Ronna and Beverly
Ronna Marlene Glickman and Beverly Ginsberg (née Kahn) are the 50-something characters created and embodied by actor/comedians Jessica Chaffin and Jamie Denbo, respectively. They host a biweekly podcast on the Earwolf network wherein they interview/interrogate a celebrity guest, interact with one another, and dispense advice to listeners. Chaffin and Denbo developed their characters in 2006 when they were asked to host an all-Jewish 'Kosher Christmas Show' at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.[1]
Podcast
Ronna and Beverly have a new podcast every other week on their eponymous show, Ronna and Beverly, at Earwolf. The podcast premiered on May 25, 2011.[2] Former guests include people working in comedy, as well as actors, authors, and filmmakers.
Television
In 2009, a television pilot[3] based on the two women was produced by Showtime[4] with Jenji Kohan co-writing and co-producing and with Paul Feig directing. The pilot was not picked up.
In 2012, British network Sky Atlantic aired one season of a chat show[5] starring Ronna and Beverly. The 6-episode run was also directed by Paul Feig.[6] Guests included such as Jon Hamm, Michael Bolton, Will Arnett, Warwick Davis, David Walliams, and Alan Cumming, among others.[7]
Live performances
Ronna and Beverly perform monthly in Los Angeles at the UCB-LA Theatre. They also brought their show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2010.[8] The characters make especial fuss over their international lifestle, and London is a frequent topic of note on their podcast and in print.[9] In 2010, Denbo and Chaffin performed in as Ronna and Beverly for a brief run at London's Soho Theatre.[10]
Canon
The Friendship
Ronna and Beverly met as youngsters at camp in their native Massachusetts. (Random fact: Beverly believes she heard a sexual assault on Ronna at camp, but Ronna corrects her that it was Stacy Silk in the other bunk.) They have been best friends since childhood, with the exception of a two-year span in which they did not speak to one another. They co-wrote the book You'll Do A Little Better Next Time: A Guide to Marriage and Re-marriage for Jewish Singles. They are quick to point out that it says Jewish in the title, but in fact, the book is for everyone. They are based in Marblehead, Massachusetts, and usually broadcast from Ronna's office, but Beverly actually lives in nearby Swampscott.
Ronna Glickman
Ronna married Dr. Bob Glickman. They had one son, Jordan Glickman, who is a film major at the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. He is, according to his mother, extraordinarily talented and artsy. A photograph of Jordan recently appeared in the New York press, which apparently showed him brawling in the street with his very close friend, Hervé, and a third unnamed male. Dr. Bob, as Ronna affectionately calls her late husband, perished in an unfortunate snorkeling accident while the family was on vacation in St. Bart's. She and Jordan return to the island every February to pay homage to Dr. Bob. Ronna has been known to keep a male companion from time to time, but is fiercely independent and enjoys hosting events in her lovely shades-of-vanilla home. Ronna enjoys only the finest things in life and is a self described classist. Ronna has a property on Martha's Vineyard which she escapes to every Halloween. She's in fabulous shape thanks to swimming and Pilates.
Beverly Ginsberg
Beverly has been married several times, including to Steve Frisch and Allen Ginsberg (not the one you're thinking of), and though she's unmarried now, she does spend some hot nights with her contractor, Ray Natoli. Beverly has twin daughters, Lainie and Rachelle Frisch. Lainie is very religious, and Rachelle is "at Arizona State University." She also once had a dog named Shayna Punim, who she scrambled eggs for three times a day. Having co-created the sexual role-play game, ISIS Refugee, Beverly could be considered a very sex-positive person. Beverly once had an affair, while on a gay cruise in the Mexican riviera, with a female Spanish-speaking bilingual karaoke director (but she didn't do the English part) who looked like Jose Canseco and was named Lisa. Lisa may or may not be working under cover.
Beverly is fun-loving if a little inconsiderate of others in her pursuit of the many things that please her. For example, while enjoying a cruise, Beverly lost a gorgeous Loro Piana wrap of Ronna's over the side of the ship, a mistake not soon forgotten. She also claims to have synesthesia and other rare skills such as being able to determine which animated inanimate object (think the hot dog from "Grease") her male guests would be. If it didn't mean what it means, Beverly would call a kitten or parakeet "n*gger," which she regards as an adorable name for a pet.
Fans
According to Ronna and Bev, the original listeners are their friends, The Barbaras (Barbara Eschelbach, Barbara Levin, and Barbara Sidman).
I'm A Ronna / I'm A Beverly
Through their time interviewing people and interacting with fans, it became clear that people are often more inclined to relate with one of the hosts to the exclusion of the other. Those who are drawn to Ronna relate to her exquisite taste level and interest in world events and the arts. Those who are drawn to Beverly relate to her free spirit and believe that the human condition must not apologize for itself.
