Since her stage debut at age five as the troll in The Three Billy Goats Gruff, TM has been destined for the spotlight. TM's early years consisted of every type of stage performance imaginable. From ballet recitals, to theatre, to singing, to playing a mean jazz sax.
As a child TM could often be found plagiarising her sister's jokes in a feeble attempt as the middle child to gain attention. As a teenager, while all the other teenage girls could be found lip-synching to Madonna in their bedrooms, TM would spend hours locked away lip-synching Robin Williams' comedy routine to an audience of teddy bears, Strawberry Shortcake dolls and her imaginary friend Swingbarrow. (Swingbarrow has since moved to the Coromandel and taken out a restraining order on TM. She makes her money selling intimate details of their friendship to the tabloids)
From the age of 14, TM knew she wanted to be a comedian. Unfortunately, growing up in the tiny town of Dargaville, New Zealand, comedy opportunities were slim, so she headed to Auckland University for a Masters degree in Psychology instead.
TM's first performance in stand up comedy was in Italian in front of her Italian class at Auckland University. The following year she discovered the Auckland University Comedy and Improv Club. Here she began weekly performances of Improv Comedy in the Quad at the University, and regular sketch comedy shows. The Annual Inter-University Comedy Comps provided TM with her first opportunity to perform stand up comedy (in English). By midway through the following year her career had taken flight and Psychology was abandoned for the high-flying life of a comedian.
TM hopes one day to reprise her role as "Troll".
Best Female Improviser 2001, 2002 and 2004
Comedienne, Actor, Musician, Improviser, Writer
As an actor and comedienne TM can often be seen gracing the New Zealand big and little screens, including several seasons of the stand up comedy TV show, Pulp Comedy. She has sizzled at international venues (including the Sydney Comedy Store, L.A. Comedy Store, Ned Devine's in Washington D.C.) and sparkled in venues throughout New Zealand, but can most regularly be found in her home club of The Classic Comedy and Bar in Auckland, New Zealand. She has been broadcast widely on radio stations throughout New Zealand and the U.S.A.
As a veteran of comedy in New Zealand TM has brought stand up comedy, improvisation and sketch to the stage since 1998. For the NZ International Comedy Festival 2005, TM debuted her character-based comedy with her solo show "Nothing In Between", adding a plethora of new characters to her infamous "Tatiana the Russian dominatrix". "Nothing In Between" proved to be a thrilling success, which was repeated in her follow-up character-based show "The Character Shop" in 2006. The characters that proved to be the hot audience favourites then came together to form the solo show "TM Bishop - Masquerade" for the New Zealand International Comedy Festival 2007.
TM's versatile style and ability to mould to her audience is seen in the variety of situations in which she has performed. From strictly clean shows to the most risque she is equally at home whether she is playing 1000 seat venues, or the bluest workerman's club, or The Clean Comedy Show. From biker's clubs to high schools to large corporate functions she is able to keep her audience on the edge of their seat and doubled up in laughter with comedy tailored for her specific audience.
TM is a core member of New Zealand's leading improvisation group, ConArtists (aka Theatresports New Zealand) which can be found performing for large corporate organizations both nationally and internationally.
As both an improviser and a stand up comedian TM can be found participating or leading performances for many charitable organizations as large as the SPCA, Performers 4 Poverty and Greenpeace or as small as the North Shore Soccer Club. She is also a member of Class Comedians, the programme in which she is responsible for mentoring teenagers in the art of stand up comedy.
In 2014 TM's television show proved to be a hit success and was distributed internationally. Upon winning an Emmy for this show she was offered a leading role in a comedy film, becoming the first New Zealand comedienne to win an Academy Award.
Her 2015 international tour through 57 countries, brought harmony to the Middle East as she promoted her "Make Comedy, Not War" and "Hugs For Dictators" programmes.
The 2018 invasion of beings from a small planet in the far reaches of the galaxy Andromeda came to an abrupt end as the Andromedians found it impossible to invade whilst in fits of laughter at TM's brave performance. TM was hailed as a worldwide heroine, but modestly declined the offer to be Queen of Earth.
In 2034 the fragile balance of the universe's space-time continuum began to unsettle. TM's comedy brought about the alignment of planets and universal solidarity, ensuring a continuing habitat for all species throughout infinity.
The Universe was renamed "The TM" in her honour. Every year the cryogenically thawed head of Johnny Carson hosts the "Miss TM pageant". TM always wins.
Disclaimer: Actual events may differ from that depicted