On the Mainstage:
Mom Jokes
Written and Performed by Christina Muehlberger and Doug Wallace
We hear dad jokes everywhere - sitcoms, social media, family dinners. Where are mom jokes?
Join Doug and Christina as they share their experiences as new parents - Doug, in the style of the dad joke, and Christina, ushering in the mom joke era.
Genesis of the Show:
Christina and Doug welcomed their new baby in December 2022. Instead of a traditional baby shower, Christina requested a ‘baby roast’ where friends and family would use their unborn child as a vehicle to say mean (yet hilarious) things about them. Everyone told her it was a bad idea: “you’ll cry,” “you’ll be too hormonal,” “your feelings will be hurt.” No one said anything to Doug. As a standup comedian, Christina was enraged. Why does everyone expect the dad to be the funny one? The one able to both tell and take a joke? And to add fuel to the fire, when Christina Googled ‘mom jokes’ only two definitions came up - neither were flattering. It was clear that someone needed to remind people that moms are funny too - they couldn’t survive motherhood if they weren’t!
Christina Muehlberger (she/her)
… originally a seasoned improviser, got her start in stand-up in late 2017. Christina has brought her awkwardness and storytelling style to shows all over Ottawa. In 2019, Christina competed in the finals of both the Absolute Comedy and won the Yuk Yuks summer competition in 2022. Her fringe show, God, that’s funny, won Best of Fest at the 2022 Ottawa Fringe.
Doug Wallace (he/him)
… is an Ottawa-based musician. With his band, Main Street Revival, Doug has played shows across Ontario, including opening for Canadian legendary acts such as I Mother Earth, Sue Foley and David Wilcox. While no stranger to the stage, Fresh Meat will be Doug’s first time on stage without his guitar, other than a brief stint in an improv class when trying to woo Christina.
Premiered October 12 - 14, 2023.
Festival artwork by Sage Hartly