Widely known for her outstanding roles in movies like Bridesmaids and Licorice Pizza, Maya Rudolph’s television career is just as impressive. AppleTV+’s new series Loot, which started June 24th, not only stars Maya Rudolph, but she also produced it. She is a multi-talented actor who manages to convey a relatable humanity through her characters whether in comedy or drama, voice-over, or live-action.
The wide variety of fictional characters she’s played are featured on some very high-ranking series, according to the critics at Rotten Tomatoes. Though the character Molly Kovak from Loot only managed an honorable mention at number 11, the top 10 include some recognizable recurring characters like Disney+’s Aunt Cass on the new series Baymax! which started on June 29th.
Bless the Harts (2019-2021) 82%
Everyone loves a good dysfunctional family cartoon. The Harts are a southern family struggling to make ends meet but laughing all along the way. The series follows the matriarch Betty, her daughter Jenny, Jenny’s daughter Violet, and Wayne.
In the series Bless the Harts, Maya plays Beatrice Jean (Betty) Hart who is the loving, albeit sassy, mother of Jenny Hart, voiced by Kristen Wiig. And while she can be a fiery woman, as the family name implies, she really shows heart for her loved ones. Maya brings a lovable quality to this character who, though vindictive and unforgiving at times, has just the spunk the show needs.
The Simpsons (2007) 85%
With its debut in 1989, The Simpsons is the longest-running American animated series and with a whopping 728 episodes, by the end of season 33, it's also the longest-running American scripted primetime television series. Most everyone is familiar with Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie, but there have been some notable guest performances.
In the episode, “The Homer of Seville” Homer is mobbed by fans after becoming an overnight sensation for his operatic role in “The Barber of Seville.” Julia, voiced by Maya Rudolph, comes to the rescue but with ulterior motives. Because of Maya’s diverse range of character portrayals, she is able to capture the duplicity of this character very well.
I Love You, America With Sarah Silverman (2018) 93%
With only one season to speak of before being canceled by Hulu, I Love You, America featured plenty of guests, but not the kind featured on most late-night talk shows. Sarah Silverman used the familiar format of monologues, interviews, and pre-recorded scripted bits to explore some different viewpoints on this moment in time. She covers some serious issues without talking herself, or the show, too seriously.
As full-sized Lady Liberty, Maya has a conversation with Sarah on Ellis Island about the immigration experience. Sarah is distraught and Maya’s casual depiction of the symbol of the freedom and hope America once stood for, was a strange comfort and discreet reminder between the silly jokes and vaping. She tries to get a laugh from Sarah every which way, and flaunts a decent French accent.
Human Resources (2022) 95%
A spin-off from the series Big Mouth, Human Resources features some of the main characters from the show, like Maury and Connie, at the office. These hormone monsters are assigned to show up for people during emotional times. And the monsters themselves have to deal with their own ups and downs.
Connie is the hormone monstress who shows up for puberty. Maya is able to go all over the map with this lively monster who goes from excitement to tears at the drop of hat. Her southern drawl makes for a comedic interpretation of such a hot-headed yet sympathetic character.
Forever (2018-2021) 95%
This comedy-drama from Amazon Prime Video set in a predictable and wearisome Riverside, California, follows a couple through the drudges of their everyday existence. Oscar, thriving in the routine of the familiar, doesn’t notice the toll this rut is taking on his wife, June. She suggests a ski trip to change things up, but the change they get is a bit more than they bargained for.
June goes through a bit of a transition after the couple’s ski trip which allows for quite the showcase of Maya’s talent. To start she plays June’s discontentment perfectly and then transitions to a hesitant hopefulness with such nuance. As one of the leading characters, it’s her curiosity and uncertainty that carries the viewer along for the ride.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2016) 95%
Running for eight seasons, this police comedy revolved around a team of NYPD detectives and was critically acclaimed. The first season won a Golden Globe. Though canceled by Fox after the fifth season, it was picked up for three more seasons by NBC.
Karen Haas was the US Marshal who oversaw the witness protection of Larry and Greg. Maya played this character as a foolish character in authority who takes herself very seriously. Her interactions with Andy Samberg’s character are hilariously patronizing.
Angie Tribeca (2016) 96%
Steve and Nancy Carell created this TBS comedy starring Rashida Jones. It’s a police parody that follows a different crime investigation by the LAPD in each episode. The show ran for four seasons.
Maya plays the guest role of Jackie Wilder, in the episode “Organ Trail.” She’s a novelist called on to help the LAPD with their case. She hysterically describes the stories she’s fabricated for each of the officers as they wince at the ridiculous details. It’s Maya’s grandiose delivery that evokes the laughs.
The Good Place (2018-2020) 97%
When Eleanor Shellstrop is mistakenly welcomed to the Good Place after her death, she is determined to keep her place there by hiding her current flaws and past mistakes. The show challenges ethics and philosophy all while keeping it light. This NBC fantasy comedy series lasted four seasons and received critical acclaim and several Emmy nominations.
As Judge Gen in two episodes of The Good Place, Maya agrees to a challenge brought to her by four humans, to keep herself entertained. She comes across as authoritative but is still tons of fun with her colorful banter. The judge always conveys a sense of threat, since she controls where they spend their afterlife, yet maintains side-splitting wit and delivery of sometimes devastating decisions.
Big Mouth (2017-2021) 99%
Although it is a coming-of-age series, Big Mouth is much more of an adult animation. This sitcom tackling puberty received critical acclaim for its messages of acceptance. It was renewed for a seventh season in April 2022 by Netflix.
Diane is the mother of Judd, Leah, and Nick. Maya gives this character a real-life frustration with a caricatured version of rage. Instead of merely taking her son’s phone away, she bashes it with a fire poker and somehow has the viewers laughing, not cowering.
Baymax! (2022) 100%
This Disney+ series follows Baymax apart from his team of heroic friends from the feature film Big Hero 6. He was created to be a robot who showed up at the scene when people needed him. This series is no different, with an emphasis on specific people physically in need of his medical help rather than big-picture peril.
Aunt Cass is as charismatic and full of spunk as ever. And there is no other voice actress that could represent her better than Maya Rudolph. Much like her role as Aunt Cass in the film, her enthusiastic and charming personality really contributes to the tone of the series. Since this series keeps the focus on the Hamada family there is a lot more of Aunt Cass on the show than there was in the movie.