Miriam Maisel

**Miriam "Midge" Maisel** is the main character in the television series, she is the wife of Joel Maisel.

## Biography

Miriam Weissman was born in New York in 1932. She is Jewish and is the daughter of Abe & Rose Weissman. She married Joel Maisel in 1954 and had two children Ethan & Esther Maisel. She is a standup comedian under the management of Susie Myerson.

SEASON 1

While originally a Jewish housewife, Miriam eventually gets into standup following her husband leaving her. While drunkenly performing at the Gaslight Café, she is noticed by a worker name Susie, who notices Midge's potential comedian. Midge is arrested for "Public Indecency" and is later bailed out by Susie. The two eventually agree to help each other and work to make Miriam the next big thing. She also becomes acquainted with Lenny Bruce, after she bails him out following Susie bailing her out.

With her husband gone, Miriam is forced to give up her apartment which never actually belonged to her or Joel but rather his father Moishe. She moves in with her parents and continues to adjust to her new life. Midge suffers from a few rough patches in her comedy career but make progress, enough so for her to make it on the radar of a well known manager named Harry Drake, who also manages another famous comic Sophie Lennon. Under the false name Amanda Gleason, Midge continues to gain fame and a possible job as Sophie Lennon's opening act.

While initially liking Sophie & Harry she soon realizes that Sophie doesn't think that a women like her could make it in the comic business without so big character like Sophie's "Sophie from Queens," or have a penis. This causes her to denounce Sophie in one of her sets in front of Harry Drake, who swears to make sure she is never booked at a club.

Meanwhile she also repairs her relationship with Joel whom wants to come back after initially being rejected. Susie is able to get Lenny to help her get Miriam a place performing at the gaslight and is able to help Midge make a comeback despite being blackballed. However Joel shows up and watches his wife talk about his mistakes and faults in their relationship, including his ex girlfriend Penny, who got her fired from her job as a makeup girl. He eventually confronts Susie who states that she didn't make any mistakes with Miriam as he did, and goes on to say that she will be a star. Joel leaves and beats up a guy who criticized Midge's act. After giving a killing performance Midge is informed by Susie of Joel's appearance, which makes her leave in an effort to find him. When he does she apologizes to him saying she "Didn't know he was gonna be there." A hurt Joel gives her his wedding ring and walks off leaving her heartbroken.

SEASON 2

Following these events, Miriam is demoted and works at the switchboard, after Penny blamed Midge for Joel leaving her. After an strange call from her father Miriam returns home to find that her mother Rose had moved to Paris, France saying she was unhappy with her life. Abe and Miriam follow Rose to Paris to find her. When they do the notice how Rose is happy where she is as she has always had a thing for Parisian Culture. After doing her act in a Paris night club, Midge calls Joel hoping that the can still work things out, but Joel sadly states that in order for that to happen Midge would have to give up being a comedian as he wasn't comfortable being the subject of her act. Unable to convince her to return to New York, Miriam returns while her father remains to try and persuade her to return.