Comic, Originally From Nassau, Appears In New Netflix Sitcom 'Leanne'

LONG BEACH, NY — A veteran comic, originally from Long Beach, is currently appearing in the new Netlflix sitcom "Leanne" about the life of Tennessee-based comedian Leanne Morgan.

The comedy is co-created by Chuck Lorre, who launched such shows as "Big Bang Theory" and Two and a Half Men."

Elyssa Phillips appears in one episode as a waitress, which is a bit of life imitating art for her.

"I know one of the co-creators, Susan McMartin," Phillips told Patch. "She's a regular at the restaurant where I wait tables."

She was brought to read for a couple of roles, but landed the diner worker.

"You're there all week," she said of the experience.

It started off with the table read for the full cast, following a morning rehearsal and afternoon run-through of the episode.

Initially, Phillips had just one line, but something happened on the way to taping the show.

"I kept getting a laugh, which was very lovely," Phillips said. "Everyday different people watched the run-through."

On Friday, just before Phillips and the cast would shoot it live in front of a studio audience , a change was made to the script.

Phillips was unaware of the rewrite, which was made for her. She was given the "blow," an insider's term for the last joke in a scene.

She was told that the writers needed help getting out of the diner scene and since Philips already got a laugh, she was brought back moments later to do her deadpan delivery again.

"It's my favorite type of comedy," she said. "The jokes are there. You don't have to try."

Phillips, who left Long Island in 2014 for Los Angeles, performs often across the country. However, she hasn't played a comedy club on Long Island. Phillips would love to hit the Governor's stage in Levittown at some point soon.

"I have to come back, because that's where my family is," she said, although they have moved more west to Brooklyn.

Before grabbing a mic for stand-up, Phillips got her chops in improv and sketch comedy. During the COVID lockdown of 2020, Phillips took stock of her career aspirations.

"While it was kind of fun to figure out how to make improv and stand-up fun on the Internet, it's not my passion," she said. "It wasn't really filling up my cup."

She's focused on her stand-up comedy since 2021, with occasional acting roles like"The Mindy Project, "Fresh off the Boat" and "Leanne."

Netflix subscribers got their first chance to see the upstart comic Leanne Morgan when her stand-up special debuted in 2023.

"[It's] so funny," Phillips said. "She's a real hoot."

"Leanne"'s first season —16 episodes— landed on Netflix July 31. While no decision has been made if it will return for a second season, "God I hope so." Phillips said.