Summary

• Midge Maisel from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was inspired by real-life comedian Joan Rivers, sharing similarities in their upbringing, education, and performing at the Gaslight Cafe in New York.
• The casting of Rachel Brosnahan as Midge attracted criticism due to the show's Judeocentric nature, with non-Jewish actors playing Jewish characters, including the portrayal of Lenny Bruce by Luke Kirby.
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel pays tribute to Joan Rivers' legacy as a trailblazing female entertainer, and although the show is not a direct biopic, it draws inspiration from one of the most respected names in comedy.

In The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Rachel Brosnahan’s Midge Maisel is born from inspiration from a real-life comedienne but who is Mrs. Maisel based on? The Amazon Prime series ended in 2023 with its fifth and final season, and in that respect, it seems important to take a look at the inspiration behind the show’s leading lady. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel follows Midge Maisel’s character, a housewife on New York’s Upper West Side, until her husband, Joel, a businessman by day and aspiring comedian at night, bombs his routine and ends their marriage. Outraged, Midge takes to the stage and finds that she's far better at comedy than Joel ever was.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel season 5 brings the story of Midge Maisel to a close, but as the show's accolades and incredible reception prove, she did justice to her real-life inspiration. Created by Amy-Sherman Palladino (creator of Gilmore Girls), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel features several characters based on real-life people. Lenny Bruce (played by Luke Kirby) plays the real-life comedian by the same name, Sophie Lennon’s character has similarities to comedienne Phyllis Diller, and Alex Borstein’s character, Susie, was inspired by female talent agent Sue Mengers. Likewise, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s Midge Maisel was inspired by the famous comedian, but who is Mrs. Maisel based on?

Midge Maisel Was Based On Joan Rivers

Joan Rivers is the influence for Midge Maisel Like Joan Rivers, Midge was born in New York to Jewish parents who grossly disapproved of their daughter’s career, and both Rivers and Midge went to prestigious schools, with Rivers graduating from Barnard while Midge attended Bryn Mawr. Though Midge saw greater success in the early stages of her career than Joan Rivers, both Rivers and Midge performed at the real-life club, the Gaslight Café, located in New York’s Greenwich Village.

Another significant tie between the two comediennes is The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's Lenny Bruce. In The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Lenny does Midge a favor, opening for her at the Gaslight after she is blacklisted by Sophie Lennon. Likewise, Bruce once saw Rivers perform at a neighboring club, The Bitter End, after which he wrote her a note that gave her the boost she needed, telling her she was going to be a star. However, the largest comparison between Midge and Joan Rivers comes from their content, with both Midge and Joan Rivers shirking the trademark timidity associated with the femininity of the era. In an interview (via Vanity Fair), Sherman-Palladino spoke of Rivers, saying:

"She had that wonderful mix, that battle of wanting to be accepted on a feminine level – [but] you can’t have that many balls and be accepted on a feminine level. It just doesn’t work that way."

Brosnahan also points out (via Vanity Fair) that while Joan’s comedy sprung from a place of insecurity, Midge "is the opposite," adding, "She knows she is beautiful; she knows she is great at what she does, and she will be the first to tell you about it.” So, while Joan Rivers may have inspired Rachel Brosnahan’s award-winning role, Midge’s character in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is also a character all her own.

Why Midge Maisel's Casting Caused Controversy

It's undeniable that Rachel Brosnahan gives an excellent central performance as Midge Maisel, but the casting of a non-Jewish lead in a decisively Judeocentric show attracted criticism from prominent voices in the Jewish community, like Sarah Silverman on NPR's Morning Edition and UK comedian David Baddiel in his book Jews Don't Count.

However, Joan Rivers is a staple of Jewish comedy, and given the central placement of New York Jewish culture, customs, and society in The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel's story, many condemned the casting as "Jewface" — essentially, the tendency to cast actors of a non-Jewish background in key Jewish roles, often with prosthetics such as Helen Mirren's artificial nose as 4th Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in Golda. This discussion wasn't just limited to Midge's role either, as her parents, Abe and Rose Weissman, are played in a heavily mannered fashion by non-Jewish actors Tony Shalhoub and Marin Hinkle.

Even Lenny Bruce — an important cultural figure in Jewish stand-up history — is portrayed by the non-Jewish Luke Kirby. The critiques haven't led to recastings or significant upset on a wider scale, and the fact that Midge is Joan-Rivers-inspired rather than a direct representation has likely afforded the casting some leeway. But it could have lent an extra air of authenticity to the story were it told by Jewish voices. The performances certainly justify the castings, but it's down to the viewer's personal spectrum of belief as to how the actor choices sit with them.

Where to watch The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

How Midge Maisel Honors Joan Rivers's Legacy

While Rachel Brosnahan's casting may have caused controversy, the success of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is nevertheless a fitting tribute to TV and comedy powerhouse Joan Rivers. Although it's not a biopic — Midge Maisel is a distinct character based on Rivers after all, despite how clear-cut some similarities are — the show still drew on one of the most respected names in entertainment for its inspiration. While it was under no obligation to succeed besides the obvious need all TV shows share, it had a lot to live up to by overtly basing Midge Maisel on Joan Rivers.

The late Joan Rivers was active from 1957 until her ing in 2014, and just as Midge Maisel does in the show, she laid the foundations for female entertainment presences and comediennes working today. The fact that The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has picked up slews of awards including Golden Globes, Emmys, and Screen Actors Guild awards among the cast is befitting of Midge's real-life counterpart.

The casting controversies remain valid even at the show's end, but there's no denying the show has taken great care in other regards. It would have done Joan Rivers a disservice had a show (even loosely) based on her being a hack job or single-season failure. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is arguably one of the best TV shows released in recent times, and its five seasons are of such a quality that they definitely both honor and respect the legacy of the real-life Midge Maisel.

Differences Between Mrs. Maisel & Joan Rivers

Midge Maisel and Joan Rivers undoubtedly share similarities but are distinct in many ways. Both characters were born in New York to Jewish parents who disapproved of their careers in comedy and attended prestigious schools. They performed at real-life venues like the Gaslight Cafe and had connections to the comedian Lenny Bruce. Their comedy rejected the era's timid femininity norms too. However, they are ultimately built differently. While Rivers' humor comes from a place of insecurity, Midge is the opposite, confident in her beauty and talent. Thus, while inspired by Rivers, Midge Maisel in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is her own character with different traits and a distinct narrative arc.