There is a fan movement on the rise to use #imaronna[11] and #imabeverly.[12]
Podcast episodes
| Episode # | Title | Guest |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julie Klausner | Julie Klausner |
| 2 | Paul F. Tompkins | Paul F. Tompkins |
| 3 | Justin Kirk | Justin Kirk |
| 4 | Paul Feig | Paul Feig |
| 5 | Nick Kroll | Nick Kroll |
| 6 | Jen Kirkman | Jen Kirkman |
| 7 | Andy Richter | Andy Richter |
| 8 | Jon Daly | Jon Daly |
| 9 | Ana Ortiz | Ana Ortiz |
| 10 | Joel Stein | Joel Stein |
| 11 | Martha Plimpton | Martha Plimpton |
| 12 | Paget Brewster | Paget Brewster |
| 13 | Jimmy Pardo | Jimmy Pardo |
| 14 | Rob Riggle | Rob Riggle |
| 15 | Harris Wittels | Harris Wittels |
| 16 | Donna Kagan | Donna Kagan |
| 17 | Barbara Vinick | Barbara Vinick |
| 18 | David Sabino | David Sabino |
| 19 | Vacation Crashing | Heather Donahue |
| 20 | London Calling | Jeff Garlin |
| 21 | Hollywood's Night to Shine | Joey McIntyre |
| 22 | Never Forget | Ilana Glazer, Abbi Jacobson |
| 23 | Facebook and Toilet Paper | Natasha Leggero |
| 23.5 | Minisode | None |
| 24 | Red Leather Yellow Leather | Elizabeth Reaser |
| 25 | Museum of Death | Marc Maron |
| 26 | Tanlines | Tanlines |
| 27 | Superfudge for Girls | Connie Britton |
| 28 | Stolen Spanx | Scott Aukerman |
| 29 | Gangrene & Ice Cream | Michael Strahan |
| 30 | The Kramer of Veep | Matt Walsh |
| 31 | Babysitting | Morgan Murphy |
| 32 | Not Personal | Steve Agee |
| 33 | Alpha-Nerd | John Ross Bowie |
| 34 | Jack of All Trades | Brandon Johnson |
| 35 | Growing Pains | June Diane Raphael |
| 36 | Cartoon Dixie Cup | Brian Huskey |
| 37 | Blossom In The Nerds | Kevin Sussman |
| 38 | The Podcast Mash | Tony Hale |
| 39 | Bar Mitzvah Teddy Bear | Shaun Sperling |
| 40 | Animated Picture Frame | Paul Gilmartin |
| 41 | Wonderful Podcast Time! | Jake Fogelnest |
| 42 | The Live Hanukkah Special | Paul F. Tompkins, Paget Brewster & Angela Kinsey |
| 43 | Bubba the Love Nut | Rich Sommer |
| 44 | Sephardic Indiana Jones | Gil Ozeri |
| 45 | Unlocked Daydreamer | Katie Dippold |
| 46 | Live at the San Francisco Sketch Fest | Jonathan Coulton, James Reichmuth |
| 47 | Oscar Wrap-Up! | Sam Pancake |
| 48 | Hometown Hero | Nate Corddry |
| 49 | Passover 2013 | None |
| 50 | A Nutter Butter | Kevin Pollak |
| 51 | Old Fashioned Kitchen Timer | Ted Griffin |
| 52 | LIVE w/ Rob Delaney & David Wain | Rob Delaney, David Wain |
| 53 | Gym Rash | Jim Rash |
| 54 | Bubble Giggles | Kulap Vilaysack |
| 55 | Dagger Fingers | Sarah Baker |
| 56 | Young Griffin Dunne | Josh Fadem |
| 57 | The See's Proposal | Alison Rosen |
| 58 | Peanut Butter Cup | Steve Agee |
| 59 | Live From Montreal | Nick Kroll, Andy Kindler |
| 60 | LIVE w/ Ben Schwartz & Mark Feuerstein | Ben Schwartz, Mark Feuerstein |
| 61 | Pocket Sass | Judy Reyes |
| 62 | I am A Hungry Girl | Lisa Lillien |
| 63 | Happy Eyebrows | Adam Ray |
| 64 | Live From London | Morwenna Banks, Jonathan Simpson |
| 65 | Boyfriend Cloud | Kate Walsh |
| 66 | Everyone Makes Mistakes | Andy Daly |
| 67 | Happy Thanksgivingkkah | None |
| 68 | Uterus Chat | Leslie Grossman |
| 69 | LIVE w/ Nia Vardalos and Bob Harper | Nia Vardalos, Bob Harper |
| 70 | LIVE w/ Jacki Weaver and Patrick J. Adams | Jacki Weaver, Patrick J. Adams |
| 71 | German Shepherd On A Leash | Bob Harper |
| 72 | Live At Riot L.A. | Paul Scheer |
| 73 | Live at the San Francisco Sketch Fest 2014 | Michael Ian Black, Bob Harper |
| 74 | The Oscar Special | Jace Lacob, Kate Aurthur & Adam B. Vary |
| 75 | Myrin Animal | Arden Myrin |
| 76 | I Need A Ticket for Rosh Hashanah | Stephen Tobolowsky |
| 77 | Jason Nash Bought an Xbox | Jason Nash |
| 78 | Viking Tennis | Janet Varney |
| 79 | The Advice Show! | None |
| 80 | Chocolate Muff | Dana Goodman, Julia Wolov |
| 81 | Bikini, Me | David Huntsberger |
