nside
Dr. Ruth
CELEBRATING LIFE AFTER 50
...page 2
Northwest
Prime Time
EE FR
I
Winter
www.NorthwestPrimeTime.com
VOL. 21 NO. 5
Edition 2021
Catching Up With Nancy Guppy …by Debbie Stone
Local comedy icon chats about her life
M
ost funny people perceive they’re funny at a young age. They know by the reactions they get from their peers and the adults around them.
For Nancy Guppy, all the signs were there. “I was always somebody who was irreverent,” she says. “I knew I could be entertaining – a kind of unexpected sprite with a quirky personality.” She continues, “I didn’t take to authority very well and would say and do things that were a bit extreme, a bit absurd. Then again, I could also be mainstream.” As evidence of the latter, Nancy mentions she was a cheerleader in high school and a member of a sorority in college. She adds, “But I was always a goofball!” You probably know Nancy if you’ve lived in the Seattle area for a while. For ten plus years, she has been the face of Art Zone with Nancy Guppy on The Seattle Channel. You might also be familiar with her longtime gig on KING-TV’s Almost Live!, where she Seattle native Nancy Guppy is the host of Art Zone with Nancy Guppy on The Seattle Channel and is familiar to was a staff writer and cast member. Or maybe you viewers of the longtime Seattle sketch comedy show, “Almost Live!” She has won numerous awards for her work as a saw her when the famed sketch comedy show was on writer, host, producer and cast member. Photos by Ernie Sapiro Comedy Central. A native of Seattle, Nancy recalls her youth fondly. “The city had a real small-town vibe then,” she comments. “And as a kid, I had incredible freedom. I would bike all day on the weekends, go to movies with my friends at the old, funky theater in Magnolia and just ramble around, exploring my little world.” She remembers discovering Pike Place Market for the first time and being enamored with For 15 seasons, KING-TV’s the atmosphere. And although she was too young “Almost Live!” poked fun at the local scene. Front row (l-r): for the hippie culture, she was attracted to its Bill Stainton, John Keister, Steve Bohemian spirit. Wilson. Back row (l-r): Tracey From Memorial Day to Labor Day, she and her Conway, Joel McHale, Nancy family – mom, dad and older sister, Anne – would Guppy, Bob Nelson, Pat Cashman (standing). (Above): Nancy and spend summers at the family’s cabin at Useless Bay on castmate Tracey Conway looking Whidbey Island. “It was idyllic up there and I realize ever so glamorous. Photos by I took it for granted,” says Nancy. “My dad and his Gary Harper friend built the place back in 1966 and it was super special.” She adds, “We would Harris, who still reside to find our own way.” rent horses and ride them on in the city. She notes Nancy’s parents the trails, go to the beach, make they are a very social expected her to be forts and rafts out of driftwood, couple with lots of polite, friendly and have lemonade stands and play friends. Her father was kind, and they served these elaborate games of a banker after serving as great role models in make believe.” Nancy a stint in the Navy, this respect. They also still visits Whidbey and mom stayed instilled a solid work regularly and always home and tended to ethic in her and a strong includes a drive to the household. “She sense of responsibility, Useless Bay to see made my breakfast as well as encouraged the old cabin. and packed my her to be open to Sometimes the visit lunch every day!” opportunities in life. is just for the day, Nancy knew she was says Nancy. “She Glimmers of the but “when we feel funny from a young and my dad are such career she’d eventually like indulging, age. She also claims positive people, and so embark upon can be we love to stay she spent most of her babyhood crying – outgoing. They were traced back to junior a night or two here she is bawling on attentive parents, high when she wrote at The Inn at Santa’s lap with her but definitely not and performed comedy Langley.” big sister, Anne. Joe and Nancy Guppy hamming it up. When they helicopter types. They met in 1985, Joe was working for Almost Live! sketches for a talent It’s clear Nancy allowed my sister and adores her parents, He got Nancy a job with the show and changed the continued on page 14 I to have freedom, and direction of her life. Photo by Ernie Sapiro Beverly and Alden