Who is Jessimae Peluso? 'Surviving Paradise' host raises awareness and charity for Alzheimer’s Disease after losing her father to same illness
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK: Every Wednesday, you can watch Jessimae Peluso's 'Weedsday' on her Instagram and Facebook Live, an interactive program that raises awareness and funds for Alzheimer's Disease. In addition to this, fans get to see their beloved stand-up comic now as the host of the new Netflix series 'Surviving Paradise.'
Jessimae Peluso, both a stand-up comedian and Alzheimer's campaigner, uses humor to cope with grief. She openly shares her grieving journey after losing her father to Alzheimer's disease.
In 2017, Jessimae Peluso's beloved father, Joseph Peluso, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunately, a little over a year later, in late October 2018, he passed away due to medical complications.
She openly discusses the challenges of being a caregiver, her grieving process, and the insights she gained into Alzheimer's through this challenging experience. Her live videos are often packed with considerable lightness and provide a much-needed touch of humor in genuine conversations.
Adding to her sorrow, 2020 brought another tragedy as Jessimae lost her mother. On November 13, 2020, Nancy Finley, a distinguished schoolteacher in retirement, passed away at the age of 72.
Jessimae stated, among other things, "I didn’t get to hold my mother’s hands when she took her last breath" when she announced her passing a week later. "But I know in my heart she knows I was with her. I know she felt my love… if your loved ones are still alive, hold their hands and say I love you as often as possible. My mother was my rock, my Marshall’s shopping partner, my best friend, and my safe place.
Jessimae Peluso made her TV debut in 2013 with MTV's 'Girl Code'
Jessica Mae Peluso, popularly known as Jessimae, was born and raised in the picturesque city of Syracuse, New York, alongside her sister Emily Peluso, now Emily DiMarco. After graduating from Henninger High School in 2000, Jessimae traveled to Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 2001 to embark on her stand-up comedy journey with ImprovBoston.
Later, she returned and resided in Brooklyn, performing stand-up at venues like Broadway Comedy Club. Jessimae made her television debut in early 2013 on MTV's 'Girl Code' but departed the show after two seasons.
After that, she continued to grow in her professional career and maintained a close friendship with cast member Carly Aquilino. They now travel the country together, spreading laughter and joy.
Apart from traveling with Carly, Jessimae performs stand-up comedy solo. She hosts two podcasts, 'Sharp Tongue' and 'Hilarious,' and is a passionate advocate for Alzheimer's disease.
Jessimae is also recognized as Cass from 'Simulife' (2016) and Holly from 'The Opening Act' (2020). Previous credits include 'Casual Sex' (2010) and 'Hollywood Pop Up Comedy Club' (2018), 'Kid Rock's Chillin' The Most Cruise,' 'Just for Laughs Festival,' 'Moontower Comedy Festival,' 'Joe Rogan Experience,' 'Boston Comedy Festival,' 'New York Comedy Festival,' and 'Kevin Hart's LOL' Live network all featured Jessimae.
Her work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Playboy, High Times, Self, DOPE, GQ, and MadeMen magazines. The Huffington Post called her "one of the funniest comics to follow on Twitter."
Furthermore, in response to Jessimae's recurring online marriage proposals, John Stamos tweeted, "Who are you?"
Recently, Jessimae began touring with the USO, bringing her exuberant energy and lighthearted humor to entertain the troops stationed in Japan, Bahrain, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Jessimae has made guest appearances on various television shows, including 'Comedy Central's '@Midnight,' TruTV's 'Comedy Knockout,' David Spade's 'Lights Out,' MTV's 'Safe Word,' 'The Joe Rogan Experience,' 'TBS's 'Deal With It,' 'NBC's 'Last Call w/Carson Daly,' E!'s 'Chelsea Lately,' FOX's 'World's Funniest Fails,' VH1's 'Hip Hop Squares,' AXS' 'Gotham Live,' and even your local news.
Jessimae Peluso had to censor herself on 'Surviving Paradise'
Imagine showing up to a lavish summer party in a home perched over the ocean and having everything whisked away as soon as the drinks started to flow. This is the idea behind Netflix's brand-new reality competition series, 'Surviving Paradise', in which 12 gullible participants learn they've been sent out of the villa and must fend for themselves while vying for a $100,000 grand prize.
Jessimae compares the program to CBS' 'Survivor'," telling Bustle, "My role was really to deliver the worst news they’d ever heard and be the wrench in all of their plans — a wrench in a cute outfit. I’m like, ‘Hey guys, you having fun? OK, great. Now go scale that mountain barefoot!’”
The stand-up comedian, whom you may know from 'Tattoo Redo' on Netflix, had another difficulty: she was attempting self-censorship. Referring to several taxing casting contests, Jessimae continues, "I had to practice not saying the first thing that came to my mind in order to maintain the surprise and the element of there being something real at stake. But underneath all of that quiet, there were a lot of thoughts that I did not say to maintain the show’s integrity."
'Surviving Paradise' is for you, Jessimae assures, if you enjoy seeing "a beautiful train wreck."
'Surviving Paradise' Season 1, featuring nine episodes, is set to premiere on Netflix on October 20.