Lisa Arch

Lisa Arch
Born	Lisa Kushell (1971-11-23) November 23, 1971 Los Angeles, California, USA
Occupation	Actress/Comedian
Years active	1993–present
Spouse(s)	Russell Arch (1 child)
Website	http://www.lisaarch.com

Lisa Arch (née Kushell; born November 23, 1971) is an American comedian and actress known for her roles in the 1997-98 Season of the FOX Network comedy show, MADtv, as cohost of TBS's Dinner and a Movie from 2002 to 2005, and as the recurring character of Samantha Samuels on Disney Channel's Cory in the House. Arch has also been in movies, such as 2007's Evan Almighty.

Personal life

Born Lisa Kushell in Los Angeles, California, she began acting on stage at 15 years old in the sketch comedy troupe Upstage Comedy. Arch has often stated that her parents were extremely supportive of her and they allowed her to hone her skills in their "unfurnished living room" until she graduated from high school. She earned her SAG card with one line as a waitress on Dream On. After her first appearance, she began appearing on such shows as Seinfeld, The X-Files, and For Your Love.

She has an older brother, Bob Kushell, who is a TV writer/producer and Internet talk show host. Her brother works with her husband, Russell Arch, the Co-Creator and Executive Producer of ANYTIME WITH BOB KUSHELL, an internet talkshow for Sony Interactive's Crackle.com. On September 18, 2007, she gave birth to a son, Garrett Mitchell Arch.

Career

MADtv

Arch joined the cast of MADtv in 1997, as a repertory performer, for the third season. She would be promoted to repertory status mid-season. She is remembered for playing characters like social outcast Susan Whitfield and sassy country gal Wanda Terry-Ann Lainier Parker from the Parker Sisters sketches.

Arch also flexed her comedy muscles with her celebrity impressions, of public figures like Paula Jones. She also lampooned Hollywood stars like Farrah Fawcett, Demi Moore, Alyson Hannigan, Lori Loughlin and Hope Summers. She has also impersonated singers like Melanie Chisholm (a.k.a. "Sporty Spice"), Alanis Morissette and Fiona Apple.

After one season on the show, Arch left MADtv at the conclusion of season three to pursue other career opportunities.

Other television projects

Since Leaving MADtv, Arch has done many guest appearances and voice overs. She has appeared in such commercials as "Mervyn's" and "Southern Comfort."

She has featured on the Comedy Central show Crank Yankers as the voice of "Cammie", an airheaded, bisexual party-girl in her early twenties. She also played the role of Samantha Samuels on the Disney Channel show Cory in the House. She has also had a part in the children's TV program Hannah Montana as a photographer. Arch can be seen on a regular basis at Los Angeles' ACME Comedy Theater and recently hosted a special episode of Reel Comedy about the movie, Bewitched. She also has made numerous guest appearances on television shows, including Reno 911!, Seinfeld, and The X-Files. Also she was in Austin & Ally as Damonica Dixon.

Dinner and a Movie

In 2001, Arch's career got a boost when she replaced Annabelle Gurwitch as the hostess of the TBS cooking and entertainment show, Dinner and a Movie. For two and a half years, she appeared, alongside host Paul Gilmartin and chef Claud Mann, in each episode introducing movies and cracking jokes during the preparation of a creative dinner to go with some theme of the movie.

In 2004, Arch's contract had expired. As she was preparing for another season as hostess of the show, she got a call from TBS executives, right after the Thanksgiving holiday, informing her that her contract was not going to be renewed. She left the show on good relations with the Dinner and a Movie staff, but she was very upset about the failure to have her contract renewed. In 2005, she was succeeded by Janet Varney as host.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Other notes
2007	Evan Almighty	Staffer
2005	I'm Not Gay	Chris
2005	Guess Who	Woman at Elevator
2003	Windy City Heat	Susan B. Anthony
2001	The Comedy Team of Pete & James	Gwen
2001	Legally Blonde	Boutique Saleswoman
1999	Dirt Merchant	XTV Reporter
1998	Billboard Dad	Woman #2

Television appearances

Year	Title	Role	Other notes
2014-present	100 Things To Do Before High School	Principal Changer	Recurring
2012	Austin & Ally	Damonica Dixon	1 Episode
2010	Good Luck Charlie	Girl at ballgame	1 Episode
2008–2011	Clean House	Herself	Back-up host
2007–2008	Cory in the House	Samantha Samuels	Recurring role
2006–2009	Hannah Montana	Liza (the photographer)	3 episodes
2006	Half & Half	Dr. Swenson
2004	Significant Others	Girl at Bar
2003	Charmed	Tour Guide
2003	Windy City Heat	Suzanne/Jiggly Wrigley
2003	For Your Love	Kathy McCulloch
2003	Reno 911!	Stripper with Dispute
2002	Dinner and a Movie	Host
2000	The X Files	Call Girl	Episode: "Orison"
1998	Michael Hayes	Rhonda
1997–1998	MADtv	Various Characters
1996	Seinfeld	Connie	"The Friar's Club"
1994	Attack of the 5 Ft. 2 In. Women	Dotty
1993	Dream On	Waitress

Voice acting and video game appearances

Year	Title	Role	Other notes
2004	Outlaw Golf 2	Trixie	Video Game
2002–present	Crank Yankers	Cammie	Puppet Comedy TV Series
2000	Mission Hill	Stacy/Miss Colleen Peck/Chola Girl/TinaThe Chosen One	TV Series

External links

• Official website
• Lisa Arch at the Internet Movie Database
• Lis Kushell at AllMovie