Mark & Krystal
"Mark & Krystal Love To Eat"
"Mark & Krystal Love To Eat"
Rodney Wayne Branche
Copa Style Magazine Publisher/CEO
Copa: Where are you both from?
Mark: I was born and raised in New York City, on Manhattans Upper East Side in the Isaac Holmes Projects. I think it’s great coming from NYC because of its diversity, it is a Mecca for entertainment, food, fashion and so many different cultures.
Mark: I was born and raised in New York City, on Manhattans Upper East Side in the Isaac Holmes Projects. I think it’s great coming from NYC because of its diversity, it is a Mecca for entertainment, food, fashion and so many different cultures.
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Krystal: I’m originally from Southern California (all the beach areas- Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Venice Beach, Redondo Beach, parts of the valley), the Santa Cruz area and lastly -San Diego. My mother was from Philly and wanted to see it all.
Copa: Please tell us about each of your backgrounds.
Mark: I’ve been a professional stand-up comedian for the past twenty one years with appearances on Comedy Central, Howard Stern, the Food Network, ABC, and Netflix (The Good Cop) as well as many radio appearances and performing around the country. I’ve done it all from performing, writing, producing, coaching, mentoring up and coming comics.
Mark: I’ve been a professional stand-up comedian for the past twenty one years with appearances on Comedy Central, Howard Stern, the Food Network, ABC, and Netflix (The Good Cop) as well as many radio appearances and performing around the country. I’ve done it all from performing, writing, producing, coaching, mentoring up and coming comics.
Krystal: I worked an office union job in telecommunications for twenty years. I had always wanted to perform comedically and started doing stand-up in 2015. Prior to that I posted sometimes-serious-sometimes-funny vlogs on my Facebook titled “Ms. Mocha Moments” where I shared personal experiences about dating in Maine and being a biracial woman in a state that is 99.9% white.
Copa: Have you both had any prior experience in acting?
Mark: Yes. I’ve done some acting in indie films and some small roles, besides appearing as a stand-up comedian on television. I was part of an ensemble cast on Food Networks Giving You The Business which was a lot of fun.
Mark: Yes. I’ve done some acting in indie films and some small roles, besides appearing as a stand-up comedian on television. I was part of an ensemble cast on Food Networks Giving You The Business which was a lot of fun.
Krystal: I’ve pretty much only worked as an extra (Big Dogs, The Good Cop) but if I see a camera- it’s on! But no, no real acting experience to speak of. Growing up, I was pursued for modeling often, but I was incredibly shy and always thought I was too short. I did model for a couple of photos with Arnold Schwartenzegger on Muscle Beach in Venice Beach, CA when I was seven. That’s all I have. I need to start putting that on my resume.
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Copa: At what time did you both figure that you would give comedy a try as a team?
Mark: When Krystal told me. Honestly, it was just a natural thing. We would be out having fun together and people around us would take notice and loved our banter. Krystal: That’s right. What Mark said. That’s how we discovered people loved the natural chemistry we have with each other. We first began collaborating in 2017.
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Copa: How did you both arrive at method of having food as the source of your comedy?
Mark: She hit me with broccoli and it was hilarious.
Krystal: Our bantering never stops, even when we’re eating. So we put two and two together and voila.
Mark: She hit me with broccoli and it was hilarious.
Krystal: Our bantering never stops, even when we’re eating. So we put two and two together and voila.
Copa: Have you ever tried this technique of comedy on stage, if so where?
Mark: Not much on a club stage but since we’ve been together we have just performed in the public eye with our back and forth banter. We’ve even had people follow us around the grocery store to see what we would do or say next.
Krystal: We have yet to perform on stage together, but we’re open to that experience. But yes, like Mark said- we’re always “on” because it’s not an act. It’s who we are. And we really get a kick out of making others laugh or brightening their day, if only while we’re in the grocery check-out line.
Mark: Not much on a club stage but since we’ve been together we have just performed in the public eye with our back and forth banter. We’ve even had people follow us around the grocery store to see what we would do or say next.
Krystal: We have yet to perform on stage together, but we’re open to that experience. But yes, like Mark said- we’re always “on” because it’s not an act. It’s who we are. And we really get a kick out of making others laugh or brightening their day, if only while we’re in the grocery check-out line.
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Copa: How do you feel coming on board as part of Copa Style Magazine’s “Food & Fashion" series with your wonderful act?
Mark: We’re very excited about it. Teaming up with Copa is going to be great and readers will really get to connect with us, the food and the humor. Also, couples will feel positively represented for once. Most times you only hear and see the bad stuff and we want to show the positive and upside of relationships, date night and food. Krystal: This is actually what we’ve been praying for because it’s a sincere collaboration that’s mutually beneficial. No one succeeds on their own. We need to help each other. Promote each other. Elevate each other. And coming on board with Copa will do all of that. Plus, who doesn’t love food and fashion? If you don’t love to eat, we don’t trust you. Period. |
Copa: What was the first performance held and who’s idea was to record it on video?
Mark: We started out just making some videos while traveling. From there we progressed to writing very short sketches and filmed them at our home and at local places of business. Once we moved into NYC we became more focused on doing something people have not seen before- a food and travel show featuring a brown, funny, attractive couple who actually love and like each other. Think of us as that couple you love to invite to your parties because we’re fun to have around and make everyone laugh. Krystal: Right!! Our first videos were in the car on the drives back and forth between Maine and NYC when we first started dating. It was a 5-6 hour drive with traffic and stops for gas and food, so we’d stick a couple of GoPros on the dashboard and just have fun. “Mark & Krystal Love To Eat” is an evolution of those initial road conversations, but centered around food. Laugh, love, eat, repeat. Copa: What does the future hold for Mark & Krystal and your world of culinary comedy?
Mark: Television! Television! Television! Then books, movies, stand-up specials and a media and marketing empire! We’ve got bills to pay and kids to feed. Also we really love entertaining people and the response we get when we’re out doing what comes natural for us, is truly wonderful. Krystal: Ultimately, we’d like to be approached by a television network or Netflix, etc to make Mark & Krystal Love To Eat into a weekly-aired show. We want to unite and entertain viewers with our culinary comedy. We want to show the world that real love still exists- among brown couples, especially. And we want to keep elevating our platform to the highest. For more information on "Mark and Krystal Love to Eat:"
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~Copa