club'". Animation Magazine. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  16. ↑ Sandberg, Bryn (March 4, 2016). "Disney XD Orders Pair of Original Animated Series (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  17. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (March 20, 2022). "WGA Awards: 'Don't Look Up' Wins For Original Screenplay, 'CODA' Wins For Adapted; 'Hacks', 'Succession', 'Conan' Also Win – Full Winners List". Deadline. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  18. ↑ Coates, Tyler (January 11, 2023). "WGA Awards 2023: Abbott Elementary, Andor, The Bear and Severance Among New Series Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Off Book: The Improvised Musical podcast on Earwolf". Earwolf. Archived from the original on May 28, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  20. ↑ "About Sound Detectives". Sound Detectives - About. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Comedy Bang Bang: The Podcast podcast on Earwolf". Earwolf. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Apple TV+ unveils trailer for "Goldie" premiering February 14".
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