Pussy Power Post #12-Mia Pinchoff
If you’ve ever spent any time in New York City, particularly in Times Square, you’ve been approached on the street by some rando, asking, “Do you like comedy?” They’re usually met with a gruff, “No!” or even better, “Fuck off!” New York City: The friendliest place on earth. The purpose of their terrible lead in question is not to get to know you better, it’s to sell you tickets to a comedy show.
Because of my former disdain for comedy shows, I was particularly aggressive in my response to this question…that was until I met Mia.
I met her just a few days after moving to Los Angeles. Some good friends of ours invited us to Mia’s first comedy show. I had previously only attended one comedy show. But my disdain for them was pretty locked in. Yet and still, I’d just moved all the way across the country and I was in a ‘let’s try some new things’ kind of mood. So we went.
I would have been impressed by her set even if she would have bombed because the thought of getting up in front of people and trying to get them to laugh is absolutely mortifying. But she didn’t bomb…in fact, she was crazy good. The more I learned about her story, the more I loved her. I literally peed myself twice while editing this interview. So I’m confident you’ll love her too.
With that said, meet dancer turned actress and comedienne, Mia Pinchoff.
I’ll start with a very LA-esque question. What exactly is it that you do?
Great question. My mom asks me all the time. Like, on a daily level? or vision board style? I do photoshoots with my purr-fect tuxedo cats. I clean my apartment a lot…anxiety nah mean? But like, what I’m here for, stand-up comedy. Jokes are my jam. I’m also a screenwriter - love punching up dialogue. Content creator. HA “content creator” da f*ck does that even mean? And, of course, my life wouldn’t be complete without a podcast. So I have one. It’s called 2 Dumb 2 Tame.
What inspires you?
Organization. Streamline packaging. Pens. Puns. Tiny things - that sounds weird… To clarify, I have a tiny shelf where I collect and display tiny shit. Big picture inspo – funny people who don’t apologize for taking risks and putting their asses on the line. Sarah Silverman, Tig Notaro, throwback Ellen DeGeneres, Chappelle – to name a few.
Give me an abridged version of your journey.
I came, I saw, I’m working on it…? Bios give me anxiety.
Birth: nailed it
Childhood: crushed it
Teens: lotta braces and white eyeliner
College: meh. over it before it started
Post College: moved to the best coast
Adulting: Stand-up comedy goals
Old Cat Lady: honestly, this is when I think I’ll flourish
I was born and raised in Manhattan on the upper WEST side. I attended Fiorella H. LaGuardia high school for dance, got injured - like any legit ballerina does, then went to NYU Tisch for theater, graduated- I think. Seriously where is my diploma? Mom? I wore purple cap and gown under a purple poncho in the pouring rain so in my book I graduated. With a rough handle on iambic pentameter and no clue how to do my taxes, I was ready to live my dream… just had to figure out what it was exactly.
At some point I started taking improv classes at UCB – which definitely felt more in my wheelhouse than theater. With a few years of auditioning, working odd jobs and a couple of commercials under my belt, I finally booked a role on a TV show - which was promptly cancelled. I played Dustin Ybarra’s younger sister on Us & Them, which was eventually released on Sony’s Crackle. At that point, all I knew was that I loved doing comedy and I hated the winter.
Enter LA! And driving lessons. The ONLY downside of being a badass city chick is that the only thing I drove was my parents crazy. Wah Wah. But seriously, the thought of moving to a place where I couldn’t be independent gave me acid reflux. Luckily my boyfriend, now fiancé- what?! Cray-cray… promised to teach me how to drive. THAT is a brave man. So, we moved. I failed my driving test. Twice… in one day! I spent months taking the long way home through the canyon roads cause merging onto the highway wasn’t my thing. No accidents to date! *Humble brag*
As much as I loved improv, trying to get a group of seven or eight people together in one place on a consistent basis in LA is like threading a needle through, a brick wall? It’s impossible is what I’m trying to say. And as much as I enjoyed doing improv, I wanted something where I only had to rely on myself.
Growing up I never really processed that I could be a comedian… like for work. I knew there were funny people doing funny shit but it didn’t really sink in that I could pursue a career in comedy until I got to LA. I was dying to try stand-up but also completely terrified. partly because I had never done it before but also because I had this gut feeling it was what I was meant to do – and if I tried and realized I sucked I’d probably end up in a cubicle hating myself FOREVER. So here I am. I don’t suck *phew* but I got a lotta work to do… and that I can fuck with!
What’s your biggest accomplishment thus far?
Getting my first real headlining spot and crushing a solid 45 minutes! Okay, real talk, crushing a solid thirty minutes, fucking around for fifteen. Still felt pretty damn good. So did they paycheck ;P
What’s next for you?
Who can ever be sure? Well, getting married for one thing but no one cares, I get it. Bigger shows, better jokes. Oh and cleaning my scratch disk. Does anyone know what that is and why mine is full???
Name one major goal for the future so your sistren can manifest that with you.
Producing an unscripted docu-series I’ve been working on to inspire and promote these hos. Are we not saying hos anymore? I mean hos in the most impowering sense. It’s a show about women, for women… it’s like the FUBU of entertainment but for women of all races… This got weird.
Name: Mia Pinchoff
Age: 30 but I cast a tight 22.
Location/Region: Los Angeles, at home in my PJJs.
Industry: Entertainment? That sounds naughty… but you get it. Comedy? Is that an industry?
Theme Song: Doo Doo Brown by 2 Live Crew or that song by Meat Loaf.
Favorite Place to Travel: Rwanda. Doubt I’ll be back but it was one of the most incredible places I’ve ever been. Chillin with mountain gorillas may have swayed me but I think with or without the gorillas it would still be in my top three.
Best Book You’ve Read in the Past Year: HA. Yeah. This is a problem. Oh! Joan
Rivers Confidential: The Unseen Scrapbooks, Joke Cards, Personal Files, and Photos of a Very Funny Woman Who Kept Everything. I need to read more though. I don’t believe in new year resolutions but if I did this would be it.
If You Were A Color You Would Be: What color do you want me to be? Anything that comes in a gel pen. I’m more of a color palette girl. I also stand behind a mustard accent more than I probably should.
Best Piece of Advice You’ve Ever Been Given: Don’t rely on talent. Don’t wait for luck.
Favorite Article of Clothing: Hmm, gotta be my “Louboutin” Jordans – they’re black high tops with red soles. Cause I’m classy but not that classy.
Biggest Fear: Fear itself. Or being locked in. Locked in effect - is that where you’re in a coma but you can hear? If it is… That. That shit is not cool.
#1 on Your Bucket List: Swimming with otters, duh.
Fictional Character You Most Identify With: Angelica from the Rugrats. Some people see her as the villain. why? Cause she knows what she wants and don’t take no shit from nobody AND rocks pigtails with bangs?? Sounds like a boss to me.
Daily Affirmation: Good, better, best. Never let it rest. ‘Till the good gets better, and the better is the best. Just kidding.
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