Michael Judson Berry
Photo Credit: Ryan Baker
If you’ve been remotely anywhere on the grid over the past year or so, Schitt’s Creek is most certainly on your radar. But what about its most famous impressionist? You’ve probably seen him donning one of his many colorful wigs, masquerading as Moira Rose, one of the TV show’s central characters. It’s not only Moira, though. Michael Judson Berry, an actor based in New York City, nails David, Alexis, and Johnny. Perhaps one of the people on the app with the finest grip on the world of television, MJB knows the formula. He also spoofs reality TV shows, namely The Bachelor, though his work on (or of, rather) Schitt’s Creek is his magnum opus as of now. With a seamless rendition of nearly everything he takes on, Michael Judson Berry is only bound to grow, even with his already verified accounts on both TikTok and Instagram. We recently spoke to the actor about where he finds inspiration for his content, the pressures of social media, and more!
Hey Michael! Thank you for speaking with us today. Let’s get started by telling us a little bit about yourself. How did you get started making TikToks?
Thank you for inviting me for a chat! I’m an actor, currently based in New York. Before the Pandemic, I primarily focused on theater, so obviously, there were little to no employment opportunities when we went into quarantine. I love improv, and I have always done goofy voices and imitations, one of which was of Catherine O’Hara’s iconic character, Moira Rose, from “Schitt’s Creek”. One day my roommate leaned me a wig he had from an old Halloween costume, and as an inside joke with my friends, I started making these videos called “QuaranTeaTime.” Basically, every few days, Moira would sit down with a cup of tea, and give her very unique perspective on what is going on in the world; hopefully offering some uplifting and encouraging messages. I’ve since branched out and brought in other characters from “Schitt’s Creek”, as well as some celebrity impersonations and original characters.
In less than a year, you’ve gone viral with nearly 280k TikTok followers! What has this experience been like for you? Did you ever think your videos would take off as they did?
I honestly didn’t think anyone would actually watch them! Admittedly, I’m the “old man” among my friends…I can barely turn my phone on let alone use it. So, this whole journey into the world of social media and being an “influencer” has been a very fun and eye-opening adventure. Also, writing and creating my own videos has been a fabulous learning experience. I never knew how to edit, direct, or style (or use hashtags), and now I’m basically a one-man production. It can certainly be overwhelming at times, and I occasionally struggle with some of the technological aspects, but overall, I’m having a wonderful time learning and being my own boss, so to speak. That all being said, by far the best part has been the wonderful feedback I’ve received from people all over the world. When I first started making “QuaranTeaTime”, my mother told me to keep my messages positive, which is perhaps the best advice I’ve ever received. This year has been so turbulent, I try to remind people to be kind and love themselves, and hopefully, take a moment to sit back and laugh. Many people have reached out, saying one of my videos made them smile, or laugh, or even cry. I can’t tell you how good it feels to know that during this difficult year, in my own small way, I’ve helped make people happy.
You’re most known for the ever-entertaining “QuaranTeaTime” segment. How does one even begin to come up with such content?
As I said, I love doing funny voices, accents, and impressions. I’d done Moira Rose before with friends, and once in an improv jam at the PIT, and it just seemed like a fun and challenging idea. When it comes to writing the episodes, I don’t really plan them out too far in advance. Typically, I come up with an idea in the morning, either based on what is happening in the world or what my whacky brain conjures at the moment, then I write it out and film it that afternoon. The real joy is figuring out how to phrase things since Catherine O’Hara crafted this wonderfully floral and superfluous lexicological style of speaking for Moira Rose; I try very much to honor that style. So, after I write my script, I then go back and rewrite words and phrases to hopefully reflect her rather heightened vernacular…and I must say, it’s been a lot of fun learning new words and phraseologies!
Which one of your recent QuaranTeaTime videos was your favorite to make and why?
The first one that comes to mind is a Halloween episode where I had the whole family (including Stevie) singing along to the Banana Boat Song (Day-O), which was a parody of the iconic scene from “Beetlejuice”. It was so much fun creating Halloween costumes; especially Moira’s, which was a nod to her character in “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” I used a mix of the original version of the song by Harry Belafonte and the soundtrack from the recent Broadway musical “Beetlejuice”, and had far too much fun dancing and singing along to the music.
Who are you choosing to make a TikTok with for a dream collaboration?
This may sound obvious, but I would LOVE to make a video with Catherine O’Hara. Even before “Schitt’s Creek” I was a big fan of hers, especially her work in Christopher Guest’s films and SCTV. If for some reason Ms. O’Hara was not available, my second choice would be Maggie Smith, because she is my all-time favorite actress and I imagine she’d have some pretty brilliant stories to share.
What are some of your favorite things to do when you’re not making content?
When I’m not making videos, I’m probably thinking about how I should be doing something healthy like exercise or yoga…but instead, I’m sitting in pajamas and eating cheese while watching a BBC show. Aside from dreaming of an unlikely-to-be six pack, I love going for walks, listening to audiobooks or podcasts, belting out show tunes in my car, and recently I’ve gotten very into knitting.
With a growing following, do you ever feel pressured to make content?
Oh, for sure! Whenever a video does really well, I have this terrifying thought of “Oh man, how am I going to top that one!?” Then I take a deep breath and let that thought go. I remind myself that I didn’t set out to become an influencer, I just wanted to make videos that brought me joy and hopefully made people laugh. So, whether a video gets 3 views or 3 million views, as long as I’m proud of what I made, I consider it a success.
What would you say has been the biggest perk of your recent social media fame?
I’d say the biggest perk has been getting to know people from all over the world, that I otherwise would never have known. I read and respond to every message people send, and I can’t wait for it to be safe to travel again, because I have a lot of new friends to visit and share a pint with!
Who do you owe your biggest thanks to?
This is a solid tie. First is Catherine O’Hara, for creating the brilliant character of Moira Rose and being very kind and allowing me to do this parody of her. The second is my Mom. My mom has been very supportive of this whole process, even buying me wigs and letting me borrow her clothes. As I said, my mom was the one who told me to keep every video positive, uplifting, and hopeful. I think she was right; we can all use a little more positivity and hope these days.
Lastly, anything to plug? What’s next for Michael Judson Berry?
Yes! I’m in a film called “Milkwater” written and directed by Morgan Ingari. The film is about a young woman named Milo, played beautifully by Molly Bernard, who rather rashly agrees to be a surrogate for an older gay man she meets in a bar. We follow Milo throughout this journey and see how the experience of the pregnancy changes her life. I play Teddy, a sweet but slightly oblivious man, who has an affinity for very short shorts. Everyone who worked on this film was really sweet and friendly; I just hope audiences enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it!
Photo Credit: Ryan Baker
Photo Credit: Ryan Baker