| 82 | Period Face | Humphrey Ker |
| 83 | Crammer or Creamer | Howard Kremer |
| 84 | A Fatted Calf | Danielle Schneider, Dannah Phirman |
| 85 | Voice of the Internet | Richard Lawson |
| 86 | Co Ne Dreee | Eliot Glazer |
| 87 | The Laimest Couple In The World | Elizabeth Laime, Andy Rosen |
| 88 | Cute as a Baby Seal | Sarah Burns |
| 89 | Uber Smart | Jerry O'Connell |
| 90 | Just Jenji | Jenji Kohan |
| 91 | EGhost Dog | Sean Sakimae |
| 91.5 | Ghost of Bob Odenkirk | Bob Odenkirk |
| 92 | Eat Over There | Matt Besser |
| 93 | Honey Jug | Joe Lo Truglio |
| 94 | The Advice Episode! | None |
| 95 | LIVE from UCB-Sunset | Jack Black, Paul F. Tompkins |
| 96 | Green Grover | Nate Corddry |
| 97 | Spatchcock a Chicken | Christopher Noxon |
| 98 | I Don't Want To Meetaphobia | Gabrielle Union, Regina Hall |
| 99 | Gluten Free Morning | Lindsey Stoddart, Leslie Bibb |
| 100 | OSCAR Predictions | Adam B. Vary, Kate Aurthur |
| 101 | Modern World Throwback | Tavi Gevinson |
| 102 | Candy Crisis | Drew Droege |
| 103 | Listener Mail | None |
| 104 | Uncle Matty Boy | Eugene Cordero |
| 105 | Brewster's Millions | Paget Brewster |
| 106 | From Skater Bro to Penguin Goth | Robin Lord Taylor |
| 107 | Advice For All! | None |
| 108 | Live At UCB w/ Jeff Garlin, Matt Walsh | Jeff Garlin, Matt Walsh |
| 109 | My Body Is Magic | Louis Peitzman |
| 110 | Shaq Stomach | Mitch Silpa |
| 111 | More Advice for You! | None |
| 112 | Mr. Terrific | Echo Kellum |
| 113 | Oprah Gayle Underwear | Diablo Cody |
| 114 | Quip Fire! | Ellie Kemper |
| 115 | From Nannying to Stardom | Katie Lowes |
| 116 | Live at UCB w/ Danny Pudi, Paul F. Tompkins | Danny Pudi, Paul F. Tompkins |
| 117 | Advice For Your Life | None |
| 118 | 01907 The Magazine | Phil Rosenthal |
| 119 | Live at UCB w/ Ravi Patel, Jack McGee | Ravi Patel, Jack McGee |
| 120 | Two Bevs Don’t Make A Right | Jessica St. Clair |
| 121 | Super Joel Stein | Joel Stein |
| 122 | My B-Day with Joan Rivers | Gearoid Farrelly |
| 123 | Walking Paintbrush | Zoë Bell |
| 124 | Advice for 2016! | None |
| 125 | Live at the San Francisco Sketch Fest 2016 | Guy Branum, Kate Micucci |
| 126 | Live at UCB w/ Ben Feldman, Reid Scott | Ben Feldman, Reid Scott |
| 127 | The 2016 OSCAR Podcast | Kate Aurthur, Adam B. Vary, & Jarett Wieselman |
| 128 | Kevin Deserves a Sandwich | Kevin Kirkpatrick |
| 129 | LIVE at UCB Sunset with Kulap Vilaysack and Michael Constantini | Kulap Vilaysack, Sam Kieffer |
| 130 | Bedroom Eyes | Paul W. Downs |
| 131 | Advice You Need | None |
| 132 | Tip My Beanie | Beanie Feldstein |
References
- ↑ Benji Wilson For Mailonline (August 13, 2012). "YOU interview: Ronna and Beverly, are you sitting uncomfortably?". Daily Mail. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ↑ Earwolf Show Page
- ↑ "Encyclopedia of Television Pilots, 1937-2012"
- ↑ Katherine Rosman (December 29, 2009). ""Ronna and Beverly": How the Showtime Sitcom Went from Cancellation to Sensation - Speakeasy". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ↑ Spencer Bright For Mailonline (September 28, 2012). "Oversexed, overbearing and over here, US duo Ronna & Beverly make the stars squirm on their new talk show". Daily Mail. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ↑ IMDB
- ↑ "Ronna & Beverly - Sky Atlantic Chat Show - British Comedy Guide". Com. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Ronna and Beverly - Edinburgh Fringe 2010 - British Comedy Guide". Com. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Ronna & Beverly interview - Comedy - Time Out London". Timeout.com. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Ronna And Beverly Bring Their 'Anti-Press-Junket' Chat Show To London". Huffingtonpost.co.uk. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ↑ #imaronna
- ↑ #imabeverly