Melissa Peterman

Melissa Peterman
Born	Melissa Margaret Peterman
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1996 – present
Spouse(s)	John Brady (1999–present) 1 child, boy named Riley

Melissa Margaret Peterman (born July 1,1971) is an American actress who is best-known for her role as Barbra Jean in the television comedy series Reba. She was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Theater

After graduating from Minnesota State University, Mankato with theater as one of her majors, she was cast as Madeline Monroe in Hey City Theater's production of Tony n' Tina's Wedding. After more than 600 performances, she went on to work as a writer and performer at the improvisational comedy theater the Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis, which boasts such alumni as Pat Proft, Louie Anderson, Cedric Yarbrough, Mo Collins and Al Franken. While with the Brave New Workshop, she also performed at the Chicago Improv Festival and the Big Stink Comedy Festival in Austin, Texas.

Film and television

Peterman made her film debut as "Hooker #2" in the Coen brothers' 1996 movie Fargo. She also appeared in the comedies Recipe for Disaster and How High.

In 2001, Peterman landed a starring role on the sitcom Reba, alongside country singer Reba McEntire, playing the new woman in the life of Reba's former husband, Brock. Her character "Barbra Jean" was a nutty woman who is mother to young "Henry." The series came to an end in 2007.

Peterman remains loyal to her comic roots as the host of 15 Minutes of Fem, a comedy showcase for women presented at the Egyptian Theatre. She continues to write her own material and has a one-woman show in the works.

On television, she appeared in the Oxygen sketch comedy show Running With Scissors and guest-starred on Just Shoot Me! and The Pitts.

During her summer hiatus from Reba, Peterman hosted The Sound of Music Sing-a-Long, reprising her hosting gig from last summer's The Wizard of Oz Sing-a-Long, at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Peterman can also be seen on the World Cup Comedy Challenge television series and on a celebrity edition of Trading Spaces with her Reba husband, Christopher Rich.

Peterman also played Mrs. Splitz in Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide.

On October 15, 2007, melissapeterman.net announced that, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Peterman had been cast in a comedy that had been ordered to pilot but had not yet been picked up to air. The comedy is untitled and also stars Cedric the Entertainer and is being produced for ABC. The pilot was taped on October 30, 2007 at the CBS Studio Center in Studio City, California. In December it was announced that the actors had been secured, indicating that the network was still interested. On May 13, 2008, ABC announced that it did not pick up the pilot.

She has continued to work in television. Peterman recently hosted four episodes of the new show CMT Comedy Stage, which was canceled after eight episodes. Melissa returned to CMT on July 18 to host a special, titled Redneck Dreams. She appeared in two episodes of ABC's new show, Wanna Bet? as part of the celebrity panel. Her appearances aired July 28 and August 4. She has taped an episode of Surviving Suburbia where she portrays a counselor. The episode is expected to air in 2009.

On October 29, 2008, Peterman posted on her blog that she is reading for a new pilot, titled Living With Abandon. On January 14, 2009, Peterman returned to her blog and posted that Living With Abandon was not picked up by the FOX network. She also stated she will be appearing in an episode of Rita Rocks. She currently hosts The Singing Bee on CMT.

Television Roles

Duration	Program	Role	Information
2009-Present	The Singing Bee Premieres: June 16, 2009 Network: CMT	Host	10 Episodes Renewed for a New season
2009-2009	Surviving Suburbia Airdate: April 13, 2009, June 12, 2009, July 17, 2009 Network: ABC	Mrs. Muncie	3 Episodes
2009-2009	Rita Rocks Airdate: February 9, 2009 Network: Lifetime	Jennifer	1 Episode
2008-2008	American Dad! Airdate: Unknown Network: FOX	Sister Mary	1 Episode
2008-2008	Redneck Dreams Airdate: July 18, 2008 Network: CMT	Host	1 Episode
2008-2008	Living With Abandon Airdate: Unaired Network: FOX	Rachelle	Failed Pilot
2007-2007	Untitled Cedric Project Airdate: Unaired Network: ABC	Marci Wittman	Failed Pilot
2007-2007	CMT Comedy Stage Airdate: February 2007-May 2007 Network: CMT	Host	8 Episodes
2001-2007	Reba Airdate: October 2001-February 2007 Network: WB, CW	Barbra Jean	90 Episodes
2006-2006	Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide Airdate: May 13, 2006 Network: Nickelodeon	Mrs. Splitz	1 Episode
2004-2004	Johnny Bravo Airdate: August 2004 Network: Cartoon	Becky	1 Episode
2003-2003	The Pitts Airdate: March 30, 2003 Network: FOX	Shirley Poppins	1 Episode
2000-2000	Just Shoot Me! Airdate: November 9, 2000 Network: NBC	Claire	1 Episode

Film Roles

Year	Film	Role	Information
2009	Dirty Politics Release Date: Spring 2009	Rita Breaux	—
2006	Cook-Off! Release Date: TBA	Nancy Shmaedeke	—
2003	Recipe For Disaster Release Date: May 16, 2003	Gigi Grant	—
2000	How High Release Date: December 21, 2001	Sheila Cain	—
1996	Fargo Release Date: March 8, 1996	Hooker #2	—

Other work

In the summer of 2007, Peterman was the opening act for nine of Reba co-star Reba McEntire's "Key To The Heart" tour. Melissa returned with an almost-identical comedy routine in 2008 on Reba's and Kelly Clarkson's "2 Worlds, 2 Voices Tour."

It was revealed on March 28, 2008 on reba.com that Melissa would not be joining Reba on her summer tour in 2008. However, she has appeared at several concerts during the summer.

Peterman confirmed on July 7, 2008 that she will be opening all 24 concerts on the second leg of the 2 Worlds, 2 Voices Tour in the fall of 2008. It was later announced by Melissa herself in October 2008 that she would not be opening the Fort Wayne, Indiana show on October 16, 2008 as she has to tape an appearance on Surviving Suburbia.

In July of 2009, Peterman began starring in the comedy web series Dusty Peacock on Crackle.

Family

She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, fellow actor John Brady. She gave birth to an 8 lb. 5 oz. baby boy named Riley David on October 20, 2005, at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.

Quotes

Melissa's Book of Love: "I was friends with my husband for four years before we fell in love. If I had a rule book, I'd include one about how you need to like the person before you love them. The like never goes away, even when they're driving you crazy."

All the World Is a Courtroom... er, Stage: "When I was little I used to say, 'When I grow up, I want to be a lawyer or an actress.' And my dad would say, 'Well, they're the same thing, except that you'll probably make money with one.' He meant lawyer."

A Parent's Worst Nightmare: "My husband and I both consider ourselves funny people - we met doing improv - and our biggest fear is having a kid who has no sense of humor. We go, 'What if our kid has no sense of timing? What happens if our kid doesn't get us?'"

Minnesota Mama: "I'm always doing characters, and I have fun doing impressions of my mother." [In a thick Minnesota accent:] "'Well, Melissa, L.A. is real crazy out there, ya know. I heard they rioted after they won a basketball game. Gosh, if they riot after they win, imagine what would happen if they lose!'"

External links

• Template:Tvtome person
• Melissa Peterman cast bio on The WB
• Melissa Peterman Official Website
• The Melissa Peterman Network
• Interview With Melissa Peterman